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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 22, 1900

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 77, No. 21.

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NO TIME.

By H. E. S. Hopkins.

H. E. S. HOPKINS. (Battle Creek, Mich.)
Is there not danger of many becoming so absorbed in the active duties of life that prayer and the study of God's word and the Testimonies of his Spirit, will be sadly neglected, and result in spirituality dying out?
Why not forever abandon this continual excuse (by actions if not by words), “No time for the Master”? Now comes the word to study the books of Daniel and the Revelation as for our lives. Do we intend passing them by as of no importance, and follow our own way? Soon, very soon, we shall be obliged of leave our pleasant homes. Then how much to the books of Daniel and the Revelation shall we have stored away in our minds to carry with us when persecution comes? Shall we have to look back and exclaim, “Oh! how I wish I had let some of these trifling things go, and had studied more”?
We have been so accustomed to work, work, from morn till night, digging out some corner, scrubbing, cleaning, and polishing, or working at some ornament to beautify our homes and make them look just so, that we do not know where to stop. Perhaps it is not an easy matter to cease this daily routine. But there is a remedy: Seek God to help us overcome this habit, and to ever keep before our minds the first commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Why not change this order of things, and let Him to whom we are indebted so much, be first in all our plans, and let other things come secondarily? Are we not instructed to “seek . . . first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness”?
If we are not careful, we shall be so drunk with the cares of this life that that day will overtake us unawares.
Some may plead that they can not study though they have ever so much time; they find it a difficult task to center the mind on any lesson. The Lord never tells us to do what is an impossibility. “Ask, and ye shall receive.” “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” That means you and me just as much as anyone. “God is no respecter of persons.”
In our study we of course need to be determined to “stick to it,” as well as to give ourselves to constant, earnest prayer; for Satan will do his best to hinder us.
He is not at all pleased to have us enter upon this study: he would rather we would be absorbed in our household affairs, or anything that would hinder us in divine attainments. He knows his time to work is short, and he is anxious to get as many on his side as he can.
What a beautiful lesson we can learn from Jesus’ remark to Martha, who “was cumbered about much serving.” Luke 10:38–42. Here the Saviour makes it plain who chooses “that good part.” Like Mary, is it not a wise decision when we choose to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn of him, thus heeding the warning, Get ready, get ready?