Missionary Spirit

WEBSTER defines a missionary as "one who is sent upon a mission;" but this does not cover the idea of the term as it is used when applied to the work of God. A more full definition would be, "One sent upon a mission to save souls." It is not, therefore, necessary to go into a far country to be a true missionary; but wherever there are souls to save, there men and women should manifest the true missionary spirit. It should commence in our own hearts; and the fruits of it will be seen in our lives; and its influence will be felt in our own families and neighborhoods.

Love is the motive from which the action springs. Love is an active principle and cannot live without works. Its life consists in performing acts of disinterested benevolence. The soil in which it grows is not the natural heart; but love is a heavenly plant, and flourishes only in a heart renewed by the grace of God. It never becomes weary in doing good to others; for it "suffers long and is kind." Christ was the great exemplar of this principle. And as we are possessed of his Spirit, just in that proportion the work will be for the up-building of the cause for which he shed his blood.

To be successful requires true wisdom. "He that winneth souls is wise." The apostle reasoned that he had run in vain unless success attended his labors. He exhorts the Philippians to "do all things without murmurings and disputings," "holding forth the word of life," that he might rejoice in the day of Christ that he had not "run in vain, neither labored in vain." Phil. 2:14-16. The consequences are too serious to enter upon the work of the Lord in a reckless manner. Eternal results rest upon present moves. If a selfish motive prompts the act, even if it be to give all our goods to feed the poor, God does not accept it.

A heart that is drawn out after souls for whom Christ died, and that is free from selfish interests, is pleasing to God. It will feel the misery of others, and cannot rest at the sight of suffering. Christ was rich, but he became poor that we might become rich. To bear the burdens of others, to alleviate the sufferings without having in view a reward in this life, is an important part of the Christian religion. "When thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and thou shalt be blessed." Here is the reason: "For they cannot recompense thee." Now comes the time when the reward is given: "But thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just."

The world calls a man a shrewd calculator who can make every move count in bringing him returns in this life, either in money, honor, or friends, anything that will gratify a selfish heart. But God said to the man who had amassed a competency, and then arranged matters for many days of ease in this life, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee." Had he been rich toward God by works of a purely disinterested character, it would have been said to him, at last, as well as to others "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. . . . Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me." To the other class it is said: "Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me."

The precious blood of the Son of God, which was shed for the salvation of mankind, tells the worth of the soul. And he who, for the sake of sordid gain, will neglect laboring for the salvation of others, and that will let worldly interests come in between him and such labor, deceives himself if he thinks he is possessed of the Christian religion. Christ left riches, honor, and glory, and took upon himself poverty in the extreme. He had not where to lay his head. Yea, we did esteem him smitten of God and afflicted. He was despised by men, yet he went about imparting life to the dead, health to the sick, and joy to the sorrowing. This was the missionary spirit as exemplified in the life of the Son of God. And if we have not the Spirit of Christ, we are none of his. Disinterested acts of benevolence will alone secure success. Selfishness will not. It cannot save a single soul. A stream can rise no higher than its fountain. If the motive be selfishness, the fruit will be of the same nature. If the motive be purely unselfish, like that principle that brought Christ from heaven, it will bring forth fruit unto eternal life. There is no failure in this matter. What we sow, we shall also reap. If we sow unto the flesh, we shall of the flesh reap corruption. If we sow unto the Spirit, we shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. This is the true missionary Spirit that will bring souls to Christ.

The heart must first be changed, and become gentle, easy to be entreated, full of good fruits, without partiality or hypocrisy. It is God who gives this work success, and, therefore, it must be by the aid of his Spirit that the act is performed.

Then God's Spirit will affect hearts. When it is fully realized that God alone gives the increase and the spirit of disinterested affection is the Spirit of Christ, it will be considered a privilege to sacrifice for the advancement of the work of God, and with the apostle we can exclaim: "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."