Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers - Ellen G. White

to depend upon the men who have all too many
burdens and responsibilities to bear. A weak, sickly
experience will be the lot of those who are
educated to depend wholly upon others. Those
upon whom they depend may have less of the fear
of God than they themselves have; and not more
mental power and talent than it is their privilege to
possess if they will but realize that they are not to
be children, but firm, brave men, seeking to gain
more ability by exercising that which they already
have, by trading upon the talent God has lent them.
We are individually responsible for the use of the
talents God has given us. Our intellect must be
cultivated. Close, hard thinking must be given to
the solution of difficulties.
The Lord has given to every man his appointed
work, and if He places men in positions of
responsibility, He will communicate His Holy
Spirit to them, giving them efficiency for their
work. But the men who are called upon to take
long and expensive journeys in order to help others
to devise and plan are not themselves in close
connection with the God of all wisdom if they put
583