EGW WritingsJob 29

Education

Honest Business Dealings

Ed 142.6

“Unto me men gave ear, and waited....
And the light of my countenance they cast not down.
I chose out their way, and sat chief,
And dwelt as a king in the army,
As one that comforteth the mourners.” Job 29:4-16, R.V.; 31:32; 29:21-25.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 16 (1901)

Lt 74, 1901

16LtMs, Lt 74, 1901, par. 22

Let every one work on the principles of self-sacrifice. Work while the day lasts; for the night cometh, in which no man can work. As God’s people work earnestly, humbly, self-sacrificingly, they will gain the rich reward of which Job speaks; “When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; ... the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.” [Job 29:11, 13.] Christ will be acknowledged as the Creator and Redeemer. Those who are laborers together with God will be recognized and appreciated. The recognition of the faithful servants of God detracts not one iota from the gratitude and praise we offer to God and to the Lamb.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Lt 25, 1900

15LtMs, Lt 25, 1900, par. 9

The experience of Job may be your experience. He says, “When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me. ... The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. ... I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.” [Job 29:11, 13, 15.] In the day of judgment, the good we have done humanity, not only spiritually, but temporally, will be recognized. Gratitude will be expressed for what men and women and children have done by unselfish actions for the saving of souls.

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7

Chapter 46—Instruction to Workers

7T 238.1

As God’s people labor earnestly, humbly, self-sacrificingly, they will gain the rich reward of which Job speaks: “When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; ... the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.... I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.” Job 29:11-16.

Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”—Matthew 5:7.

MB 22.4

The merciful are those who manifest compassion to the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed. Job declares, “I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.” Job 29:12-16.

Welfare Ministry

Gem Thought

Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. ... I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. Job 29: 12-16.

Radiant Religion

Watchful of Opportunities to Bring Joy, July 14

RRe 197.1

The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. Job 29:13.

Manuscript Releases, vol. 1 [Nos. 19-96]

Statements Relating to the Blind

1MR 385.1

We next visited Sister [Gurner], who is a widow. She has been thought by some to be a restless, complaining woman, and has been called a murmurer. But when I learned that she has not been able to read for twenty-eight years, I thought that instead of criticizing her, those of her sisters in the faith who have the blessing of eyesight should visit her and read to her as often as possible. Job says, “I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame” (Job 29:15). It is the duty of those who have sight to minister to the blind, so that the afflicted ones shall feel their loss as little as possible. We had a season of prayer with this sister, and the tender Spirit of the Lord rested upon us.—Manuscript 21, 1892, 16, 17. (“Diary Written at Preston, Victoria, Australia,” September 28, 1892.)

My Life Today

Be Eyes to the Blind; Feet to the Lame, August 27

ML 243.1

I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. Job 29:15.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)

Ms 21, 1892

7LtMs, Ms 21, 1892, par. 58

We next visited Sister Gurner, who is a widow. She has been thought by some to be a restless, complaining woman, and has been called a murmurer. But when I learned that she has not been able to read for twenty-eight years, I thought that instead of criticizing her, those of her sisters in the faith who have the blessing of eyesight should visit her and read to her <as often as possible.> Job says, “I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.” [Job 29:15.] It is the duty of those who have sight to minister to the blind, so that the afflicted ones shall feel their loss as little as possible. We had a season of prayer with this sister, and the tender spirit of the Lord rested upon us. We talked with Sister Gurner’s daughter, a girl of about sixteen, telling her the love of Jesus and entreating her to give her heart to the Saviour. I told her that if she would accept Christ as her Saviour, He would be her support in every trial, and would give her peace and rest in His love. <She seemed influenced by our words.>

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)

Ms 38, 1892

7LtMs, Ms 38, 1892, par. 32

We next visited Sister Gurner, who is a widow. She has been thought by some to be a restless, complaining woman, and has been called a murmurer. But when I learned that she has not been able to read for twenty-eight years, I thought that instead of criticizing her, those of her sisters in the faith who have the blessing of eyesight should visit her and read to her. Job says, “I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.” Job 29:15. It is the duty of those who have sight to minister to the blind, so that the afflicted ones shall feel their loss as little as possible. We had a season of prayer with this sister, and the tender Spirit of the Lord rested upon us. We talked with Sister Gurner’s daughter, a girl of about sixteen, telling her of the love of Jesus and entreating her to give her heart to the Saviour. I told her that if she would accept Christ as her Saviour, He would be her support in every trial, and would give her peace and rest in His love.

My Life Today

A Father to the Poor, August 28

ML 244.1

I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. Job 29:16.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 65a, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 65a, 1898, par. 33

Every truly converted church member is to be given some work. “The cause that I knew not, I searched out,” Job declares. [Job 29:16.] We are to study what service to God means. It means that we are to minister as Christ did when He was on our world. In this work, whether rich or poor, we are to wear Christ’s yoke, and learn from Him how to be meek and lowly. To some may be given especially the work of setting forth Christ by preaching, opening the oracles of God in our churches. Yet these should not neglect the work of visiting families, talking with them, praying with them exhorting them, encouraging those who need encouragement, and presenting a “Thus saith the Lord” to meet every deficiency. Personal labor is greatly needed, and altogether too little of it is done.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Ms 145, 1899

14LtMs, Ms 145, 1899, par. 7

How many are there that do this work? Job declared, “The cause that I knew not, I searched out.” [Job 29:16.] But have you relieved the cases brought directly to your notice? You have seen many who love and fear God bearing the galling yoke of poverty, but like the priest and Levite, you have passed by on the other side, making no resolute, determined efforts to help the oppressed. Will you manifest zeal to gather all the means you can for yourself, while Christ in the person of His saints is left to suffer for the necessities of life, to go hungry and naked?

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Ms 130, 1899

14LtMs, Ms 130, 1899, par. 34

There are many who are careless and self-indulgent, estimating their work as of more value than the work of others, and placing a money value on their services, while they know that men toiling as missionaries are compelled to support their families and help distressed, needy ones on half the means they receive. If like Job, we kept these cases before us, we should see many things needing our consideration. Job declares, “The things that I knew not, I searched out.” [Job 29:16.] The Lord knows every case; He keeps a record in His books in the courts above; and in the day of judgment every man’s work shall be made manifest.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 16 (1901)

Ms 101, 1901

16LtMs, Ms 101, 1901, par. 49

Skill in ministry is needed. God’s people need to learn from the Saviour how to restore those who have fallen into decay. Make diligent inquiry. Job declared, “The cause that I knew not, I searched out.” [Job 29:16.] Seek to bind up, to heal. Never do anything to send a soul into discouragement. Refuse to follow the selfish, exacting principles which have expelled from the hearts of some every vestige of the love of the compassionate Redeemer.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 16 (1901)

Lt 7, 1901

16LtMs, Lt 7, 1901, par. 14

Christ said of His work, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to preach liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.” [Isaiah 61:1, 2.] Notice; you are not to comfort only the few whom you are inclined to regard with favor, but all that mourn, all who apply to you for help and relief; and more, you are to search for the needy. Job says, “The cause that I knew not, I searched out.” [Job 29:16.] He did not wait to be urged, and then turn away, saying, “I will not help him.”

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)

Lt 3, 1892

7LtMs, Lt 3, 1892, par. 16

The sacred responsibility rests upon the minister to watch for souls as one that must give an account. He must interest himself in the souls for whom he labors, finding out all that perplexes and troubles them and hinders them from walking in the light of the truth. Job says, “The cause that I knew not I searched out.” [Job 29:16.] This should be considered the important work of the ministry, even if it demands much painstaking effort and inconvenience. This is home missionary work and it is in no case to be neglected; for eternal interests are here involved.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)

Ms 32, 1893

8LtMs, Ms 32, 1893, par. 6

When my husband was alive and connected with the office, he was ever interested for the sorrowing. As a religious duty devolving on him, he had a care for the widows and fatherless. And I will say, If the ones who made so much of any mistake or error they thought they saw in him would only manifest the spirit of compassion and watchful caretaking of those who needed help and counsel, the Lord would be better pleased with their course of action. Now will someone or ones act the fathers and mothers in Israel? Will they go to Sister Lockwood and make inquiry in reference to her children? The things they know not, like Job “search out” [Job 29:16], and see if they cannot save a soul from death; give this lad a place in the office. That is one of the very things that was presented before me when the reasons from the Lord were given why an office should be established in Battle Creek. It was that parents keeping the Sabbath, and Sabbathkeeping children, should find employment, and that the managers should in every respect be men who have the converting power of God upon them, and should be in living connection with God, that the children and youth should see the tenderness of Christ, the compassion of Christ, in those who are in responsible places.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Lt 80a, 1895

10LtMs, Lt 80a, 1895, par. 2

Said Job, “The cause that I knew not I searched out.” [Job 29:16.] But there is no need of particular searching on your part, and on the part of your fellow workers. The needs are on every hand. One needs much wisdom where there are so many opportunities to see the needs and to help those who are worthy of help. The workers will need sanctified judgment and discrimination to apply the help where it will do the greatest amount of good in helping men and women prudently, that they may help others.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Lt 39, 1895

10LtMs, Lt 39, 1895, par. 17

Job says, “The cause that I knew not, I searched out.” [Job 29:16.] But there are so many cases that press upon our notice, and demand our charity that we have no need of hunting up cases at all. There are many poor who are distressed for want of food and clothing who are of the household of faith. Our purses will scarcely suffice to reach the needs of those we know. Jesus says, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” [Matthew 25:40.] How precious are these words of comfort to the poor!

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 62, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 62, 1897, par. 9

We should esteem it a privilege to help those who need our help. If Christ abides in us, we will not wait for some one to urge this work upon us. Job’s experience should be ours. He says, “The cause I knew not, I searched out.” [Job 29:16.] Though we are in the world, we must cherish and practice the attributes of heaven. The fruits of righteousness will be revealed in every branch that is grafted into the true vine.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 42, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 42, 1898, par. 21

Every church member who has been truly converted is to be given some work. “The cause that I knew not, I searched out,” Job declared. [Job 29:16.] Consideration is to be given as to what service for God means. It means that we are to do the same kind of ministry that Christ did when He was in our world. In this work, whether we are rich or poor, we are called upon to wear Christ’s yoke, and learn of Him to be meek and lowly in heart. Some more especially may be given the work of setting forth Christ from the pulpit, opening the oracles of God to the churches. Yet they should not seclude themselves from visiting family, talking with them, praying with them, exhorting them, encouraging those who need encouraging, and presenting a “Thus saith the Lord” to meet every case of deficiency. Altogether too little of this work is done.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Lt 16, 1898

13LtMs, Lt 16, 1898, par. 1

I can write you only a few lines this morning. I received a letter from Brother Leininger, stating that he was in need of $400. He said that he had asked that some shares he owned be transferred to some one else, and he be given the money to pay debts he owed to outside parties, but that no one came to relieve him in his necessity. I think it would have been well for those who claim to believe the truth and to be followers of Christ to have long ago done their duty. They should never have allowed things to come to such a pass. They should have been moved by the same spirit that moved Job, when he vindicated himself before his so-called comforters. He met the charges they heaped upon him with one statement, “The cause I knew not I searched out.” [Job 29:16.] Had you as Christians followed the example of Job, you would not have left things to come as they did, obliging Brother Leininger to mortgage his place. You would have secured help for him.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 61, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 61, 1898, par. 4

Co-laborers with God are to fill the space they occupy in the world with the love of Jesus. The world needs spiritual workers who will plant the seeds of truth in every heart. Then with Job they can say, “The cause which I knew not I searched out.” [Job 29:16.] Prayer for the grace and peace of Christ will be as the breath of the soul. This Christ represents as being “instant in prayer.” [Romans 12:12.] By this He means that the heart is constantly going out after God, and watching for opportunities of doing good, of speaking to the souls who are ready to die.