Are We Growing Careless? by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 3, 1910

Are We Growing Careless?

By F. M. W.

Are we growing careless in the things of God? This is a practical question which every disciple may well ask himself. As a business man takes account of his affairs, noting carefully his income and expenditures, and the actual status of his business operations, so it is well for us sometimes to consider our Christian experience.

The apostle Paul exhorts us to this investigation. He says: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” He says again: “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

While we can not attain Christian growth by looking at ourselves, or at others, at the same time we are exhorted many times in the Scriptures to take diligent heed unto our ways. Are we to-day, as a church, standing in that relationship to God as regards faithfulness, loyalty, and conscientious Christian living, that becomes our profession? Are we as careful as we were a few years ago regarding some of these things?

1. Have we that conscientious regard for Sabbath observance which we once possessed?

2. Are we growing careless in the payment of tithes and offerings?

3. Are we drinking in the spirit of the world as regards its pleasures?

4. Do we manifest that simplicity of dress and personal attire to which we are exhorted in the Word of God and by the testimonies of his Spirit? What witness is borne to this question by our congregations?

5. Do we show the same regard for the principles of health which was formerly shown by those believing this message?

6. Do the appeals which come to us through the spirit of prophecy affect us in the same measure that they once did?

7. Are we growing careless in Bible study and personal devotion?

These are only a few of the questions for self-examination which suggest themselves. We mention the matter of Bible study and personal devotion last. This is really the first and most important inquiry. Carelessness in this respect will lead to carelessness in every other Christian duty. No disciple can hope to live a Christian life in these days of stress, and storm, and conflict who does not daily

seek communion with the source of all power.

There are too many Seventh-day Adventist homes to-day where family worship is not known, where from one Sabbath to another but little if any time is spent in the study of the Word, or in seeking God for his help. Some claim that they have not money to supply themselves with our periodicals or books, but they seem to have an abundance of means to spend for story papers, newspapers, and books of fiction. Surely this kind of experience can only be fraught with disaster in the end.

We are carrying forward to-day great, missionary enterprises; we are operating many institutions; we are distributing the printed page by the thousands. All this is well and good, and we may thank God that he enables us to do so much in these ways, and yet we may do all these things, and not really know God. We may give all our money to feed the poor, and sacrifice our bodies to the burning, and yet be devoid of those humbler qualities of heart which characterize us as the Lord's own.

Let us remember that the foundation of all true Christian experience, the foundation of successful Christian character-building, is the cultivation of the simple qualities of daily, practical Christian living. Walking humbly with God, seeking a daily acquaintance and communion with him, discharging every duty in his fear, knowing every day that our sins are forgiven, and that God is guiding us by his Spirit,—it is this experience, and this experience only, which will keep us from carelessness, preserve us unspotted from the world, and present us blameless before the throne of the Father at last.

The great need of Israel to-day is the cultivation of personal piety in the life. We need to study the Word more, we need to pray more, we need to cultivate more love and faith and hope and charity. We need to exercise the simple, childlike spirit in asking and believing. If we do this, the bestowal of God's power and grace will come as the inevitable result.

F. M. W.