Continued from Issue 673
We must pray to God that He will give us the wisdom of knowing how to meet the needs of people with a few words in the short time that we are in front of them. You bring to many people the only ray of hope they will see. So many times cusomters hve told me, "I never let anyone in my home. I don't know why I let you in." We know why. Angels attend this work. People have told me that they were going to commit suicide on the very day that I called, but because God blessed my visit, my book and my prayer, their lives have been changed.
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grevious words stir up anger." Proverbs 15:1. We must cultivate te ability to reach people with all these special needs. I once heard a story about pastor who met a man in a store. The man was gruff, spoke angrily, and he was rude. The pastor said to him, as he looked him in the eye, "Sir, you must be carrying heavy burdens." The man looked at the pastor and said, "You know, I am!" and began to weep. He said, "Yesterday, we got a letter from the government telling us that or son had been killed in Vietnam. "This pastor was able to minister to that man's needs. Yes, there are so many people with needs, and we can show them the way to a better life. When we truly understand this, it will affect our attitude.
"Prayer will give to the voice persuasive power" (GW, P. 510). One customer said of a literature evangelist, "That man was in my house for less than 30 minutes, and I felt like I had been to church." Another said after a literature evangelist prayed in his home, "You know, my preacher comes over and has a chicken dinner occasionally, but he has never prayed for me like you have."
Pray each day that God will give you the spiritual armor described in Ephesians 6:12-20. We are in a spiritual war. Be sure the enemy will have some "fiery darts" (verse 16) made just for you. Put your "shield of faith" up ,and you will only hear a little ping as it glances off, and you keep marching forward.
"The secret of success is the union of divine power with human effort" (Colporteur Ministry, p. 106). When on my knees, I have received power for my work, but I have never written up a sales contract on my knees. I had to go out! "Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out to highways and hedges'" (Like 14:23). When we work hard, our work is easy, but when we work easy, our work is hard.
One of the best remedies for depression, whether financial or mental, is work. If you have problems, work. If you have difficulties at home, work. If you don't have the amount of sales you want, work. God can only bless those who work. Hard work gives us a feeling of security. A person who does not work hard seldom has a positive attitude. "More than natural endowments.... habits... decide... the battles of life" (Desire of Ages, P. 101). If you have a big day already by 2 p.m., don't quit, work more, have a bigger day! This is what champions do!
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved" (Helen Keller).
God wants us to prosper financially. He wants us to pay a good tithe and give offerings. He wants us to be examples in our local churches. People who don't work usually have a guilt complex. Remember that the stars always come out at night. "All day Jesus ministered to those who came to Him; in the evening He gave attention to such as through the day must toil to earn a pittance for support of their families" (GW, p. 42)
Two literature evangelists lived in the same town in a western State. One had more ability than the other, but the one with lesser ability always worked harder or longer hours. When he was in the part of the city where the more talented one lived, he would pass his friend's house on the way home. As he crossed a bridge, he could look down from the bridge toward the apartment of his friend and see his car sitting in the driveway. He knew that almost eery day he made at least one more call than his friend. The more talented one eventually became discouraged. The less talented one became discouraged, too, but eemed to always overcome it by his hard work. God used both men, but the one who worked harder was consequently asked to go to mission service and had the privilege of serving in many places. He always felt that his friend was more qualified. The difference seemed to be in their work habits. Their challenges were not different:
Elder Joe Hunt told an experience from East Africa of a literature evangelist traveling between villages on a bicycle. He sold a large order to a man in a village near the road and delivered the books. He continued going down the roard, and that evening he started back toward home. As he came near the house where he had sold the large order, his good customer saw him nd came running out toward the road. The literature evangelist tried to ignore the man and continued peddling looking straight ahead. He felt sure this man was going to cancel that big order. He thought if he could just ignore him and go right on by, the man would forget about it. But as he looked back, he saw the man jump on a bicycle and begin chasing him. The literature evangelist peddled faster and faster The man behind him peddled faster and faster. As literature evangelist was becoming exhausted, he looked back and saw this man gaining ground on him. Just before the man caught him, the literature evangelist stopped, knowing he was going to have to take his books back. The customer said, "My you are hard to cath. You must come back and see some of my neighbors. They have seen my books and they want some also." Often we fear the worst, which seldom comes true.
Will Rogers said, "Most people are about as hppy as they make up their mind to be." The Scriptures tell us, "He that is of a merry heart has a continual feast" (Proverbs 15:15). None has a pain free life, but God gives all enough pleasure to enjoy life and perform our special mission. A healthy sense of humor helps to create a good attitude.
Remember that the sun always shines brighter in the morning just after the darkest hour. All of us have trials and setbacks. All of us come to Christ with some excess baggage, so to speak. None of us had perfect parents, church or neighbors, but by God's grace we can become positive. Heaven will be a positive place, and the Lord wants us to practice for heaven here. He will help you to have a positive attitude. Attitude is not inherited, it is learned. It is a choice we make. Follow the steps in this chapter and you will have a positive attitude!
Those who go forth to the work under God's direction will be wonderfully blessed. Those who in this life do their best will obtain fitness for the future immortal life. - E.G. White (CM p. 19)