"In view of the fact that we are living so near the close of this earth's history, there should be greater thoroughness in labor, more vigilant waiting, watching, praying, and working. The human agent should strive to attain perfection, that he may be an ideal Christian, complete in Christ Jesus."—Gospel Workers, p. 424.
This timely exhortation is one that should stir our workers to engage in diligent efforts to improve upon their present attainments. We should never feel that we have attained the fullest extent of our possibilities. To do so is fatal, for once we consider that there is nothing more we can do to improve our talents and develop our personalities, further progress is hopeless.
The apostle Paul expresses this same idea in a well-known passage in his letter to the Philippians. After referring to his natural religious heritage, which he had learned was of but little profit compared with the knowledge of Christ Jesus, and with an earnest desire to develop a character like his Lord's, he said:
"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, 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" (Phil. 3:12-14).
If, with all the attainments that the great apostle Paul possessed naturally, and that he had further developed through rigid training, he felt there were still greater possibilities for him to apprehend, how much more should we feel that we have not as yet attained to perfection in our work, and that there are still greater attainments for us to reach, and still greater abilities to acquire which we might use for the salvation of our fellow men!
Our workers are exhorted to—"bend their minds to the acquisition of knowledge in connection with their labor, so that they may be 'workmen that need not be ashamed.' They can master one branch of science after another, while they are engaged in the work of preaching the truth, if they will wisely employ their time. Golden moments are thrown away in unimportant conversation, in indolence, and in doing those things which are of little consequence, that ought to be used every day in useful employments that will fit us more nearly to approach the high standard.
"The men who now stand before the people as representatives of Christ have generally more ability than they have training, but they do not put their faculties to use, making the most of their time and opportunities. Nearly every minister in the field, had he exerted his God-given energies, might not only be proficient in reading, writing, and grammar, but even in languages. It is essential for them to set their aim high. But there has been but little ambition to put their powers to the test to reach an elevated standard in knowledge and in religious intelligence.
"Our ministers will have to render to God an account for the rusting of the talents He has given to improve by exercise. They might have done tenfold more work intelligently had they cared to become intellectual giants. Their whole experience in their high calling is cheapened because they are content to remain where they are. Their efforts to acquire knowledge will not in the least hinder their spiritual growth if they will study with right motives and proper aims."—Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 193, 194.
Here we are urged to become "proficient in reading, writing, and grammar." We are not to infer from these words that our workers cannot read and write. Of course they can all read and write. The state has very wisely compelled them to acquire that much knowledge by the time they entered their teens. But how few there are who are proficient in reading! How few read so intelligently and enunciate their words and syllables with such exactness that an audience is both uplifted and instructed by their reading! How few there are who have become proficient in writing! In one of his essays Bacon said, "Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man."
Skillful Reading
There is a growing tendency on the part of our workers to confine their announcement of a hymn to merely announcing the number. Years ago in our divine services our workers took time to read either the whole of a hymn or at least the first stanza. In my opinion much more good would be accomplished in the praise portion of our services if, while announcing a hymn, the announcer would take sufficient time not only to read at least one stanza but to call attention to some particularly interesting expressions of the hymn writer, or to relate briefly the circumstances that led him to write the words of the hymn. This will enable the congregation to sing with understanding and to take a deeper interest in the service.
I well remember a fine preacher in the Methodist church which my mother attended when I was a young child, and how wonderfully well that minister read the hymns. Even in my childhood his splendid ability to read and give the sense appealed to me. The memory of it still lives, because of the indelible impression that man's well-cultivated vocal abilities made upon the congregation, even upon the children.
We are told in the book Education that "singing is as much an act of worship as is prayer" (page 168), and "there are few means more effective for fixing His words in the memory than repeating them in song" (page 167). Let us then make much more of the singing portion of our services in the future, and let us practice the art of reading effectively, so that our people will be uplifted by our reading of even one stanza of a hymn.
Successful Writing
Although most people make no attempt to attain proficiency in writing, they little know what marvelous opportunities for self-improvement they are missing through neglect to cultivate the power of writing. The ability to express one's thoughts on paper is an asset that is worth any effort on our part to acquire. We should recognize that "the pen is mightier than the sword," and therefore it is much more important to learn how to wield the pen than the sword.
In our work for the world, literature occupies a most important place. We can reach millions of people through our literature who could not be reached, perhaps, in any other way except by radio. Yet it should be remembered that effective radio work is done only by those who have acquired proficiency in both reading and writing. A poor reader will not hold many listeners very long, while even a good reader will not hold his audience long if his script is poorly written. Therefore, to be really successful as a radio speaker, a man should be both a good writer and a good reader.
Writing is a branch of knowledge we would do well to cultivate. But, like other arts that are worth acquiring, it is necessary that we apply ourselves to the question most assiduously. Much more than that, however, must be acquired. We must gradually build up a vocabu
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