What Might Have Been

It has cost self-denial, self-sacrifice, indomitable energy, and much prayer, to bring up the various missionary enterprises where they now stand. There is danger that some of those now coming upon the stage of action will rest content to be inefficient, feeling that there is now no need of so great self-denial and diligence, such hard and disagreeable labor, as the leaders in this message experienced; that times have changed; and that since there is now more means in the cause of God, it is not necessary for them to place themselves in such trying circumstances as many were called to meet in the rise of the message.3TT 52.1

But were there the same diligence and self-sacrifice manifest at the present stage of the work as at its beginning, we should see a hundred times more than is now accomplished.3TT 52.2

If the work is to go forward on the high plane of action upon which it started, there must be no falling off in moral resources. New accessions of moral power must continually be made. If those now entering the field as laborers feel that they may relax their efforts, that self-denial and strict economy not only of means but of time are not now essential, the work will retrograde. The workers at the present time should have the same degree of piety, energy, and perseverance that the leaders had.3TT 52.3

The work has been extended so that it now covers a large territory, and the number of believers has increased. Still there is a great deficiency, for a larger work might have been accomplished had the same missionary spirit been manifested as in earlier days. Without this spirit the laborer will only mar and deface the cause of God. The work is really retrograding instead of advancing as God designs it should. Our present numbers and the extent of our work are not to be compared with what they were in the beginning. We should consider what might have been done had every worker consecrated himself, in soul, body, and spirit, to God as he should have done. ...3TT 52.4

As never before, we should pray not only that laborers may be sent forth into the great harvest field, but that we may have a clear conception of truth, so that when the messengers of truth shall come, we may accept the message and respect the messenger. 3TT 53.1

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Ministers and Business Matters. Gospel ministers are to keep their office free from all things secular or political, employing all their time and talents in lines of Christian effort.—1902, Testimonies for the Church 7:252. 3TT 53.2

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To fasten a minister to one place by giving him the oversight of business matters connected with the work of the church is not conducive to his spirituality. To do this is not in accordance with the Bible plan as outlined in the sixth chapter of Acts. Study this plan, for it is approved of God. Follow the word.—1902, Testimonies for the Church 7:252. 3TT 53.3

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He who holds forth the word of life is not to allow too many burdens to be placed upon him. He must take time to study the word and to examine self. If he closely searches his own heart, and gives himself to the Lord, he will better understand how to grasp the hidden things of God.—1902, Testimonies for the Church 7:252.3TT 53.4

Our ministers should learn to let business and financial matters alone. Over and over again I have been instructed that this is not the work of the ministry. They are not to be heavily burdened with the business details even of city work, but are to be in readiness to visit places where an interest in the message has been awakened, and especially to attend our camp meetings. When these meetings are in progress, our workers are not to think that they must remain in the cities to attend to business matters connected with various lines of city work; nor are they to hurry away from the camp meetings in order to do this kind of work.3TT 54.1

Those in charge of our conferences should find business men to look after the financial details of city work. If such men cannot be found, let facilities be provided for training men to bear these burdens.—1902, Testimonies for the Church 7:252, 253. 3TT 54.2

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Instead of choosing the work most pleasing to us, and refusing to do something that our brethren think we should do, we are to inquire: “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” Instead of marking out the way that natural inclination prompts us to follow, we are to pray: “Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path.” Psalm 27:11.—1902, Testimonies for the Church 7:252.3TT 54.3