Living In The Light

September 7, Personal Service Required

“Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out?”
—Isaiah 58:7 LL 265.1

Everywhere there is a tendency to substitute the work of organizations for individual effort. Human wisdom tends to consolidation, to centralization, to the building up of great churches and institutions. Multitudes leave to institutions and organizations the work of benevolence; they excuse themselves from contact with the world, and their hearts grow cold. They become self-absorbed and unimpressible. Love for God and human beings dies out of the soul. LL 265.2

Christ commits to His followers an individual work—a work that cannot be done by proxy. Ministry to the sick and the poor, the giving of the gospel to the lost, is not to be left to committees or organized charities. Individual responsibility, individual effort, personal sacrifice, is the requirement of the gospel. LL 265.3

“Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in,” is Christ’s command, “that My house may be filled.” He brings men and women into touch with those whom they seek to benefit. “Bring the poor that are cast out to thy house,” He says. “When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him.” “They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Luke 14:23; Isaiah 58:7; Mark 16:18). Through direct contact, through personal ministry, the blessings of the gospel are to be communicated. LL 265.4

In giving light to His people anciently, God did not work exclusively through any one class. Daniel was a prince ofJudah. Isaiah also was of the royal line. David was a shepherd boy, Amos a herdsman, Zechariah a captive from Babylon, Elisha a tiller of the soil. The Lord raised up as His representatives prophets and princes, the noble and the lowly, and taught them the truths to be given to the world. LL 265.5

To everyone who becomes a partaker of His grace the Lord appoints a work for others. Individually we are to stand in our lot and place, saying, “Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8).— The Ministry of Healing , pp. 147, 148. LL 265.6

Further Reflection: Notice that God calls people of every class to be His servants. How can the rich serve the cause of God? How can the poor also serve others faithfully? LL 265.7