Work in Christ’s Lines

God has given men talents, not to be used for selfish purposes, for the gratification of human pride, but for the glory of his name, for the promotion and advancement of his work, for the benefit of suffering humanity.

Different gifts are imparted to different men, that they may see their need of one another, and connect with one another in the work. God’s servants are to be a help and an encouragement to one another. The lines of work that are to represent in our world the truth of heavenly origin are to be carried forward in the name of the Lord. Not one thread of selfishness is to be drawn into the web. No worker is to tear down the work of another man in order to please himself. Those who are working for the Lord are to consult him at every step, that they may work together in unity. By faith they are to lay hold upon the unseen, that they may accomplish the work of preparing a people to stand before God at his coming.

God can communicate with his people to-day, and give them wisdom to do his will, just as he communicated with his people of old, and gave them wisdom in building the sanctuary. «The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee; the tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle, and the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot, and the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office, and the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.»

This is an object lesson for us. The tabernacle was to be sacred to the service of God. It was to stand continually in the sight of more than a million people as an illustration of the perfection of Christ’s work; and all that was done in its building was to represent this perfection.

The Best for God

So with God’s work to-day. Everything connected with his service is to be without a flaw. Those who are seeking to advance his work should give the very best they have, that the work may illustrate the perfection God requires.

God must be honored by the work that is done for him at this time. His work must move forward with stability. Faithfulness and fitness must appear in its every line. The buildings that are erected must correspond with the providences of God and with their relation to the work to be done in other places.

We are to follow God’s design exactly in the formation and establishment of the work, small though it may be in some places. Outward show and a large outlay of means are not necessary in order to gain the blessing of God. Human taste, human devising, human inclination to ornament, are not to be encouraged. An unnecessary expenditure of money means that there will be less to invest in the work in other places.

He who is the author of every temporal and spiritual advantage is also the finisher of our faith. Into all the work we do for him we should bring purity of heart and sanctification of spirit. All our work should be an illustration, not of display and extravagance, but of sanctified judgment. And every move that is made should be made with reference to the work in other places.

Lines of work which will absorb means are not to be set in operation without reference to the work in other parts of the Lord’s vineyard where there are few facilities. It is the Lord’s plan that his workers shall consult together; for the work in one place has an influence on the work in another place. One institution is not to be regarded as a complete whole. The workers in one part of the field are not to feel that they need show no interest in the work in another part of the field. No one is to labor only for the special line under his supervision, feeling no care for other lines of work. All are to labor for the good of the whole cause. Day by day we should feel the greatest anxiety for the constant intercession of Christ, that the work started and the institutions established in different parts of the world may not be in vain.

Those who work for God are to be self-sacrificing. Christ gave his life for us, withholding nothing. Let those who work for him show a spirit of self-sacrifice and an earnest desire to carry the work forward with expedition, realizing that it is a work which must be done as speedily as possible. Let consecrated, zealous efforts be made. Let those who believe the truth represent Christ by working for him with willingness and love.

Fruits of the Spirit to be Revealed in Every Act

God’s people are to mingle with all they do the incense of Christ’s merits. In all their actions the fruits of the Spirit are to be revealed. Every day by faithful actions sermons are to be preached.

It is God’s desire that those who are connected with him shall do their very best. When Christ was upon this earth, he was a diligent worker. Learn lessons from him as you work. And when you rest from your labor, tell one another what your experience has been in gaining a knowledge of God. Remember the words, «Ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.»

We should return to God in freewill offerings the very best of what he has given us, gratefully acknowledging him as the giver of all our blessings. We should regard nothing as too good to be devoted to God’s service. We should give freely for the establishment of memorials of his goodness. The largeness of his blessings speaks to us of our obligations to return to him his own.

All spiritual illumination and perfection come from Christ. He is able and willing to communicate in accordance with the needs of all in every line of his work. He desires all to feel their need of him, and to ask him for the help of his Holy Spirit in the work they have been given to perform. Holiness to the Lord was the great characteristic of the Redeemer’s life on earth, and it is his will that this shall characterize the lives of his followers. His workers are to labor with unselfishness and faithfulness, and with reference to the usefulness and influence of every other worker. Intelligence and purity are to mark all their work, all their business transactions. He is the light of the world. In his work there are to be no dark corners where dishonest deeds are done. Injustice is in the highest degree displeasing to God. —

The Certainty of Hope

Very few of the thousands who daily express themselves as hoping for this or that, realize what hope really is. How often we hear of disappointed hopes, of «hopes dashed to the ground,» of people who hoped for certain things, but did not get them; and even while telling of their «hope» for some desired thing, some will express the fear that they will be disappointed. Such ones know not what hope really is, and are deluding themselves with false hopes.

There is nothing true but God; for Christ, the revelation of God, is «the truth.» He is also the reality, the fullness, of everything that is, because he is the life — the whole of life. He is, and without him there is nothing. There is but one true God, and but one true love, «the love of God,» because «God is love.» So there is but one rightful Lord; but one faith — «the faith of Jesus;» and but one real hope — the hope of our calling in God. Eph. 4:4-7.

This hope does not disappoint. That is the force of the expression, «Hope maketh not ashamed,» in Rom. 5:5. Real hope does not deceive us; we are not made ashamed by being obliged to admit that we have not received that of which we spoke so confidently. Often have we been embarrassed when we have been asked where a certain thing is, which we have spoken about expecting to receive. We were disappointed, and would be glad to have the matter forgotten. We feel perhaps a little ashamed of our former enthusiasm, and do not like to have it mentioned. But nothing of this sort happens when we have «the blessed hope» which comes with the experience of justification by faith.

Why is this? What is the reason that hope — all hope that is hope indeed — «maketh not ashamed»? The reason is given: «Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.» True hope has its origin in true love,—the love of God,—because love «hopeth all things.» 1 Cor. 13:7. «Love is of God,» for «God is love;» therefore love is as enduring and unchanging as God himself. He is «from everlasting to everlasting,» and «the Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love.» It must be evident to all that hope that is based upon such love can never disappoint one.

«God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whatsoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.» This was promised to Abraham, and the promise was confirmed by an oath,—God swearing by himself,—for our sakes, that «we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.» Heb. 6:18-20. All things are assured to us in Christ, and only in him. Rom. 8:32. There is nothing in this world or in the world to come that we can have except through his cross. So the so-called hope for anything that is not to be found in him is sure to meet with disappointment; and the hope for everything that is in him, and that can be had with him, is as sure of fulfillment as that he lives.

Even this is not all; for hope is so very real that we truly have the thing hoped for. Thus: God’s work was finished from the foundation of the world, and Christ was given before that. Heb. 4:3; 1 Peter 1:19, 20. On the cross he said, «It is finished.» Infinite and everlasting love has bestowed everything. God asks: «What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?» Isa. 5:4. All heaven has already been poured out in the gift of Christ, so that all that we can possibly hope for we already have in him. We «rejoice in hope of the glory of God,» and Christ in us is «the hope of glory.» Col. 1:27. He is the brightness of the Father’s glory (Heb. 1:3), and the glory that was given him he has given us (John 17:22); therefore; having him, we have all things. He is the same to-day that he is in eternity; therefore all the joys of eternity are ours in him to-day.

This is the «lively hope,» the living hope, that we have by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3. There is no element of doubt or uncertainty in it. The Christian’s hope is no vague longing after something in the dim and uncertain future, but a firm grasp of that which is, as well as is to come. This is not simply «the larger hope,» but the largest hope; for we are taught to believe that God’s mercy is upon us according as we hope in him. Ps. 33:22. Then let abiding hope abound.— Present Truth . —