"I was Too Busy"

I was too busy. Now I am concentrating on the work to which God has called me—the winning of souls.

ENOCH DE OLIVEIRA, Secretary, Ministerial Association, South American Division

One Sunday night a drunk­ard, dazed by the effects of alcohol, shuffled his way into a church. He made him­self comfortable in a pew, and overcome by weariness, slept. At the end of the religious service the sleeping visitor was awakened by a kindly deacon and taken to the pastor. But being so stupefied by drink, he was unable to respond to the questions asked him.

Even on previous occasions when this man had visited the church, he was always in an inebriated condition. The pastor asked him where he lived, obtained his address, and also discovered that the man did not drink during the working days of the week. However, on Sabbaths and Sun­days he invariably turned to the libations of the cup.

The pastor realized that if he were to speak to the man about his need for the Saviour, it would have to be done at some time other than the weekend. However, his agenda already contained so many com­mitments that there was no time left to visit the needy drunkard and help him overcome his wicked habit and find Christ.

A few weeks later the busy pastor re­ceived with terrible impact the sad news of the accidental death of the wretched stranger. The pastor described in the fol­lowing words the feelings of sorrow that weighed on his heart as a result:

"I felt profoundly moved when in­formed of the man's death. It made me wonder what the results might have been had I taken time to visit him.

"Then I was convinced that I was too busy. As a result, I reorganized my entire work program. I discarded the things that were not essential. Now I am concentrating on the work to which God has called me—the winning of souls."

Somewhere I read the pathetic experi­ence of a youth who, in order to overcome some great spiritual struggle, sought the assistance and guidance of a talented preacher who through his vibrant messages presented from the pulpit had inspired him to do right and to exercise virtue. But the genial preacher was so busy preparing a sermon that he did not have time to listen to the youth and help him in the solution of his problems and anxieties.

Disappointed in his desire for an inter­view with the pastor, he hastily decided never to return to the church. And the problems which had disturbed him he solved in a foolish and unhappy manner.

It would be worthwhile for us to exam­ine more carefully the daily routine of our activities to see if we, in truth, are too busy in the preparation of sermons, to the det­riment of individual soul-saving work.

"In the work of many ministers there is too much sermonizing and too little real heart-to-heart work. There is need of more personal labor for souls. In Christlike sym­pathy the minister should come close to men individually, and seek to awaken their interest in the great things of eternal life." —Gospel Workers, p. 185.

One of the dangers conspiring against the Adventist minister in our day is that he will become so completely absorbed in his studies or in church business that there will be no time left for the intimate contact with souls who long to know the truth.

When the preachers of the primitive church noticed this danger they hurried to select "men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom," in whose hands they entrusted the business of the church.

In that way they were able to dedicate themselves unreservedly to the ministry of the Word, presenting to the multitudes the fathomless riches of Christ, and mingling with the people for whom they were labor­ing.

A few years ago a gray-haired minister, after twenty-seven years of pastoral work, dramatically resigned his pastorate in order to conduct an active evangelistic campaign. Attempting to justify this step, he said:

"Through all these years I have main­tained the congregation in peace and harmony. I feel as though I have gone from one side to the other with a pacifier in one hand and a rattle in the other, consoling, giving advice, appeasing, and indulging.

"I have raised funds and collected money with which to construct buildings. Because I could organize gatherings for material ends and inspire the congregation to raise funds, I was considered a successful pastor. "But why continue? I did only that which other pastors have done, and worked only as they have worked. After all these years of service I have the impression that I was too busy with things of minor impor­tance.

"Throughout all of my ministry there were thousands of persons that I did not try to reach. While wasting my time in keeping Sister Smith on the list of contribu­tors there were hundreds of sinners whom I could have approached with the saving power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"No, I was only 'entertaining' while the fire of the devil consumed the lives and souls of men for whose salvation Jesus died."

Satan if he were able would defeat the Advent Movement by thus overloading the majority of our ministers with the ordinary activities of the church, not leaving time to carry the message of hope to those in darkness.

We must not deviate from the divinely appointed objective. Let us gain inspira­tion from the example of Jesus, who in His busy ministry always found time to draw near to the afflicted, the sick, and the out­cast.

"Our Saviour went from house to house, healing the sick, comforting the mourners, soothing the afflicted, speaking peace to the disconsolate. He took the little children in His arms and blessed them and spoke words of hope and comfort to the weary mothers. With unfailing tenderness and gentleness, He met every form of human woe and affliction. Not for Himself, but for others did He labor. He was the servant of all. It was His meat and drink to bring hope and strength to all with whom He came in contact."—Gospel Workers, p. 188.

If in our absorbing pastoral program we will consecrate more time to a fervent per­sonal evangelism, we then can say with Paul, "And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shelved you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, ... repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:20, 21).


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ENOCH DE OLIVEIRA, Secretary, Ministerial Association, South American Division

August 1962

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