By Martin, Myanmar

In November 2023, I was elected to be a preacher. Because I frequently followed up on and guided the work of church leader Anna, I found out that she was making progress in doing her duty, was more efficient in implementing work than previously, and was achieving better results in her work. I thought that this sister bore a burden in doing her duty and did pretty solid work, and so I was quite relaxed about her. Afterward, I only focused on following up on and supervising the work of the other church leaders, and stopped supervising and following up on Anna’s work. After a period of time, the results of the gospel work in the churches I was responsible for began to decline. I met up with the church leaders to find out how they solved problems, and when I discovered problems, I gave them fellowship, pointers, and help. However, because I trusted Anna, I didn’t go and find out about her work, and only gave her a simple reminder to summarize the deviations and problems in the gospel work. Anna agreed at that time. The work Anna was responsible for had yielded results in the past, but her results had declined this time, so, when the upper leaders found out I wasn’t focusing on following up on Anna’s work, they sent me a special reminder to do a real check on her work as quickly as possible. I thought to myself, “I reminded her just the other day. If I go and check up on her work now, will she think that I don’t trust her?” When I thought this, I didn’t go and check up on her work. As a result, after a while, the results of the gospel work that Anna was responsible for constantly declined. Only when I actually found out about her work did I discover that Anna merely implemented work by passing on orders, and that she simply wasn’t solving real problems at all, and the problems and difficulties faced by the brothers and sisters in preaching the gospel were not getting resolved. This affected the gospel work. Only at this time did I realize that I simply hadn’t been doing any real work myself, and I felt some self-reproach in my heart. I met with Anna to fellowship with her, and pointed out her problems. Afterward, I saw that Anna was turning things around and had done some concrete work, so I didn’t summarize and reflect on my own problems.

In April 2024, the upper leaders arranged for me to be responsible for the gospel work of two more churches. After following up for a while, I discovered that the leader of one church, Martha, was of relatively good caliber, could implement the required work in a timely manner, and could discover problems when summarizing her work. As a result, I had a good opinion of her, and felt that she was more able to do real work than the other church leaders. When I saw that the results of the gospel work within Martha’s responsibility were pretty good, I trusted her even more, and very rarely asked about her work in detail. In June, the results of preaching the gospel in the church Martha was responsible for declined somewhat. At the time, I met with her to learn about the situation, and found out that she was living in difficulties because the internet had problems when she was trying to implement the work, and that she no longer bore a burden in doing her duty. I pointed out her problems, and fellowshipped with her about how to rely on God to do her duty when faced with this kind of difficulty; she could not delay the work. A week later, the sister I was partnered with, Wilma, reminded me that I should follow up on and find out about the situation with Martha’s work. I thought to myself, “I fellowshipped with her just a few days ago—she’s probably in the middle of turning things around. She has some work capability, so there won’t be any major problems,” and so I didn’t meet her. Only a few days later, when Wilma reminded me again, did I try and arrange to meet up with Martha to find out about her work. However, I kept not being able to arrange the meeting. She kept saying that the internet had problems, or that she was still busy. At the time, I didn’t give it too much thought. I thought that as long as she was doing work, that was fine. I didn’t expect that two weeks later, the results of the gospel work in the church that Martha was responsible for declined dramatically. Only then was I anxious to find out the reason, and I discovered that the gospel deacon and several gospel workers were only busy with personal matters and didn’t preach the gospel. Because of this, Martha was living in negativity and didn’t fellowship to resolve the problems in a timely manner. This meant that the gospel workers bore less and less of a burden, and weren’t really doing their duty. I was dumbfounded to see such serious problems within my sister’s area of responsibility. I had an inescapable responsibility for the emergence of these problems: they were all caused by my failure to follow up on my sister’s work in a timely manner. I felt extremely sad, and prayed to God in tears, “Dear God, I want to do my duty well, but look at the mess I’ve made of it. I feel like I truly don’t deserve to do this duty. May You lead and guide me to learn lessons from this matter, so I know what I should do next to do this duty well.”

Once, the upper leaders came to hold a gathering with us, and we read a passage of God’s words specifically regarding my state. Almighty God says: “False leaders never inquire about supervisors who are not doing actual work, or who are not tending to their proper work. They think they just need to choose a supervisor and that’s the end of the matter, and that afterward the supervisor can handle all work matters themselves. So false leaders just hold gatherings every so often, and do not supervise the work or ask how it’s going, and act like hands-off bosses. If someone reports a problem with a supervisor, a false leader will say, ‘It’s just a minor problem, it’s fine. You can handle it yourselves. Don’t ask me.’ The person who reported the issue says, ‘That supervisor is a lazy glutton. They only focus on food and entertainment, and they are bone idle. They don’t want to suffer even a little bit of hardship in their duty, and they always slack off deceitfully and make up excuses to avoid their work and shirk their responsibilities. They aren’t suited to be a supervisor.’ The false leader will answer, ‘They were great when they were selected as supervisor. What you’re saying isn’t true, or even if it is, it’s just a temporary manifestation.’ The false leader won’t try and find out more about the supervisor’s situation, instead they will judge and pass a verdict on the matter based on their past impressions of that supervisor. Regardless of who reports problems with the supervisor, the false leader will ignore them. The supervisor isn’t doing actual work, and the work of the church has nearly come to a standstill, but the false leader doesn’t care, it’s like they’re not even involved. It’s nauseating enough that when someone reports the supervisor’s issues, they turn a blind eye. But what is most detestable of all? When people report really serious issues with the supervisor to them, they won’t try and sort these out, and they’ll even come out with all sorts of excuses: ‘I know this supervisor, they truly believe in God, they would never have any problems. Even if they did have a small issue, God would protect them and discipline them. If they make any mistakes, that is between them and God—we need not concern ourselves with it.’ False leaders work according to their own notions and imaginings in this way. … false leaders have a fatal flaw: They are quick to trust people based on their own imaginings. And this is caused by not understanding the truth, is it not? How does God’s word reveal the essence of corrupt humankind? Why should they trust in people when God doesn’t? False leaders are too arrogant and self-righteous, are they not? What they think is, ‘I couldn’t have misjudged this person, there shouldn’t be any problems with this person that I’ve judged to be suitable; they are definitely not someone who indulges in eating, drinking and entertainment, or who likes comfort and hates hard work. They are absolutely dependable and trustworthy. They will not change; if they did, that would mean I was wrong about them, wouldn’t it?’ What kind of logic is this? Are you some kind of expert? Do you have x-ray vision? Do you have that special skill? You could live with a person for one or two years, but would you be able to see who they really are without a suitable environment to lay their nature essence utterly bare? If they were not revealed by God, you could live side-by-side with them for three, or even five, years, and would still struggle to see just what kind of nature essence they have. And how much more is that true when you rarely see them, are rarely with them? False leaders blithely trust a person based on a temporary impression or someone else’s positive appraisal of them, and dare to entrust the work of the church to such a person. In this, are they not being extremely blind? Are they not acting recklessly? And when they work like this, are the false leaders not being extremely irresponsible?” (The Word, Vol. 5. The Responsibilities of Leaders and Workers. The Responsibilities of Leaders and Workers (3)). Faced with the exposure of God’s words, I felt extremely uncomfortable at heart. God exposed that a false leader works in reliance on notions and imaginings, and easily trusts people. When they see that someone performs well for a time, they immediately think that everything about that person is good and will always be good. Even if others say that this person has a problem, they will deny it in their heart, and will not seriously supervise and check up on this person’s work. I thought about how during that period, I blindly trusted people in exactly this way when I did my duty. I saw that Anna could do some real work and worked quite solidly, and so I didn’t follow up on or check her work, and even when the upper leaders reminded me, I didn’t take it seriously. I still trusted Anna in my heart, thinking that she would do the work. Therefore, I only briefly reminded her to summarize the problems in the gospel work without specifically following up on her work. I didn’t expect that when Anna worked, she just passed on words and didn’t solve real problems. This meant that the results of the gospel work declined. All of this was the consequence of me blindly trusting Anna and not following up on her work. Later, I was the same when following up on Martha’s work. I thought that she had some work capability and could do some real work, and so placed a lot of trust in her. I rarely asked about the details of how she did her duty, and did not check up on or supervise her work. When the sister I was partnered with reminded me, I paid her no heed, and didn’t follow up on Martha’s work. As a result, the problems of her brothers and sisters could not be resolved promptly, and she lived in negativity, affecting the work. God said that leaders and workers should frequently follow up on the work, find out about the states and difficulties of their brothers and sisters, get a grasp of the problems and deviations that exist in everyone’s duty, and also visit in person to find out about and guide the work, solving problems promptly when they are discovered. This is the responsibility that leaders and workers ought to fulfill: only doing duty in this way is in accordance with God’s intention. However, I constantly lived in reliance on my own notions and imaginings, blindly trusting people. I believed that Anna and Martha could do some real work and didn’t require supervision and checking, and so I rarely specifically followed up on their work. Was my behavior not that of a false leader? I couldn’t see through to people’s essence, yet constantly trusted people blithely, not following up on their work. I was truly so blind! So arrogant! When I understood this, my heart felt so uncomfortable that it was like it was being stabbed. I had treated my duty irresponsibly, but God did not eliminate me, instead giving me a chance to repent. I had to continue to reflect on and understand myself.

One day, I read another passage of God’s words, and gained a clearer view of my problems. Almighty God says: “Most people consider the phrase ‘Neither doubt those you employ nor employ those you doubt’ as the truth, and they are misled and bound by it. They are disturbed and influenced by it when selecting or using people, and even let it dictate their actions. As a result, many leaders and workers always have difficulties and misgivings whenever they check up on church work and promote and use people. Ultimately, all they can do is comfort themselves with the words ‘Neither doubt those you employ nor employ those you doubt.’ Whenever they inspect or inquire about the work, they think, ‘“Neither doubt those you employ nor employ those you doubt.” I should trust my brothers and sisters, and after all, the Holy Spirit scrutinizes people, so I shouldn’t always doubt and supervise others.’ They have been influenced by this phrase, haven’t they? What are the consequences brought about by the influence of this phrase? First of all, if someone subscribes to this idea of ‘Neither doubt those you employ nor employ those you doubt,’ will they inspect and guide others’ work? Will they supervise and follow up on people’s work? If this person trusts everyone they use and never inspects or guides them in their work, and never supervises them, are they doing their duty loyally? Can they carry out the work of the church in a competent manner and complete God’s commission? Are they being loyal to God’s commission? Second, this is not merely a failure to keep to God’s word and your duties, this is taking Satan’s schemes and philosophy for worldly dealings as if they were the truth, and following and practicing them. You are obeying Satan and living by a satanic philosophy, aren’t you? You are not a person who submits to God, much less a person who abides by God’s words. You are a complete scoundrel. Putting God’s words aside, and instead taking a satanic phrase and practicing it as the truth, is betraying the truth and God! You work in God’s house, yet the principles for your actions are satanic logic and philosophy for worldly dealings, what kind of person are you? This is someone who betrays God and someone who gravely shames God. What is the essence of this act? Openly condemning God and openly denying the truth. Isn’t that the essence of it? (It is.) In addition to not following God’s will, you are allowing one of Satan’s devilish sayings and satanic philosophies for worldly dealings to run rampant in the church. In doing this, you become Satan’s accomplice, assist Satan in carrying out its activities within the church, and disturb and disrupt church work. The essence of this problem is very serious, isn’t it?” (The Word, Vol. 4. Exposing Antichrists. Excursus One: What the Truth Is). After pondering God’s words, I understood that the reason I hadn’t checked up on the work of these two sisters was because I had been influenced by the satanic philosophy of “Neither doubt those you employ nor employ those you doubt.” Previously, when I had followed up on the work, I saw that they could resolve some real problems and had a certain degree of work capability, and so I placed a lot of trust in them. I thought that I didn’t need to constantly follow up on or check their work and just needed to briefly ask about their states and difficulties once in a while and that would be fine. Because I didn’t supervise or check their work, and couldn’t promptly discover their actual difficulties and resolve them, the progress of the work was affected. I was well aware that following up on and checking the work was my responsibility, and that I had to discover and solve difficulties and problems in the work promptly. Only in this way could the work continue to progress. However, I relied on the thought and view of “Neither doubt those you employ nor employ those you doubt” in my self-conduct and actions. I treated my duty extremely disrespectfully, was perfunctory, and had no sense of responsibility. I didn’t follow up on or check the work that I should have followed up on or checked, affecting the progress of the gospel work. Actually, sometimes when I saw the results of the gospel work declining, or brothers and sisters not being very proactive in doing their duty, I had realized that I should follow up on and check their work. However, based on my notions and imaginings, I thought that they would do it and I didn’t need to follow up on them, and so placed a lot of trust in them. I regarded the view that you should “neither doubt those you employ nor employ those you doubt” as the truth, and practiced and kept to it as such; I didn’t do my duty according to principles, and ended up delaying the work unknowingly. I constantly lived in reliance on the satanic philosophy for worldly dealings of “Neither doubt those you employ nor employ those you doubt,” and thought that if I followed up on their work, I was mistrusting them. I didn’t practice in accordance with God’s words. The nature of this is denying the truth. It is resisting God! If I kept on living by these thoughts and views, I would not be able to do my duty well, and would ultimately only be revealed and eliminated. When I thought this, I felt regret and self-reproach, and shed constant tears. I came before God to pray, “Dear God, I casually trusted people and didn’t do my duty well, leaving behind transgressions. I am willing to repent to You.” After I prayed, my heart felt very at ease. Later, I constantly followed up on and checked their work, solving problems little by little. My brothers and sisters were also more proactive in their duty than before.

During devotionals one morning, I read an experiential testimony article. It quoted a passage of God’s words which turned around my outlook on things. Almighty God says: “Do you believe the view ‘Neither doubt those you employ nor employ those you doubt’ is correct? Is this phrase the truth? Why would he use this phrase in the work of God’s house and in doing his duty? What is the problem here? ‘Neither doubt those you employ nor employ those you doubt’ are clearly the words of the nonbelievers, words that come from Satan—so why does he treat them as the truth? Why can’t he tell if these words are right or wrong? These are patently the words of man, the words of corrupt humankind, they are simply not the truth, they are utterly at odds with the words of God, and should not serve as the criterion for people’s actions, comportment, and worship of God. So how should this phrase be approached? If you are truly capable of discernment, what kind of truth principle should you use in its place to serve as your principle of practice? It should be to ‘perform your duty with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ To act with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind is to be constrained by no one; it is to be of a single heart and mind, and no more. This is your responsibility and your duty, and you should perform it well, as doing this is perfectly natural and justified. Whatever problems you encounter, you should act according to the principles. Handle them however you ought to; if pruning is called for, so be it, and if dismissal is called for, so be it. In short, act based on God’s words and on the truth. Isn’t this the principle? Is this not the exact opposite of the phrase ‘Neither doubt those you employ nor employ those you doubt’? What does it mean to neither doubt those you employ nor employ those you doubt? It means that if you have employed a person, you should not doubt them, you should let go of the reins, not supervise them, and let them do as they please; and if you doubt them, then you should not employ them. Is this not what it means? This is terribly wrong. Humankind has been deeply corrupted by Satan. Every person has a satanic disposition, and is capable of betraying God and resisting God. You could say that no one is reliable. Even if a person swears to the end of the earth, it is of no use because people are constrained by their corrupt dispositions and cannot control themselves. They must accept God’s judgment and chastisement before they can resolve the problem of their corrupt disposition, and thoroughly resolve the problem of them resisting and betraying God—resolve the root of people’s sins. All those who have not gone through God’s judgment and purification and achieved salvation are not reliable. They are not worthy of trust. Therefore, when you use someone, you must supervise and direct them. Also, you must prune them and frequently fellowship on the truth, and only in this way will you be able to see clearly whether they can continue to be used. If there are some people who can accept the truth, accept pruning, are able to perform their duty loyally, and who have continual progress in their life, then only these people are truly usable” (The Word, Vol. 4. Exposing Antichrists. Excursus One: What the Truth Is). After pondering God’s words, I understood that no matter how a person’s work capability is, what their caliber is like, whether they know how to do the work, or how much truth they understand, their work must always be followed up on. This is because people have all been corrupted by Satan too profoundly, and are all liable to act in reliance on corrupt dispositions. No person, no matter who they are, is reliable or trustworthy before they have obtained the truth and achieved salvation. As leaders and workers, we must promptly supervise and check up on the work, find out about the progress of the work, point out issues and help where needed when we discover problems, prune people in the case of serious problems, and promptly discover and resolve problems. Only this is doing real work. Afterward, I actually followed up on, supervised, and checked the work of the brothers and sisters.

Once, I was following up on and finding out about Martha’s work, and discovered that a gospel deacon was not doing real work and needed to be dismissed. So Martha and I dismissed the deacon. After the dismissal, we needed to hold by-elections for the deacon position, and I asked Martha to preside, fellowshipping with her about how specifically to do the work next. I thought to myself, “She has done these tasks before. I have also fellowshipped about them with her now, so she will definitely do them well. I don’t need to supervise her further.” At this time, I realized that my thoughts were incorrect. I thought of when I had blindly trusted people and not checked or followed up on their work, resulting in the work being gravely affected. I could not let my old problem raise its head again. I thought of a passage of God’s words that I had read before: “When people have yet to gain the truth, they are unreliable and untrustworthy. What does it mean that they are untrustworthy? It means that when they encounter difficulties or setbacks, they are likely to fall down, and to become negative and weak. Is someone who is often negative and weak someone who is trustworthy? Definitely not. But people who understand the truth are different. People who truly understand the truth are bound to have a God-fearing heart, and a heart of submission to God, and only people with a God-fearing heart are trustworthy people; people without a God-fearing heart are not trustworthy. How should people without a God-fearing heart be approached? They should, of course, be given loving assistance and support. They should be followed up on more as they do their duty, and given more help and instruction; only then can they be guaranteed to do their duty effectively. And what is the aim of doing this? The chief aim is to uphold the work of God’s house. Secondary to this is in order to promptly identify problems, to promptly provide to them, support them, or prune them, setting right their deviations, and making up for their shortcomings and deficiencies. This is beneficial to people; there is nothing malicious about it” (The Word, Vol. 5. The Responsibilities of Leaders and Workers. The Responsibilities of Leaders and Workers (7)). As I pondered God’s words, I didn’t dare trust myself any longer. I hurriedly met with Martha to find out about the situation regarding the deacon by-election. As a result, I found out that she was busy with other work and had put the by-election on hold. Later, I exposed her for not bearing a burden in her duty and delaying the work, and she hurriedly went to hold the by-election. Afterward, I actually learned about the other tasks that Martha was responsible for and discovered some problems in them too. I promptly fellowshipped to resolve these problems, and after a time, the work of the church was showing some progress. When I practiced like this, my heart felt much more at ease.

Through this period of experience, I saw clearly that the idea instilled into people by Satan that you should “neither doubt those you employ nor employ those you doubt” is mistaken and absurd. Furthermore, it is hostile to the truth. I also understood how to supervise and follow up on the work in accordance with the truth principles. Thank God!