HOW TO CONDUCT ONESELF,
HOW TO DO THINGS, AND HOW TO WORK
A Foreword
Since we work for the Lord, we need to learn how to conduct ourselves in the work…The saints who have dissented and left the Lord’s recovery have no way to go on. They have taken the wrong way because they did not know the way to conduct themselves in the work. They thought that they had seen the vision, and they also criticized the way that we were taking. It has been only five or six years since they left us, but they have all withered. If we want to have a future in the Lord’s recovery, we must learn how to conduct ourselves. The Lord has chosen and called us, but whether or not we will have a future as a Christian depends on our conduct. It does not matter where the Lord takes us or in what circumstances we find ourselves; we should be able to work in such a way that meets the need in our circumstances. The Lord said that we must be as prudent as serpents but guileless as doves. Then we will not harm others. Laboring with no Opinions and Taking the Body as the Goal of the Service in the Church. (Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 3: The Future of the Lord’s Recovery and the Building Up of the Organic Service, ch. 6)
You need to learn how to conduct yourself, how to do things, and how to work… “If you do not know how to conduct yourself, you will not know how to do things, and if you do not know how to do things, you will not know how to work.” I called this the “three how-to’s.” (Vessels Useful To The Lord, ch. 3)
Message One
How to Conduct Oneself
Scripture reading: Luke 16:9, 11; John 13:34; 1 Cor. 11:5; Phil. 4:8; 1 Tim. 2:9; 4:7, 12; 5:13; 2 Tim. 2:22; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:5
Ministry excerpts:
I. A PROPER CONTACT WITH THOSE BOTH IN
SOCIETY AND IN THE CHURCH
Those who have a heart to serve the Lord full time should know that humans are gregarious. It is impossible for us to live apart from a community. The propagation and multiplication of mankind depend on communities. There is no possibility for the human race to multiply, propagate, and develop without communities. Everything in human life, even the bad things, is developed in communities. Since humans cannot live apart from communities, sociologists study how to utilize the strong points and avoid the shortcomings of communities in order to develop a proper social arrangement.
Just as humans cannot live apart from a community, so Christians also cannot live apart from a “community,” the church. The word church is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia, which implies an assembly. According to God’s ordination, we cannot live apart from a community as humans, and we cannot stay away from the church as Christians. Once we are in a community, relationships are developed spontaneously. In human society in general, such contact produces more evil things than good things. A believer, however, has a relationship with another “community,” the church. These two kinds of relationships require two different kinds of contact. A person who serves the Lord must have a proper relationship and proper contact with those both in society and in the church…Because it is difficult for a person to limit the extent of his human relationships. Since God created us and saved us, we should learn to have a proper relationship and proper contact with others in society and in the church.
A. A Proper Contact with Society
1. Paying Attention to the Boundary
between Males and Females
The first relationship in a community is the relationship between males and females. This relationship exceeds that of a parent and child. God did not first create a parent and then a child. He first created a male and then a female and only through them were descendants brought forth. The relationships within a community began with the descendants of Adam and Eve, but the first relationship was that of a male and a female. This is also a very personal relationship. A parent-child relationship is not a matter of our own choice, but the male-female relationship involves a choice. We must be clear concerning this and keep a dividing line between male and female. We should not think that we cannot be influenced to make a wrong choice because we have a regenerated spirit. Our body is fallen and is still the flesh.
2. Shamefastness Being Greater Protection
When we share and testify in the meetings, the sisters should always remember that they are females and that whatever they do should be done with modesty, that is, shamefastness. Modesty, or shamefastness, is a female virtue (1 Tim. 2:9). The Bible says that if a woman prays or prophesies with her head uncovered, she disgraces her head (1 Cor. 11:5). This does not mean that the brothers can act immodestly. Both males and females should have a proper shamefastness. The more modest we are, the higher the standard of morality we will have and the greater will be our protection. A proper person should be very modest and be limited in the places he goes, the people he knows, and the things that he says. The basic principle of the Christian life is to walk according to the Spirit. When we walk according to the Spirit, we will have no need for anyone to teach us, but His anointing will teach us concerning all things (1 John 2:27).
The saints who have a heart to serve full time should learn the lesson of not being careless when contacting people and being careful concerning the setting in which they contact people. In particular, the sisters should not forget that they are females when they contact people; they are not free to speak carelessly. Otherwise, their contacting people will bring them many problems. Not only will they suffer loss but they will also cause the Lord’s name to suffer shame. In human communities as well as in the church, we must remember that there is a difference between males and females. It is wrong to speak with a person of the opposite sex when we are alone in a room. We must have a third person present there. This is not only a virtue but also a great protection.
3. Avoiding Temptations Related to Money
and to Relationships between
Males and Females in Our Service
The two greatest temptations in human life are related to money and to relationships between males and females. We should never think that since we have the Spirit of the Lord and we walk according to the Spirit, we will not encounter temptations related to these two dangers. These two dangers always exist and will follow us until we are taken by the Lord. Throughout the centuries countless servants of the Lord have been destroyed by these two things, even after serving faithfully for ten, twenty, or even forty years. Therefore, while you are still young, you must learn to regard these two things as poisonous snakes and wild beasts. We should never think that we could never be overcome by these temptations. Few people, if any, can overcome the temptation of money. When money is not in our hand, we do not know how great a temptation it is. Only when money comes into our possession do we realize its tempting power. The Bible calls money “unrighteous mammon” (Luke 16:9, 11). This shows that money is unrighteous.
It is impossible for a person living in this world to not have contact with society. It is also impossible for a Christian living in the church life to not have contact with the brothers and sisters. Sins come from contact; fewer contacts result in fewer sins. According to the teaching in the Bible, we must always remember our position when we contact others. Those who serve the Lord contact people all day long. Hence, we must maintain a proper relationship with those whom we contact. In this way we will have longevity of life in our service. This is the most basic lesson that a full-time serving one must learn. (The Vision, Living and Work of the Lord’s Serving Ones, ch. 16)
4. Paying Attention to
Where We Live and How We Live
We must be careful concerning how we live. With regard to single saints, the way they live greatly affects their service to the Lord. The Chinese say that “one who stays near vermillion will be stained red, and one who stays near ink will be stained black.” If those who live with you are “black,” eventually, even if you are “white,” you will become “black” because you are in close contact with them. We become the same as those whom we regularly contact. We are influenced by our environment.
Married saints should also be careful concerning where they live. Every aspect of modern society is contaminated; hence, we should never randomly choose a place to live. Rather, we should always pay attention to where we live and how we live. Our negligence in this matter will give rise to many problems, some of which may even affect our married life, our family life, and our service to the Lord.
B. A Proper Contact with the Church
1. Not Being Contradicting
or Confrontational
We need to learn the lesson to not cause friction in any local church or with any saint. This is not easy, but we still need to learn. No matter where we are, we must not be contradicting or confrontational with the saints.
The spirit will never allow us to touch or meddle in others’ affairs. There is friction when we meddle in others’ affairs. If we would not meddle, there would not be any friction. Some people in northern China wear woolen clothes because of the cold. This material is like a vacuum cleaner and attracts all the hair and dust in a room. There is another kind of material that is smooth and no hair sticks to it. Some people are born with a meddlesome disposition. They are like the woolen fabric that is full of “hair and dust.” People with this kind of disposition always have problems, because they provoke others. There are also those whose disposition is pure and simple; they do not get involved, even if they encounter “hair and dust.” These people are not meddlesome. We should learn to not be meddlesome but to walk according to the spirit. The spirit will never lead us into something with which we should not be involved. Young people like to take a stand for justice. However, in the church there is no such thing as taking a stand for justice. The only thing we walk by in the church is the spirit. The only way to avoid friction and confrontation with the saints is to walk according to the spirit. (The Vision, Living and Work of the Lord’s Serving Ones, ch. 18)
2. Submissive to the Leading Ones
You should be submissive to the leading ones (Heb. 13:17). Quite often a number of saints consider the leading ones in other churches to be very good, but not the leading ones in their church. They consider that it is better for them to be the leader because they could do a better job. They would not be so willing to go along with these leading ones. However, you should not think this way. The United States does have a particular advantage in its election process. Before the actual election day when people vote, many different things are spoken and done. But once a candidate is elected president and ushered into his office, then immediately all the Americans take his leadership. Among 240 million Americans, there may be another ten, twenty, or even fifty who are more intelligent and much more capable than the president. But we do not hear the voice of revolution. They all take that one leadership. It should be the same with us. Regardless whether the leading ones are not as good as you are in your consideration, or how intelligent you may be, you must consider God’s arrangement and His sovereignty and take them as the leading ones. Similarly, we have to believe that it is under God’s sovereignty that our president has been elected into office. Likewise, there should not be different voices in a local church.
3. Loving All the Saints
You should love all the saints (John 13:34). In John 13 the Lord particularly teaches us to love one another. Genuine love has no terms and no conditions. It does not mean that when others are good in your eyes, you love them, and when you feel that they are not good, you do not love them.
4. Coordinating with All the Members
in One Spirit
You must learn to coordinate with all the members in one spirit (Phil. 1:27a). This is really hard for us to learn. You may love others, but you just cannot go along with them. You cannot coordinate. This is the greatest weakness that you all have to avoid. Through the years, I have seen a lot of things in the church life. Two or three brothers might quarrel for half an hour over the way to arrange the chairs. They did not merely talk, but quarrel. Even among the sisters some insist to use a dry cloth to dust the furniture. Others insist to use a wet cloth. Their debate became a case that was brought to the attention of the elders for a decision. This is too much. If some sisters prefer to dust with something wet, just let them do it. The others have to learn the lesson and vice versa. As long as it is mopped or dusted, that is good enough. If you could not give up your opinion, you have to learn more lessons in the church life. We do not know, naturally speaking, how opinionated we are. Sometimes we criticize a person about his tie. This exposes our opinions. We must kill all of our opinions. Then we can coordinate, in spite of many differences, with all of the members of the Body of Christ for building up and service.
5. No Labeling
You should not label others. Do not say that this one is an old-timer and that one is not taking the new way. We must condemn all kinds of labeling. Sometimes we label others as Texans, Californians, New Englanders, or New Yorkers. This is not good. Learn never to label anyone. (Instruction and Exhortation to the Trainees, ch. 3)
II. THE CHARACTER ESSENTIAL
FOR THE LORD’S SERVICE
A. Genuine—Being the Same Within and Without
What is genuineness? It denotes a consistency within and without. In many instances no lying is involved, but there certainly is an absence of genuineness. A person who is not genuine is useless in the Lord’s hand. Moses was a most genuine person. When he came down from Mount Sinai, he broke the two tablets in anger. He was the same within and without. It is impossible to find a case in the Bible where Moses was not consistent through and through. A genuine person is solid and trustworthy. This does not mean, however, that a person should be free to lose his temper. To behave in a pleasant way when you are actually irate is to pretend and to be false. Some people speak on a subject to two people in two different ways. While they may not have the intention to deceive, they do not speak genuinely. Those who serve the Lord must cultivate a genuine character. In confronting certain matters, we may refrain from speaking anything because of our fear of God. However, if we do speak, we must be genuine.
B. Exact—Being Absolutely Accurate
It is very difficult to be exact with respect to time, words, and numbers. Many things are done in a “just-to-get-by” manner. This “more-or-less” attitude is most damaging. A person must not be “more-or-less”; he must be accurate. Accomplishing ninety-nine percent of a task, leaving one percent undone, is the same as not having done it at all. We should develop a character that is not sloppy but absolutely accurate. We must be exact both in word and in deed.
C. Strict—Taking Matters Seriously
Genuineness makes one solid, and exactness makes one strong. Strictness is the practice of genuineness and exactness. Genuineness and exactness can never be practiced by a loose person. To do everything genuinely and exactly requires a strict character. Whatever passes through the hands of a loose person becomes somewhat inaccurate and lacking in genuineness. Because a loose person is not strict, whatever he says must be discounted. Even his study of the Bible is sloppy. Those who are strict receive light while studying the Bible. They never let things go. When problems arise, they proceed to solve them, always tracing to the root of the matter. A loose person, who usually is curious and lives in his imagination, can never solve problems. A strict person never meddles in matters that do not concern him, nor does he entertain idle thoughts. He performs his task seriously and accurately.
D. Diligent—Not Slothful
A strict person is always diligent. Diligence is the most important characteristic of a servant of the Lord. The Bible is full of teachings concerning diligence. In Romans chapter twelve, Paul mentions consecration, serving in coordination, and gifts, and follows his word with “not slothful in zeal” (v. 11). One must be diligent in service. Diligence is crucial because it builds up our spiritual reserve and thus enriches us. Spiritual wealth comes from diligence. Laziness invariably produces poverty. He who is diligent is always sober minded, whereas he who is lazy is usually muddleheaded. All things exist in time. A successful person is one who seizes his time. We must redeem our lost time. Laziness is detestable because it causes our being to be squandered. It swallows our time and will eventually devour our whole life. Diligence, however, cannot be a matter of legality or of regulation; it should be practiced spontaneously. We should be the same whether seen or unseen by others. As a person becomes diligent, he will require much more of himself. One who is lazy can never clean thoroughly, because he is stiff-backed and will not even bend his waist to sweep the floor. An unconcerned person is lazy, but he who is concerned yet does not take action is a person who has not been dealt with. Only the diligent know to work. The Lord’s servant must cultivate a diligent character and never let himself go easily. Then he will be able to handle whatever God entrusts to him. Only those who are diligent can do the Lord’s work. The more a person works, the more he will become humble, practical, and careful, and the more he will control his temper and reject his flesh. This is most profitable before God. One who is diligent finishes thoroughly all the work that is around him and has been committed to him. D. L. Moody said, “I have yet to see a lazy person get saved.” Some people are actually too lazy to believe and to ask; thus, they miss such a great matter as their salvation. It is difficult to find a slothful person who has much spiritual pursuit.
E. Broad—Having a Wide Perspective
A person who practices being genuine, exact, strict, and diligent can very easily become narrow. By nature all sloppy people are broad. However, those who serve the Lord need to be broad in their character. The heart of Solomon was as broad as the sand on the seashore. Since the sand surrounds the sea, it must be broader than the sea. We must practice being broad. Only people who are broad can discover the great things in the Bible. A narrow person can only study the trivial matters and give messages on minor topics; furthermore, he may even make a message on a major topic become insignificant. A worker must learn to be broad, to study the Bible with a broad perspective, and to study the great items in the Scriptures. He must learn to pay attention to the significant things and to be magnanimous toward people. Such a person commands a wide view, and his leading of others and his knowledge of the Lord are likewise broad.
F. Fine—Not Careless or Negligent
Although we should not be narrow, we should be fine. In the last two thousand years, those who were greatly used by the Lord were both broad and fine. Those who were narrow and coarse were invariably of little use. The Lord leads us according to the grace that God gives us. Too often, however, His leading is dependent on our character. Some brothers and sisters can study the Bible and pray, but they cannot bear responsibilities. Because of their character, we dare not entrust the Lord’s business to them. They receive much grace and know how to pray, but they have not built up the proper character that enables them to accomplish things. Although they may be placed in some areas of service, they cannot be entrusted with the service. The service of the Lord requires a broad and fine person. To study the Bible well, one must find the scriptural basis of any matter with a broad and fine eye.
G. Stable—Steady, Not Easily Moved or Changed,
and Not Panicky
To be stable is to be steady, immovable, and unchangeable. What a stable life the Lord lived on the earth! He was not stirred by His brothers’ suggestion that He go up to Jerusalem to gain recognition, and when His opposers tried to stone Him, He walked past them straightly. Had we been in that situation, we either would have been stoned or would have quickly fled. Once the Lord knew that Lazarus was sick, He remained in the same place for two days more. Our Lord never wavered. He was stable. Those who know God’s will do not panic. An unstable person is like a reed in the wilderness blown by the wind. Never steady or stable, he leans west when blown by the east wind and east when blown by the west wind. A person who fluctuates can never understand the will of God. He can neither work with others nor serve the church. However, to be stable is not to be slow. Stability includes not speaking uncertainly or doing things about which one is unsure. A stable person is not easily changed by his environment. He controls his time well and takes action only after he has waited and is sure of God’s will. To be stable is not to be stubborn, stiff-necked, or obstinate, but to have an inner quality that is immovable and unchangeable. Luther was a stable and strong person; therefore, God could use him. Stability is an important qualification in serving the Lord and in selecting a co-worker. Time works, but only with a stable person. Once a stable person realizes God’s will, he will act immediately, regardless of the cost. Yet until God’s time has come, no one is able to influence him. Hence, we need to learn to be stable. Panicking does not help. We must remain steady through the storm, knowing that when it is over, the difficulties also will cease. Those riding in a boat well understand the importance of stability. When riding in a small boat on a stormy sea, one simply cannot afford to panic.
H. Deep—Searching Downward and Digging Deeper,
Not Being Superficial
The book of Proverbs says that a foolish person is a shallow person. The observation of a shallow person is not accurate. His understanding of the church, people, matters, and things is superficial. Being deep is closely related to being thorough and serious. A shallow person always makes superficial observations, whereas a deep person always searches and digs when he looks at things. To a shallow person, it may seem that there is nothing to do, even if a church is committed to him. While others have much to speak in a message, he has nothing to say. While others labor to obtain light in studying the Bible, he is satisfied with merely a literal understanding. In listening to people, a deep person does not easily believe others and listens beyond superficial remarks. However, a shallow person readily believes others’ words, and his relaying of information is often inconsistent and incomplete. As a result, gossip is created. Those who serve the Lord must be deep in truth, in experience, and in leading others. A shallow person cannot serve the Lord, because he will make God’s work shallow. Those who like to represent others are shallow people. One who is deep is neither complicated nor shallow. Such a person is three-dimensional, always investigating and researching.
I. Patient—Being Able to Wait
and Not Being Anxious
According to James chapter five, the farmer who wishes to obtain the fruit of the earth cannot be anxious (v. 7); he must wait for the appointed time. A patient person can wait. Contrary to the common understanding, patience is different from endurance. To be patient is not to be slothful and sloppy but to work diligently without anxiety. Everything we do takes time. The amount of effort put forth will determine how much one can accomplish. No work can be done cheaply. Those who hope for instant accomplishments can never do the work of God. To do God’s work a person must work daily yet without anxiety. A patient person is not distracted by anything temporary, since he knows his commission. This is like the farmer, to whom waiting is normal: on one hand, he works in the fields; on the other hand, he waits. In leading others one may often be disappointed, but those who are patient never give up hope. When our work suffers a setback, we must be patient. Time will prove and time will tell. Time will vindicate and manifest the truth. The manifestation of the glory of God may be only half a minute away. One should be aggressive but not anxious. This requires practice. A character produced out of patience is invaluable. We should not draw conclusions quickly concerning people or matters. After only a few more days of waiting, the real situation will emerge. We must learn to be patient when we are in need. If we are patient when in need, we will never have to borrow. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, though he felt heavy and pressed, he was nonetheless patient. Those who serve the Lord must possess such a quality. Many people make a clamor over minor hardships, make known their smallest problem, and make an instant judgment concerning any matter which comes their way. Such are useless people. To be patient is to wait. It is different from being slow. Whether one has a quick or a slow disposition, one must learn to be patient. To be slow is to fail to grasp opportunities; this must be dealt with. A patient person is prompt and nimble. We should be patient before opportunity arises and should grasp it immediately when it does. As we serve the church daily, we should wait patiently concerning all the situations which confront us and concerning the results of our work. Before the harvest season arrives, we should not be anxious; neither should we relax and be lazy. We should be full of feelings toward people and things. We should be sensitive and concerned and should have proper foresight. We must finish whatever work we have to do and leave the rest to time. In many ways time represents God.
Those who would be proper persons, and especially be weighty in the hand of the Lord, must possess all of the preceding nine characteristics. Without these nine qualities, we will not be enlightened in our study of the Bible; neither will we meet the requirements of the spiritual life in our dealings with people, things, and the Lord’s work. Also, it is very unlikely that we will have much spiritual growth. Our being must correspond with the work we wish to accomplish, and our character must match the business we plan to do. In a character that is fit for the Lord’s use, acquired habits are much more important than inborn nature. This all depends on the building up of a character that is suitable to the Lord. (Character, ch. 2)
III. LET NO ONE DESPISE YOUR YOUTH
Anyone who loves the Lord and is serving the Lord, even if he is not a full-timer, must be built up in his entire person, including areas such as whether one’s attire and hairstyle are appropriate and whether one’s shoes have been shined. In 1953 I used some wood to build the workers’ home across from the meeting hall. It looked simple and crude outside, but it was orderly inside. During the training, when no one was paying attention, I would often go to the workers’ home to check how well the tables had been wiped, the beds made, the shoes organized under the beds, and the clothes hung in the closets. It is a pity that later on the co-workers did not practice these matters thoroughly.
Although Mormonism is heretical, the Mormons are more proper and neat than people in Christianity. When the young people among them reach a certain age, they have to render two years of church service. During the service, the boys’ hair has to be proper; it cannot be too long. The girls have to be even more proper and dignified. Their schedule is very tight. They do not drink alcohol, tea, or coffee, and they do not smoke. Their practice is successful due to their conduct. Paul told Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth, but be a pattern to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12). The conduct mentioned here includes the matter of our clothing and attire being tidy, proper, and dignified.
I do not like to see my co-workers and the full-timers dressed slovenly. The people in Shanghai call these kinds of people “bums.” Some people have not polished their shoes for half a year, and their black shoes have become gray shoes. If such a one were to stand before me and speak, I would immediately discredit what he would say by fifty percent, regardless of what he would say. I would not have any confidence in him. One day when I was giving this kind of message about our dress, a brother immediately testified that what I had said was absolutely correct. He said that his father, who is an employer, looks at applicants’ shoes when he is interviewing and hiring people. You need to learn in all these matters.
Not only should we dress properly and neatly, even our living place should be clean and tidy both inside and outside. We Chinese are very negligent in this matter. The Japanese clean their dwellings every day. They wipe their tatami once a day. They pay special attention to the four corners of the room and wash the front entrance. The Germans not only wash the steps up to the front porch but also scrub them with soap. It would be considered a great accomplishment if a Chinese family cleaned their house once a week. If you go and examine our meeting hall, you will find that it is very unseemly. There is dust everywhere, yet we do not have any feeling regarding it. The Lord has entrusted so much to us, so how can we allow our meeting hall to be arranged in such a poor way? This is distasteful in the eyes of the unbelievers. We have disgraced ourselves.
Your attire is also often unseemly. Some brothers dress like bums. When they stand up and speak, dressed like a bum, who will listen? I do not have the time today, but if I were to conduct the training myself, the first thing I would do would be to change you thoroughly from head to toe. I am not asking you to buy good clothes. Rather, I want you to dress in a dignified, proper, tidy, and elegant way. You have to admit that if those who work in the bank dressed like you, they would be disqualified. You also have to agree that the church is higher than a bank. The work that we are doing today is much more valuable than the work that is done in a bank. However, the way you look today, you would not be hired, even if you were applying for a job at the bank. (Vessels Useful to the Lord, ch. 3)
