IDLENESS by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 27, 1868

IDLENESS

By Dudley Marvin Canright

IDLENESS is a shame and a sin in any one. Paul very justly commanded “that, if any would not work, neither should he eat.” 2 Thess. iii, 10. Time should no more be thrown away than money or any thing else valuable; yet many professed Christians can idle it away without seeming to feel that it is wrong. This looks bad to me, in young men and women especially. Many spare moments and hours, and even days, slip away unimproved. How much better it would be for them if they would use them in useful reading or study. They might be of much more use in the world and in the church, if they would do so.

But especially is idleness wrong and wicked in ministers of Christ. Who has so important a work to do as they? Who needs more wisdom and ability? Who can make a better use of knowledge than they? Who ought to improve every moment more than they? Yet we sometimes see even Advent ministers idling away their minutes and hours and whole days in useless chit-chat, and lounging! They will get up late in the morning, and sit around most of the day as though time hung heavily on their hands, or, at least, were of no account. They neither labor with hands nor brain. No wonder they are weak and can stand but little. They need something to give them life. Yet they expect to be supported well and liberally. The Lord pity such ministers and the churches that are dependent on them for labor. Look at the faithful Paul, how he labored, not for a salary nor for wages, but for Christ and for perishing souls.

See that man who works by the month. He has to be up early and improve all his time. See that hired girl who works for $1.00 per week. She cannot idle away her time. Every moment must be employed. Her mistress’ eyes are upon her. But not so with the minister. He is his own master. He comes and goes, works or lounges, improves his time or trifles it away, just as he pleases, and none say, Why do you so? If a minister is inclined to be lazy and idle, he will always find silly women enough to pet him, and feed him, and tell how hard he is working, and how they pity him. After a few years of experience, I am satisfied that there is no calling so dangerous as that of a minister. Of all men, a minister ought to be a man of common sense and sound integrity. If not, he will soon be spoiled by the praises of inconsiderate brethren and sisters.

Brethren who are preaching this solemn message, let us be men—industrious, faithful, working men. Let us improve our minutes; let us post up, read up, study up, and make ourselves as useful as we can. God wants men who feel the burden of the work, and are willing to help lift. We should not let so many of these little moments slip away unimproved. I am satisfied that some ministers could do three times as much as they do, if they only had a little more life and energy.

Some, I hope many, are not so. They are working too hard, wearing themselves out, and going prematurely into their graves. They have to bear a double burden, their own and others’, too. But God will reward them if they do not work too hard, and ruin themselves. D. M. CANRIGHT.