This article appeared in the Review and Herald, April 13, 1886, under the title, "Exclusiveness Among Laborers."
It is important that those who engage in the work of God be constant learners in the school of Christ. Indeed, this is absolutely necessary if they would labor with acceptance in the great, the solemn work of presenting the truth to the world. If self is kept out of sight, and the workers labor with humility and wisdom, a sweet spirit of harmony will exist among them. One will not say by word or act, "This is my field of labor; I do not care to have you enter it;" but each will work with fidelity, sowing beside all waters, remembering that Paul may plant, Apollos may water, but God alone can give the increase.
The Lord does not apportion to any one man some special territory in which he alone is to labor. This is contrary to his plans. He designs that in every place where the truth is introduced, different minds, different gifts, shall be brought in to exert an influence upon the work. No one man has sufficient wisdom to manage an interest without helpers, and no one should think himself competent to do so. Because a person has ability in one direction, it is no sign that his judgment on all other subjects is perfect, and that the wisdom of some other mind does not need to be united with his.
Those who do labor together should seek to be in perfect harmony. And yet no one should feel that he cannot labor with those who do not see just as he sees, and who do not in their labors follow just his plans. If all manifest a humble, teach able spirit, there need be no difficulty. God has set in the church different gifts. These are precious in their proper places, and all may act a part in the work of preparing a people for Christ's soon coming.
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ; from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."
This is God's order, and if men expect success, they must labor according to His arrangement. Oh, how much the workers need the spirit of Jesus to change and fashion them as clay is molded in the hands of the potter! When they have this spirit, there will be no spirit of variance among them; no one will be so narrow as to want everything done his way, according to his ideas; there will be no in harmonious feeling between him and his brother laborers who do not come up to his standard.
The Lord does not want any of His children to be shadows of others; but He would have each one be his own simple self, refined, sanctified, ennobled by imitating the life and character of the great Pattern. The narrow, shut-in, exclusive spirit which keeps everything within the compass of one's self, has been a curse to the cause of God, and always will be whenever allowed to exist.
During the recent Conference at Basel I had an impressive dream concerning those who were engaged in the work of God. A tall, noble-looking man was examining a book of records. Drawing near with a number of others, I saw the reports of labor for 1885, and was told that every man's work was accurately recorded there.
According to this record, some had done considerable labor. They had not saved themselves, they had worked harder and done more than was required of them. Others had not given themselves a living sacrifice. They had not brought Jesus into their work, as their only all-powerful helper; but they had trusted too much-to what they were able to do. There was in their record a manifest lack of simple dependence and holy confidence in the promises of God. By not availing themselves of these promises, they often be came discouraged, and a shadow was cast where all should have been hope and courage in God. Many a word was left unspoken, many an opportunity lost, whereby souls might have been benefited.
In reading the history of the past year's labor, I saw distinctly how much the laborers had lost through a lack of faith; how much they could have asked of God, and how willingly He would have be stowed His grace upon them in answer to their humble prayers of faith. Many have fallen away, and many more will fall away, because they do not live by faith and increase in the knowledge of the truth day by day. The workers need to be greatly alarmed lest that light which is in them be removed from them. Watch fulness and prayer will alone keep their souls garrisoned against the entrance of the enemy.
The record showed a failure on the part of many to labor in the meekness and lowliness of Christ. They were reaching for some more exalted work. Their eyes were directed to some far-off place, and they failed to avail themselves of the opportunities lying right before them to minister to souls. Their minds were so fully made up that the Lord had a great work for them to do in preaching, that they failed to minister. They failed to drop the seeds of truth into hearts wherever an opportunity could be found. But these opportunities came and passed, and souls who might have been instructed were left without labor. One here and one there, two or three in a place, might have been led to search their Bibles and to find their Saviour; but this was so small a work that it was overlooked and neglected.
There are some who seek to become popular, thinking that they will thereby gain numbers. They study how they shall make an appearance, how they can make it seem that they have plenty of means and occupy a lofty position in the world. Are these the lessons to be learned from the meekness and lowliness, the purity and self-sacrifice, of Jesus? Oh, no; there are many who labor in this way who accomplish almost nothing. The better way is to labor in the spirit of Jesus.
Do not try to make the impression that you are remarkable men, but let the people see that you are handling startling, remarkable subjects, which are plainly brought to view in God's Word, but which have so long been buried up under the rubbish of error that they have almost been lost sight of. Do not profess to be more than you really are, the Lord's servants to do His work.
In the book of records there were registered days in which prayer had been neglected by the workers, and as the result they had been overcome by temptations. On one page were registered large expenses because of the lack of the true missionary spirit, and a desire to labor in the most expensive style, when a more humble manner and more simple plans would have accomplished greater results. Some are constantly seeking a better portion than our Saviour had in His life. They accept the name, the position, of missionaries, but not the portion. They want all the good things, all the conveniences, of life; things which their Redeemer knew little or nothing about.
There were also registered in this book the names of workers who appeared to be humble, but who were self-sufficient and egotistical. The work must go according to their ideas or not at all; and yet they made no efforts to teach others how to work, to patiently instruct them in every branch of the work which they themselves understood. Instead of this, they selfishly retained this knowledge to themselves. None are excusable for this exclusiveness, for thus confining their work to a small compass.
The cause of God, not only in Europe but in America, has suffered greatly be cause of these narrow ideas of labor. Much talent which is now lost to the cause might have been seen and made use of; many might have been educated, and today be useful laborers in the cause of God, had it not been for these exclusive, these narrow ideas. Oh that those laboring in all parts of the vineyard of the Lord might see how their record appears, when self is mingled with everything they do! Oh that they might see the importance of submitting their wills and ways to God, and of being in harmony with their brethren, of one mind, of one judgment! As soon as they do this, God will work through them to will and to do of His good pleasure.
