Avoiding Responsibility.
By George Ide Butler
The success of any cause is dependent upon a readiness to bear responsibility among those who have its interests at heart. Men are necessary to every cause to carry out its principles. How would our great rebellion have been put down had not men sprang from every hillside determined to work in some sphere for its accomplishment? The same principle holds good in every cause that occupies the attention of mankind. Money is important. Ideas are necessary. Sound principles are a great assistance; but men to take these and bring them to bear upon other men are an absolute necessity. No cause can succeed without the latter. Faithful men willing to bear burdens and sacrifice for their belief are the sheet anchor of any undertaking. Responsibilities must rest upon some one, or nothing will be done. We all realize there is great danger when unfaithful men are placed in positions of trust. But the danger is at least equally great when all stand back and assume no responsibilities at all. Never was there a cause so good and true but this course would give it a quietus. It seems to me one great danger that threatens our prosperity as a people is a shrinking from responsibility, for fear of being blamed. Instead of men ready to throw themselves into the work with heart and soul determined to succeed, we find many who might bless the cause by their efforts standing back and shrinking from doing anything unless their way is all marked out for them so plainly that they shall not endanger their reputation. In short, they will not walk at all unless they can walk by the clearest sight. They have no courage to attempt to walk by faith. There is a great difference so far as the prospect of accomplishing good is concerned, between standing waiting to be told just what we must do by somebody else, lest we make some mistake, and bravely reaching out after duty, earnestly seeking work in the Lord’s vineyard. A person who has ever employed hired help can realize the difference between men who are ready to anticipate your every wish and perform it, giving you no care, and the one who has to have every step pointed out requiring nearly as much labor and patience as to do it yourself. The one you would be apt to keep as long as possible, the other you would get rid of as soon as possible. I apprehend God can see as clearly as we and appreciate the difference between the two as well. Indeed we have many illustrations of this in the Bible. On the one hand, we have a bitter curse pronounced on Meroz, “because they came not to the help of the Lord,” and on the other the Lord’s evident approbation of him who said, “Here I am, send me.” We have no evidence that God had sent his prophets to Meroz and pointed out their way and made their duty exceedingly plain and urged them hard to go out against his enemies. Not the slightest reason have we to think so. But it was enough to bring this terrible curse upon that place that they knew his cause was needy of defenders, and would not embrace the call; they had not interest enough in it to do so. They thought quite likely, and the result proved it, that Deborah and Barak with the forces they led would succeed in discomfiting the enemies of Israel. Why should they interest themselves particularly, or expose themselves to unnecessary danger? Their course had all the marks of superior worldly wisdom. Should Barak succeed, they would reap the benefit. Should he fail, why they would escape the punishment likely to fall on those identified with his cause. But all this wisdom did not preserve them from the curse of God. Neither will a similar course in those who profess to love his cause now. God is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. In the parable of the talents, Matt. 25:14, this thought is fully carried out. The talents, no doubt, represent the ability God has given us in any and every direction to do good with. It would hardly do to sit down and leave them unemployed. They must be traded with. They must be handled and kept in lively motion by the exchangers so as to157increase. This would require exertion on the part of those who hold them, and any one who has ever had any experience with money, the representative the Saviour has used to illustrate ability with, knows there is always some risk to run in using it. There may be a loss. There will be if care is not used in its management. But this consideration will not justify a man in letting it lie idle. Starvation and ruin will surely follow that course. The man with the one talent tried it. He was cast into “outer darkness” where there was “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” To the good servants who ran the risk bravely it was said, “Well done,” “enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Quite likely these, during their arduous efforts, were blamed by others for the course they pursued. Would that justify them in holding back and doing nothing? By no means. They were too much interested to stop and spend time to think of that. They were going to succeed. And surely they did. I have made up my mind that this cause is everything or nothing. We are the worst deceived people in the land, or we have a mighty truth—mighty beyond calculation. There is no half-way ground. Either we should give it up and confess our error like honest men, or we should be terribly in earnest. If this is the last message of mercy to the world designed to prepare a people for the coming of Christ, as we profess to believe, there is no way for us to do, consistent with common sense or Scripture, but to throw ourselves into it with all that we possess, and be determined that our influence shall always count on the right side. Then we shall cast a positive influence. When we do this, we shall certainly feel and be willing to assume responsibility. Nothing could keep us from it. The truth would be a part of our being and we always feel interested in anything that is so near to us as that. This cause wants just such men—nay, more, is suffering exceedingly for them. Not only for ministers to go forth and preach these truths, but for church elders, deacons, clerks, teachers in Sabbath-schools, colporters, and “helps” of all kinds. In fact, the whole body of the church ought to be of this description. Our only hope is in the development of such a body of earnest workers who will be steady, reliable, and always at their post, ready to dare, as well as do, for the Master’s cause. Then God will work through them with mighty power, and the message will close with victory over all our foes. Such as these are greatly needed here at Battle Creek. I have been here long enough to see a fearful want of faithful men of responsibility and means to stand shoulder to shoulder and always cast a positive influence for right in connection with the institutions which our people have planted and nurtured with their money—men of good judgment and executive ability, and above all, men of piety and moral worth. These are an absolute necessity. This want is so great that the Lord has spoken in reference to it, and two years have passed away, and what response has it met? Bro. Abbey is at the Institute faithfully toiling to help forward the noble work allotted to that institution. But where are the rest? At least a score of such men are needed—not preachers, but laymen of piety and influence, of judgment and means. We never can prosper as a people when light so clear as we have had on this point has been disregarded. We have tried this in several different directions in the past, and always with the same results. Others may look on and ridicule this light; but those of us who have been acquainted with the inner working of this cause know very well how it has been. Are we going to try it over again once more, and bring upon ourselves the difficulties and perplexities we have always met in pursuing this course, and the frown of God? or are we going to profit by the past, and act sensibly? These are thoughts I trust our people will consider. And I would ask of quite a number who have already felt this duty pressing upon them, but have held back for fear of being blamed, or for some other consequences unpleasant to themselves, What course do you intend to pursue? I believe God is in earnest with us; and while he gives us a chance to be useful, we should cheerfully embrace it. If we do not, the opportunity as well as the desire will surely leave us, and our hearts will be left desolate and drear as the heath in the desert. Whence comes this dread of bearing responsibilities? While in some cases individuals may have fears they should mar the cause they love by unskillfulness and lack of discernment, I verily believe far more decline from merely personal considerations. They might not have opportunity to make so much money. They might have more perplexity and care. And should they take a wrong course, it might bring them into a position that would be very unpleasant to their feelings. I am inclined to think these are the reasons why many are not willing to assume responsibilities. Are they sufficient to justify a man in standing back when there is work to do in the cause of God? By no means. If they are, they would have justified every public benefactor the world has ever seen in sitting quietly down and undertaking nothing. Garrison in his efforts against slavery, Washington in the war of liberty, Luther in the Reformation, and, far above all, our Lord Jesus Christ in coming down from Heaven and dying for men, would have done nothing had such motives actuated them. These motives are purely selfish, and will not stand the test of the Judgment. This cause, if it is what we believe it is, demands a spirit of sacrifice far exceeding anything the world has seen for ages. We have a great work to do and but a short time to do it in. The world is to be warned of its danger. Fearful calamities threaten the race. The judgments of God will soon fall upon the head of the wicked. Our work is to warn the people and beseech them in Christ’s stead to be reconciled to God. The difficulty is to get our people to realize the duties of their position. Many act as if they had a long time left to consider the matter in before they make up their mind to take hold of the work in earnest. If they have, we are terribly deceived as a people in the positions we hold. How much more we might accomplish if all realized this and were willing to take any place duty called them to fill. And should mistakes occur, and they be brought under temporary embarrassment, and they fall under censure, this would be very likely the means of teaching them a lesson more important for them than any other. We all love to be in prosperity and receive the praise of our brethren; but there is ten times the danger of being puffed up and losing the favor of God through the good opinion of others than there is of being injured by loss of their esteem. It is good to know in whom we trust; and I know of no way that we are so likely to obtain this knowledge as for a time to lose the praises of those in high position. It greatly strengthens the grace of humility, than which there is none more needed. And if our trust is in the right source, we shall find a sweet sense of God’s favor that is truly refreshing. Those who stand back for fear of personal consequences to themselves are likely to lose this precious experience, and may never learn those lessons of self-abasement that are designed to purify the dross and bring out the pure gold. So the very thing that causes some to stand back is that which, if properly received, would fit them for the kingdom of Heaven. We may rest assured we shall never go there on flowery beds of ease. We must taste of the bitter cup, and be baptized with the baptism of suffering as our Saviour was before us. Those that suffer with Christ shall reign with him. No other way is marked out before us. We are “joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be glorified together.” Rom. 8:17. And while there is no blessing pronounced upon those who are “buffeted for their faults,” it is “acceptable to God” if we suffer for doing well, “and bear it patiently.” “For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps.” 1 Pet. 2:21. Here is a lesson many need to learn. So, dear friends, be willing to place yourselves in the school of Christ, and have a submissive spirit to learn the precious lessons he has to teach you. I have spoken thus far of the shrinking of many from taking responsibilities upon them. They are unwilling to risk anything. But there is danger that some among us, after they have accepted positions of trust, will manifest little interest in faithfully discharging these responsibilities. This I consider far worse, involving positive wrong. When a person accepts any position of trust connected with other’s interests, he is morally bound to faithfully discharge the same. He virtually agrees to do this. Every one so understands his action in accepting. The confidence of others is reposed in him, and it is nothing short of a betrayal of the same to be careless and take no interest in the matter. No one will dispute these positions. We know that they involve important consequences, and that allowance must be made for weak humanity. I could easily show that the Bible teaches the same in many places. The greater the responsibility, the greater the consequences following unfaithfulness. These things should be carefully considered by us all. Ministers take upon themselves important responsibilities in the care of souls. An unfaithful minister will meet a terrible doom if his example has been the means of destroying others. Officers and employees in our institutions hold important trusts, and much depends upon their faithfulness and upon their being possessed of the right spirit; for all the work will be affected by their course. Elders and officers of our churches also are in a position to influence others, and should be careful that every word and act is of the right character. May we all feel the same, so that it may be said to us at last, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Battle Creek, April 26, 1872.