Many people believe that the Gospel is to be preached by the Ministers of the Gospel and that they really have no responsibility to preach the Gospel themselves. They think that if they give a tithe and offerings to the work of God they have satisfied their obligation. Let’s look at what the Spirit of Prophesy and the Testimony of Jesus Christ has to say about this.
Thestimonies 8 pgs 15.5 – 16.2
The commission given to the disciples is geven also to us. Today, as then, a crucified and risen Saviour is to be uplifted before those who are without God and without hope in the world. The Lord calls for pastors, teachers, and evengelists. From door to door His servants are to proclaim the message of salvation. To every nation, kindred, tongue, and people the tidings of pardon through Christ are to be carried. [T8 15.5}
Not with tame, lifeless utterance is the message to be given, but with clear, decided, stirring utterances. Hundreds are waiting for the warning to escape for their lives. The world needs to see in Christians an evidence of the power of Christianity. Not merely in a few places, but throughout the world, messangers of mercy are needed. From every country is heard the cry: “Come over, … and help us.” Rich and poor, high and low, are calling for light. Men and women are hungering for the truth as it is in Jesus. When they hear the gospel preached with power from on high, they will know that the banquet is spread for them, and they will respond to the call: “Come; for all things are now read.” Luke 14: 17. [T8 16.1}
The words “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” ( Mark 16: 15 ) are spoken to each one of Christ’s followers. All who are ordained unto life of Christ are ordained to work for the salvation of their fellow men. The same longing of soul that He felt for the saving of the lost is to be manifest in them. Not all can fill the same place, but for all there is a place and a work. All upon whom God’s blessings have been bestowed are to respond by actual service, every gift is to be employed for the advancement of His kingdom. {T8 16.2}
I think this shows very clearly that it is not sufficient for us to give a tithe and an offering, but we have a responsibility to engage also in the work for the salvation for our fellow men which is specifically stated in paragraph 2 of page 16: “All who are ordained unto life of Christ are ordained to work for the salvation of their fellow men.”
Testimonies pgs 18.1 – 18.2
But it is not only upon those who preach the word that God has placed the responsibility of seeking to save sinners. He has given this work to all. Our hearts are to be so filled with the love of Christ that our words of thanksgiving shall warn other hearts. This is service that all can perform, and the Lord accepts it as offered to Himself. He makes it efficacious, imparting to the earnest worker the grace that reconciles man to God. {T8 18.1}
The previous quote once again show that God has placed the responsibility of seeking to same sinners not only on those who preach the Word of God. “He has given this work to all.” Notice that the quotation consists of the words “seeking to save sinners.” This obviously pertains to seeking the lost.
One cannot seek the lost simply by witnessing at work or at home or as you go about doing your daily business. When you go to Walmart to buy something, are you really seeking the lost or are simply seeking to buy something at Walmart. Is saying “Jesus loves you,” at Walmart on your way to buy something really giving the Three Angel Messages? To preach the Three Angel Messages takes preparation. It takes commitment. It takes consistency. We should not flatter ourselves as though we have done much when we have done so little.
In order to seek to find the lost, you must devise a plan, you must shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel, you must be well versed with the present truth so that your message will carry weight and once you have shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel you must take that step of faith and search for the lost sheep as the good shepherd would leave the 99 to find the one lost sheep.
Notice also that in the previous quote Mrs. White uses the words, “earnest worker.” One does not qualify to be an earnest worker simply by giving a tithe and offerings. This quote clearly shows that she is alluding to the fact that every member in the body of Christ is to engage in the work.
Testimonies 8 18.3
The Christian pilgrim does not yield to his desire to rest. He moves steadily forward, saying: “The night is far spent, the day is at hand.” This is his motto: “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after…. I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14.{T8 18.3}
The previous quote {T8 18.8} speaks for itself. We do not have the luxury of relaxing and taking it easy. We should be in a state of emergency knowing that the end is so very near. We may have responsibilities and obligations that we must attend to, we have to maintain the upkeep of our homes, prepare healthy meals and so on, but when we get home from work and after our obligations have been taken care of we are not to rest and relax, but our duty is to seek the lost. Yes there is a time to rest, but our rest is not necessarily the same kind of rest that the world knows. And yes, we are to take repose when we are weary and in need of rest, but often our repose is the first order of business we are insistent upon securing.
Testimonies 8 27.1 – 27.3
The message of Revelation 14 is the message that we are to bear to the world. It is the bread of life for these last days. Millions of human beings are perishing in ignorance and iniquity. But many of those to whom God has committed the stores of life look upon these souls with indifference. Many forget that to them has been entrusted the bread of life for those starving for salvation.
Oh, for consecrated Christians, for Christlike consistency, for the faith that works by love and purifies the soul! May God help us to repent and change our sluggish movements into consecrated activity. May He help us to show in our words and works that we make the burden of perishing souls our own.
Let us be thankful every moment for God’s forbearance with our tardy, unbelieving movements. Instead of flattering ourselves with the thought of what we have done, after doing so little, we are to labor still more earnestly. We are not to cease our efforts or relax our vigilance. Never is our zeal to grow less. Our spiritual life must be daily revived by the stream that makes glad the city of our God. We must be always on the watch for opportunities to use for God the talents He has given us.{T8 27.1-27.3}
Here in T8 27.1 Mrs. White says that we have been entrusted with the bread of life for those starving for salvation, yet we look upon these souls with indifference. She calls upon us to repent from what she calls our sluggish movements.
Once again, these quotes speak for themselves. Mrs. White says, “May He help us to show in our words and works that we make the burden of perishing souls our own,” in T8 27.2 This very clearly says that each and every one of us must go out and participate in the work.
Paragraph 3 start with a statement which reveals that our inactivity is a sign of unbelief which is one of the worst sins listed in the Bible. It was for the same reason that the Israelites were not allowed to enter into the promised land when Joshua pleaded with the rest to go up against the giants. This is now our battle and we must fight if we are to gain entrance to the promised land. She says that we are never to flatter ourselves after we have done so little and our efforts are to ever be increasing. This is exactly opposite of what is currently being experienced in the Church at large.
Testimonies 8 28.4
Many are readily satisfied with offering the Lord trifling acts of service. Their Christianity is feeble. Christ gave Himself for sinners. With what anxiety for the salvation of souls we should be filled as we see human beings perishing in sin! These souls have been bought at an infinite price. The death of the Son of God on Calvary’s cross is the measure of their value. Day by day they are deciding whether they will have eternal life or eternal death. And yet men and women professing to serve the Lord are content to occupy their time and attention with matters of little importance. They are content to be at variance with one another. If they were consecrated to the work of the Master, they would not be striving and contending like a family of unruly children. Every hand would be engaged in service. Everyone would be standing at his post of duty, working with heart and soul as a missionary of the cross of Christ. The spirit of the Redeemer would abide in the hearts of the laborers, and works of righteousness would be wrought. The workers would carry with them into their service the prayers and sympathy of an awakened church. They would receive their directions from Christ and would find no time for strife and contention. {8T 28.4}
Finally, once again Mrs. “White says that many are readily satisfied with offering the Lord trifling acts of service.” Trifling…? in other word she is saying that we are often satisfied with offering the Lord minuscule acts of service. She’s talking about seeking the lost and administering the bread of life. She’s not talking about participating in the Church service, or in the weekly Church gatherings. She’s talking about preaching the Three Angel Messages. Surely we are to participate and help with the duties of worship, Church gatherings and administration, but in this case she is specifically talking about the administering of the bread of life to a lost and dying world which in many cases cannot be accomplished in the Church. If they were in the Church, then they would not be lost at least theoretically unless they were apostate. Nevertheless, the lost sheep by definition have strayed from the flock.