The Sabbath School by Rev. Dr. Steel

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 10, 1881

The Sabbath School.

By Rev. Dr. Steel

THE TEACHER'S REWARD.

THE teacher is rewarded by the diligence and attention of his class. These encourage his efforts, his prayers, and his zeal. When docility, affection, and progress characterize his pupils, the teacher believes that his labor is not in vain. The opening intelligence, the impressed heart, and regular attendance of his class, reward his preparations and effort. When the outward life of his scholars seems to improve, and is a manifest result of lessons given in the school, the soul of the teacher swells with thankfulness, and reaps a harvest for his pains.

But the faithful teacher is not satisfied with these results. His aim is directed towards the salvation of the souls of his scholars, and the joy for their conversion would be indeed a reward sufficient to content his heart. When the holy and painstaking teacher sees inquiry arise, or deep convictions move among his class, he is conscious of a high recognition of his efforts. For this he earnestly prayed; for this he untiringly labored; for this he ceaselessly watched. Like the husbandman, who walks daily near the ground where he has cast his seed, and looks for the blade to rise, so the pious Sabbath-school teacher watches, in faith and prayer, for the first token of concern—the first motion of spiritual life in the souls of his scholars. That sight would amply repay his labors. That result would be his highly valued reward.

Such a result an archbishop, who had filled the highest offices in church and State, confessed that he would have esteemed more than all the honors which his king had heaped upon him. But this may be yours, O teacher! You may lead a soul to Christ; you may be the means of converting a sinner from the error of his way; you may be the spiritual parent of your class. Seek this reward. Lose not sight of such a prize. Strive to win it. By prayer and pains, at home and in your class, you may be wise to win souls, and have, in the day of the Lord, those whom you have taught on earth as your joy and crown of rejoicing. To stand among them before the Lord, and to say, “Behold me and the children whom thou hast given me,” must be a conscious dignity, surpassing all that ever gained laurels or crowns on earth. The humble, unobserved, yet faithful teacher, may reach that height. Many unknown here beyond the few their labors influenced, shall at last realize that satisfaction before an assembled world.—Rev. Dr. Steel.