Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 163, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1911 — The Value of Personal Work [ARTICLE]

The Value of Personal Work

ACH one of us as n crsatore of God has a part to do in life. Mine may be a JKMgF much more obscure part than yburs, yet I am accountable to God for my part. God does not expect those with one talent to do what those with five talents will accomplish. We are all here for a purpose and if we will answer the purpose of our creation we must give God our hearts and make afull and complete surrender to him, for "out of the heart are the Issues of life.” If we would have success in doing personal work we must ourselves be thoroughly converted. Jesus said to Peter, “When- thou are converted, strengthen thy brethren." In doing personal work It is necessary that we lay aside all sin and worldliness and let God lead our way. If we will not let him have his own way, our power will be crippled and men will be lost that we might have been instrumental in saving. We must have a working knowledge of the Bible. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the Joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). In Jer. 23:29 we read, “Is not my word like as a fire? salth the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" It la able to melt and break hearts. Oh, Christian friends, how very essential It Is to know the Word of God. It is the Instrument upon which we must rely in doing personal work. | ...... We will be prayerful. We may be free from sin. and we may have the Bible knowledge, but, unless we are closely connected with the powerhouse of God, all our efforts will be vain. We must pray to God to lead us to the right person to do personal work. It would not be wise to speak to every one we meet We must pray to God to show us Just what to say to those to whom he leads us. “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Tim 2:15). After all when we have studied the blessed word, we need God’s guiding hand at all times, We must pray God to give power to that which he has given us to do. We need not only a message from God but power from him to send the message home. Sometimes in doing personal work we reason and plead with men and even give them the Word of God, but they will rjot be moved. Why? Soon we will see that we are trying to save them in our strength and as soon as we see the wrong and look to God with a sincere and prayerful heart asking him to take ail self away like the song,” the work will become light and we can expect good results. True Love Needed. Last but not least, love is another Important part In doing personal work. We may be a praying people, and we’may know the Bible, but unless we have a love for lost souls, our work will not profit us anything. “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and give my body to be burned, and have not charity, It profitr eth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and Is kind; charity envleth not;, charity vaunteth not Itself, Is not puffed up.” If we have a love tor souls who we know are on the downward road to ruin, we will find opportunities to help them. When we are constrained by love we will not wait for some one else to do It * We may not feel the importance of personal work. Look at the vast number of traveling salesmen In the employ of business houses. Where would their work be if it were not tor the personal effort they put forth. And how much more necessary It la to be personal workers for the great Master who is all in all!—Gospel Herald.