110. Hearty Acceptance
Today’s reading: “The Ministry of Healing” pp. 211, 212.
What a day! This reading has huge practical power that has barely been tapped.
…Especially does the temperance reform demand the support of Christian workers. They should call attention to this work and make it a living issue. Everywhere they should present to the people the principles of true temperance and call for signers to the temperance pledge. Earnest effort should be made in behalf of those who are in bondage to evil habits. p 171.
Today we learn the definition of “true temperance”
They need to have their attention called to the principles of temperance, not in a narrow or arbitrary way, but in the light of God’s great purpose for humanity.
This isn’t just telling people from the higher classes what they shouldn’t do. This is putting their personal habits in the context of “God’s great purpose”.
What is God’s great purpose? On page 146, at the beginning of this section, Ellen said,
In teaching health principles, keep before the mind the great object of reform — that its purpose is to secure the highest development of body and mind and soul.
On the opening page of the book, page 17, she said,
Our Lord Jesus Christ came to this world as the unwearied servant of man’s necessity… It was His mission to bring to men complete restoration; He came to give them health and peace and perfection of character… From Him flowed a stream of healing power, and in body and mind and soul men were made whole.
Today she speaks of,
…physical, mental, and moral power.
When the great and the rich and the powerful are told that God’s purpose for every human being is a healthy body, a mind at peace and a Christlike character, and we are actually doing things to relieve the “sick poor” and train “children and youth for usefulness,” then,
- “very many” would see the value in temperance and enthusiastically accept abstinence
- “not many would refuse to listen” to the proposition of supporting our work
- they would realise that they have been poor stewards of the money they spend on “liquor, tobacco and like indulgences”
- they would realise the peril they are in, the curse of wealth,
- they would support our work with their money
- they would develop the attributes of God (perfection of character right there)
A few points before we close today,
First, this section, “The Medical Missionaries and their Work”, is cleverly constructed, it clearly lays out the order in which we are to work. We are,
- teaching and healing
- helping the tempted
- working for the intemperate
- helping the unemployed and homeless
- working with the helpless poor
- then we approach the rich with hope, true temperance and the offer that they can become generous like Christ, and stewards of His blessings.
Second, “it is prosperity that is most dangerous to spiritual life.” That is pretty daunting as we are among the most prosperous people in the world in the most prosperous time in earth’s history. So,
“Our prayers are most needed by the men entrusted with prosperity and influence… Unless such men make God their dependence, they will surely fall.”
It means we should be praying for ourselves.
Third, it is the big words “temperance” (self-control) and “stewardship” that we are to emphasise with the rich. Tomorrow we see why.
