How far, practically are we ready to trust God? What is trust in God? Is it to feel secure and unconcerned for the future, when we have pulled down our barns and built greater, and there bestowed so much goods that we feel independent of Him? Is it to devote all our strength and time to earning a livelihood, so that we have absolutely none to give to His service?
What does God mean when he says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness , and all these things shall be added unto you”? If this were taken literally, would there not be more to heed the command, “Go work to-day in my vineyard”? Is there any justice in expecting God to show us beforehand just how he intends to lead us and provide for us? Is it exercising faith to look for this? Having food and raiment for to-day, with the assurance that “our Heavenly Father knoweth that we have need of these things,” and that He has promised to provide them for us, cannot we be content? God has worked wonderful deliverances for his people all the way through,—such deliverances as have caused heathen nations to fear and tremble, and idolatrous kings to humble them-selves and acknowledge His power. When the Philistines found that the ark of God was come into the camp of Israel, they cried, “Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hands of these mighty gods? These are the gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.”
His mighty miracles to deliver his people caused Nebuchadnezzar to declare, “There is no God that can deliver after this sort;” and Darius to proclaim, “I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for He is the living God, steadfast forever, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and He worketh signs and wonders in the heaven and in earth.” And this is the God who extends to all the opportunity to work in His vineyard, with a promise that whatsoever is right He will give.
There are urgent calls for faithful, devoted Christians of all ages and both sexes to labor some way for the Master. Who will respond to them? Dare we occupy ourselves with those things that perish with the using, and ignore God’s claims upon us? Dare we doubt that if we trust in the Lord and do good, we shall be fed? The Lord has never disappointed us. He always meets our faith. He offers a large reward in the near future for a little self-sacrificing faith in Him. May God help us to try to gain it.
The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald Dec. 12, 1882