As the object of this short paper is to encourage young believers in the work of the Lord, it is not proposed to enter into the question of the various gifts, such as pastors, teachers, etc., important as this matter is in its place.
Every young Christian should be interested in the service of Christ in some way; and should look to Him in earnest prayer for guidance, and an open door for work in His vineyard. Many considerations should lead us to shake off the slothfulness and indifference to which we are all so prone. Time is passing, our opportunities are running out, souls are perishing around us, Christ is coming. There is something for every one to do: whether it be to speak a word to those we know and meet with in daily life, as He may give courage and strength, to teach in a Sunday school, to preach the gospel if called on to do it, to give away a book or a tract, or to seek to encourage other believers with whom we come in contact.
We read in Nehemiah concerning the returned captives, that though it was a time of distress, yet each one built a part of the wall of Jerusalem, or helped forward the work in some way. Of certain ones we are told that they “repaired” their portion of the wall, and of one in particular that he “earnestly repaired” his part; whilst others were on the watch and held the spears, shields, etc.
There are two things which must ever go together in the work of God – earnest prayer and diligent service. The one will not do without the other – even if it is but to teach a few children in a Sunday school; if this be done without prayer it will soon become a cold, formal duty. There is really an urgent need on all hands, a need of work done with a heart filled with the love of Christ, in the unction and power of the Spirit, and with earnest, believing prayer. See the case of our blessed Lord Himself – we find Him going into a mountain to pray and spending a whole night in prayer to God, as well as praying on many occasions.
Do we take to heart the great need of souls perishing around us as we should, as well as the young in the flock of Christ wanting to be fed and taught?
The apostle Paul mentions two motives which led him out in diligent service: First, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;” and, secondly, “The love of Christ constraineth us.” On the one hand judgment was coming – and what will this be to those who die unsaved! – and, on the other hand, the love of Christ constrained him – a love which led the Savior to die for the lost and guilty so that the door of mercy might be opened wide to all who believe. Then we read weighty exhortation, “In diligent zealousness, not slothful; in spirit fervent, serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:1111Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; (Romans 12:11) JND). May the Lord revive His work and waken up His people, young and old, brothers and sisters, to feel their responsibility in these matters!
If the young Christian is walking in the sunshine of the love of Christ, if he is free and happy in his own soul, going on from day to day in communion with God, he must be a help to others. Let us seek grace to use whatever opportunities may come in our way, without waiting for great occasions, where, too often, there is the danger of seeking to display ourselves. The great thing is to live and walk and serve under God’s eye, seeking only, His approval not disappointed if even true Christians have little sympathy with the work and not elated by the applause of men.
Take the case of the soldier. The moment he takes up military service he has a definite object in view, namely, to please him who has enlisted him in his service. So the true motive and spring for Christian service is to please Christ, to seek earnestly the blessing of even the youngest lamb in His flock, as well as to forward His interests in the great gospel field in whatever little, way we can.
All may not be called to preach from a public platform or to take a prominent place in this way, but all have some work to do. We believe many souls might be reached by the distribution of books and tracts from house to house and cottage to cottage, in the towns and villages of our land. In country places, too, there is a wide field for this work, and often a willingness to listen to the word of life. This is a work which can be done either by young or old, by sisters or brothers, and it often opens the way for conversations with persons who are not easily reached otherwise, owing, it may be, to sickness or other causes.
We may well say, “O Lord, revive Thy work” – revive it first within, in the hearts of Thy people, and then going out in blessing to others! We write especially for those who are young in the faith, that they may be encouraged and guided in taking up some little service for the One who has done so much for them, and that they May be led to give themselves to prayer – true, earnest, persevering prayer, for blessing on the work of the Lord. Soon the time for service will be over, and we shall enjoy the rest of His presence, sharing His victory, and clothed with bodies like His own. Then each one will receive his reward according to his conduct and service here, and then even a cup of cold water, given in His name and for His glory alone,. will not be forgotten. And let us not be discouraged if we do not see large results now, but persevere to the end.
“Therefore,” says the apostle, after dwelling on the great truth of resurrection, and the life-giving power of Christ – “therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” There are difficulties and disappointments, too, but let us seek grace, in all humility, to be “always abounding in the work of the Lord.” The results will all come out in the resurrection day.
Practical Conversations With Our Young People
Sometimes young people get the idea that the Lord’s work is to be left entirely to a few called “laboring brothers,” and they themselves are not individually responsible for anything more than a faithful attendance at meetings. But such a conception of the Lord’s work will not stand the test of the Word of God for a moment. Take the letter to the Corinthians, which was addressed, not to those laboring in the gospel, but “all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours” (1 Cor., 1:2). No salutation could be more general or all-inclusive than this. In this same epistle, in the fifteenth chapter, we read, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
Now the question I wish to put to every young Christian is this – what definite “work of the Lord” are you engaged in? What line of Christian activity do you feel to be yours each week, and each month? Scripture always contemplates a faith that manifests itself in words. “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:1717Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (James 2:17)). In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, we read that the Lord gave “to every man according to his several ability.” Not only so, but He held every one accountable for the use he made of that with which the Lord had entrusted him. Then it is not for me to plead that there is nothing for which I am fitted, so I will excuse myself from any responsibility in the matter. No – to do so is to fly in the face of plain Scripture, “to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” (Eph. 4:77But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (Ephesians 4:7)).
Let us suggest a few ways in which definite work for the Lord may be done by even the feeblest believer. Take first the distribution of tracts. I know of no more blessed service than this. I verily believe there will be thousands of souls in the glory who were brought to Christ through the simple ministry of a gospel tract. Carry a few with you all the time in your pocket or in your purse. Slip one to your seatmate on the car – drop one in the mail boxes along the road, leave them lying around on tables in offices, lunch rooms, street cars, trains, drop them in the seats of automobiles standing along the streets, send them in letters to friends, to people suffering reverses. Neither do you need confine your efforts alone to gospel lines. Get tracts dealing with the great truths of the security of the believer in Christ, of the finished work of the cross, of the Lord’s coming again for the church, of the need of separation from the world, of the truth as to what the church is and the Christian’s separation to Christ the Center. Pass such tracts out with prayer and care as to the needs of the soul to whom you give them. Follow one tract up with another, if the first was acceptable. Have a prayer list and seek definitely from God to have souls led on in the truth.
Again there is the ever-blessed privilege of speaking personally to souls about the Lord Jesus. It is not a sermon that is needed, but just a few words about Jesus to some soul as the opportunity offers. If such is done in weakness and dependence, God can use it to break the hardest heart. Visiting hospitals or infirmaries is a fine way to reach souls, as they are far more apt to be in a mood to hear of divine things than those enjoying health and prosperity.
For young men who desire to preach the word, there is one pulpit that is always empty, and one audience that is ever present – that is the street corner. The summer time is the harvest time for street preaching and hundreds of souls in our land today thank God for the street preacher, who brought them the message, when they were headed on the down grade to destruction.
For young women, a blessed service is to call on homes where there are children and seek to get them into the Children’s Meeting. I know of a case where through the children being brought into the Children’s Meeting,, the parents became interested, and the wicked drunkard of a father was brought to Christ, and he and his wife were happily received at the Lord’s table.
Finally we would mention the use of one’s money for the Lord. There are always hundreds of ways in which a dime or a dollar can be invested for the Lord. The monthly magazines need constant supplies to meet the free editions, and the Lord’s servants in distant parts need funds to effectually carry on the Lord’s work. Then “the poor ye have always with you,” and they must be cared for for “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble” (Psa. 41:11<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. (Psalm 41:1)).
At best the above are but suggestive lines of Christian labor, and if the individual would be before the Lord, He will direct into just those bits of service that will in “that day” be to His own praise and glory.