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Chosen no: R-5669 , from: 1915 Year. |
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RETURNING TO BUSINESS
SOME of our dear readers very commendably
arranged their affairs some time ago so as
to give their entire time to the Harvest
work, not anticipating the prolongation of
the Harvest--the gleaning work, the burning
of the tares, the threshing of the wheat,
etc. Moreover, many of them used in the
Harvest work nearly all of their surplus of
this world's goods--striving to lay up treasure
in Heaven. Some of these dear
Brethren and Sisters have nearly or quite gone to the
limit of their possibilities, as far as present arrangements
are concerned. They are, properly, looking about them to
see the leadings of the Lord's providence in respect to
their future operations. Will they plunge into business
so deeply as to have little time for spiritual things? Will
they become identified with some kind of speculation, and,
perhaps, get others involved in what ultimately would be
a loss? Or will they look for something to do in a quiet
way that will enable them to meet expenses, possibly
being able to continue to some degree in the gleaning work
of the Harvest? The latter is our expectation and, we
believe, in accord with the Spirit of the Lord--the spirit
of a sound mind.--2 Timothy 1:7.
[R5670 : page 126]
Let us call to mind the great disappointment of the
Apostles in connection with the Redeemer's death. Up to
within one day of His crucifixion they had thought that
His remarks respecting death, crucifixion, etc., were figurative
language, and that in reality He was about to be
exalted to power and great glory. The experiences of
that time must have been a severe test upon them in every
way. Our Lord's resurrection the third day revived their
hopes, although His appearances in miraculous manner
indicated some wonderful change which they could not
understand; but afterwards they learned that it was because
He was no longer a man, but a perfected New
Creature of the Divine nature.
Then came the long interval between appearances--for
weeks at a time they saw nothing of Him, heard nothing
from Him. Anxious, disappointing days!--their faith and
patience weakened. Finally, utterly discouraged, St. Peter
took the lead in announcing his determination to give up
all thoughts of further preaching and to return to the fishing
business. He announced, "I go a fishing." Promptly
his former partners responded, "We also go with thee."
(John 21:3.) Here were seven principal disciples, abandoning
the great work to which they had been invited of
the Lord--but doing so in their perplexity, with hearts
as loyal as ever.
Evidently this was the occasion Jesus had waited for.
We know of no other reason why He should remain forty
days before ascending to the Father. He allowed the
disciples to go back to their former business and to meet
with discouragement. The very first night "they toiled
all night and caught nothing!" Poor men! They must
have felt as though everything was going against them.
However, Jesus was watching over them all the while
and purposely permitting them to come to this crisis, so
that He might teach them a great lesson--and us through
them. The lesson was that He was able to overrule all
of their affairs, and that they should firmly trust Him,
come what might, so long as they were loyal and following
His directions.
Discouraged as to confidence in their own abilities
as business men, they were ready in the morning to
see Jesus on the shore and to accept His invitation to
breakfast with Him from fish already cooked on the fire
--from whence came the fish and the fire they knew not.
These things were provided by miraculous power, as was
the body of Jesus in which He appeared to them and the
clothing He wore on it. Jesus said little to them, except
to St. Peter--"Feed My sheep, feed My lambs, if thou
lovest Me." The Apostles took the lesson and returned
again to the preaching of the Gospel as the main business
of life. The Lord's blessing was with them. He
provided for them according to their needs, although it
was sometimes in prison; sometimes in fasting and
hunger, nakedness and peril. He gave them of His best
for their development as New Creatures.
We do not wish to draw a parallel here and suggest
that all the Brethren should abandon earthly affairs, as
did the Apostles. We are not Apostles. There were only
The Twelve. We are not to expect that we would have
as important a work to do, nor that the Lord's providences
would be so markedly exercised on our behalf. We are,
however, to remember the Master's statement, "One is
your Master, even Christ; all ye are Brethren!" While
the Apostles were more important Brethren than we, still
we are Brethren; and One is our Lord, or Head, and we
have all one Father. The Divine promises assure us that
all things shall work together for good to us, because we
love God and have been called according to His purpose
and are seeking to make our calling and election sure.
The lesson we do suggest is that the Divine Plan has
not changed. The Harvest surely is not ended. The
great Time of Trouble has already begun. Although it is
necessary for us to provide things decent and honest in
the sight of all men, we are not to forget that our chief
business is that of ambassadors for God--representatives
of the Lord Jesus Christ--proclaimers of the Good
Tidings of great joy which eventually shall be to all
people. We are never to forget that we are to seek first,
chiefly, the Kingdom of God and the righteousness which
it stands for and inculcates.
This is to be our chief work, the chief aim of life for
us. Everything else is to be secondary. We are to expect
that the Lord will give us necessary wisdom and
grace if we seek it, whereby we may serve Him with
acceptance and still provide the things necessary for our
bodily comfort, without entirely leaving the work. This
would mean that we should watch and pray--asking the
Lord's direction and then waiting to see which way His
providences seem to direct our course. We should watch,
also, against the wiles of the Adversary, who would seek
to ensnare us in business or pleasure or whatever.
Our advice is that all of the Lord's people put the
Kingdom and its interests first, in word, in thought, in
deed--giving merely what time is absolutely necessary
for the procurement of the things needful for our earthly
comforts and the comfort of those dependent on us.
Assuredly thus we would be following the example of
the Master, pleasing to the Father and helpful to each
other. Thus we would be examples to our neighbors, as
well as be preparing ourselves for the Kingdom.
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