Search the Scriptures by Iva F. Cady

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Apr 18, 1912

“Search the Scriptures”

IVA F. CADY

As we have visited different Sabbath-schools, and have been called upon to teach classes of children and youth, we have been pained to see what a meager knowledge many have of the lesson. This shows that they have not studied it in their homes during the week. But few of our people carry on any regular, systematic study of the Scriptures other than that of the Sabbath-school lessons, and if they neglect this study, there is danger of their not getting the food they need to nourish their spiritual life.

We are told that “the Sabbath-school affords to parents and children a precious opportunity for the study of God’s Word.” Notice that this study is for both parents and children. Why is this “precious opportunity” so often neglected? Many plead a lack of time, but the fact is that our busiest people are often the most faithful in studying the Sabbath-school lessons. There is a saying that “where there’s a will, there’s a way,” and it is true that when we have a determination to study the lesson, we can usually make a way to do it. Let us notice a message that the Lord has sent to us directly upon this point:—

“Parents, set apart a little time each day for the study of the Sabbath-school lesson with your children. Give up the social visit, if need be, rather than sacrifice the hour devoted to the precious lessons of sacred history. Parents, as well as children, will receive benefit from this study. Let the more important passages of Scripture connected with the lesson be committed to memory, not as a task, but as a privilege. Though at first the memory may be defective, it will gain strength by exercise, so that after a time you will delight thus to treasure up the precious words of truth. And the habit will prove a most valuable aid to religious growth.”

“If the time that is worse than wasted in gossip, in ministering to pride, or in the gratification of appetite were devoted with equal interest to the study of the Bible, what encouragement would be given to our Sabbath-schools! But when parents are more anxious to have their children fashionably dressed than to have their minds stored with the truths of God’s Word, the children themselves will soon learn to regard dress and display as of more consequence than the things which concern their salvation.”

“Observe system in the study of the Scriptures in your families. Neglect anything of a temporal nature; dispense with all unnecessary sewing and with needless provisions for the table, but be sure that the soul is fed with the bread of life. It is impossible to estimate the good results of one hour, or even half an hour, each day devoted in a cheerful, social manner to the Word of God. . . . Do not break up your home class for callers and visitors. If they come in during the exercise, invite them to take part in it. Let it be seen that you consider it more important to obtain a knowledge of God’s Word than to secure the gains or pleasures of the world.”

“Parents should take special interest in the religious education of their children, that they may have a more thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. There are many children who plead a lack of time as a reason why their Sabbath-school lessons are not learned; but there are few who could not find time to learn their lessons if they had an interest in them. Some devote time to amusement and sightseeing; others, to the needless trimming of their dresses for display, thus cultivating pride and vanity. The precious hours thus prodigally spent are God’s time, for which they must render an account to him. The hours spent in needless ornamentation or in amusements and idle conversation will, with every work, be brought into judgment.”

In families where the custom of studying the lesson daily at family worship has been adopted, the children become familiar with the lessons from week to week, and are storing up a knowledge of the Scriptures that will be of incalculable value to them all through the future. Some may find it inconvenient amid the hurry and bustle of the morning work to take the time necessary to go through the lesson, and on account of various duties it may not be possible for the whole family to study together at that time. Some who can not do this might be able to take up the study of the lesson at the time of

evening worship. By taking up the lesson study for several days in succession, even though we devote but a few minutes to it at each session, when the Sabbath comes to us we are familiar with the lesson. How much more pleasure both parents and children can take in the Sabbath-school under such circumstances. Any one who has not found this out by experience, is advised to try it, and may be sure that he will be pleased with the result. As we study these precious lessons, new beauties in the Word of God are revealed to us from day to day, and we learn to love and appreciate the truth more and more.

But when children go to the Sabbath-school knowing nothing of the lesson, they receive but little benefit, if any, and can not take much pleasure in either the review or the recitation. The Lord has told us this in the following words:—

“But in order to gain that benefit which they should gain in the Sabbath-school, both parents and children should devote time to the study of the lessons, seeking to obtain a thorough knowledge of the facts presented, and also of the spiritual truths which these facts are designed to teach.”

“And even greater care should be taken by the parents to see that their children have their Scripture lessons than is taken to see that their day-school lessons are prepared. Their Scripture lessons should be learned more perfectly than their lessons in the common school. If parents and children see no necessity for this interest, then the children might better remain at home, for the Sabbath-school will fail to prove a blessing to them.”

Upon parents rests the responsibility in this matter. The command the Lord gave to his people Israel of old, as found in Deut. 6: 6-9, is just as much for his people of these last days. We are not only to treasure his words in our hearts, but we are to teach them diligently to our children, and to talk of them when we sit in our homes, when we walk by the way, when we lie down, and when we rise up. This we should begin to do with the scriptures found in our Sabbath-school lessons. Let us seek for wisdom and grace, that we may do this work faithfully and to the honor and glory of God, and that it may result in the salvation of our children, as well as in our own salvation.

Wahroonga, New South Wales, Australia.