The article of ZWT February 1881,
entitled “Lay up for yourselves treasures”, is a sequel of previous articles
written by Russell about the obligation of the Saints, the Bride of Christ, to
spread seriously and meaningfully the message. Bruce and Rachael have posted a
previously “Temporary post … VERY temporary” to introduce us to the argument,
and that article is the basis for my comments.
Russell’s article is addressed to
the regular readers and believers of ZWT, to encourage them to spread the
“truth”, but I suspect, on the base of the previous article of Bruce and
Rachael, it was also an (in)direct message to some leading characters of the
movement, I suspect Paton and Allen. This suspicion came to me reading this:
Do
I hear you say that the prize for which you are running is a heavenly one and
that you are laying up your treasure in heaven? I am glad that when you hold
these treasures up before your mind you recognize them all as earthly, which
the moth and rust of time will soon destroy. I am glad if your hearts have not
become so fond of these things, that you worship them and think them beautiful.
But let me put it plainly: Would your neighbor judging from your daily acts not
suppose that you are bending all of your energies for some of these prizes? Is
he deceived, or are you, with reference to your real aim? Do not your actions,
as well as his, speak louder than words--What is your real treasure-- the thing
which you really love?
Russell speaks of “daily acts” and
“actions”, and that they “speak louder than words”. What are these acts and
actions? He quoted a hymn, “All for Jesus! All for Jesus! All my beings
ransomed powers; All my thoughts and words and doings, All my days and all my
hours.” In quoting the hymn he implicitly says that the Christian deeds should
be in thoughts, words and doing, and at this point Russell reports his personal
experience in thoughts, words, and doings for Jesus:
I
found that I had three hours for my consecrated work … I daily spend one hour
not in reading, but in earnest study. I searched and found daily spiritual food
and my "daily bread" sometimes took two instead of one hour. How
should I use my other hours? … my chief object should be to give spiritual
help, or secondly, any temporal aid or comfort to those needing it.
Russell
made clear the point reporting to the readers two of his personal experiences
in preaching: First he gave testimony to his next-door neighbor who had sickness
and trouble, and then to a lady of whose deep piety and Christian character he
had heard much, giving her WT tract n.1. Thus his time was spent from day to
day, until the three hours were not enough. So we understand that in the mind
of Russell, acts and actions were: studying the Bible and preach the truth 3, 4
hours every day.
Russell
states that his article is directed to the consecrated saints:
These
five pictures represent persons who have consecrated all to God, who have
covenanted to become dead to earthly aims, and ambitions and prizes, and have
entered the list of those who will strive for "The prize of our high
calling" and "seek for glory, honor and immortality"--the honor,
the glory and the life promised only to the Bride--the overcomers, who keep
their covenant.
Russell
underlined the necessity to increase the witnesses saying: “He (God) has given
us many ways and opportunities of doing this. It may be spent in spreading the
truth.” The rest of the article is an exhortation to evangelize. The
exhortation was directed to every sort of Saints: the rich, the poor, mothers,
housewives, etc. Every kind of Saint must spread the truth.
In
ZWT of April Russell was explicit again. He launched an appeal for 1.000
preachers, and published the article: “How to teach”. Paton in the same time
published three articles: “Number Three, part 1”, “Number Three, part 2”, and
“Foundation of the World”.