Shunning Responsibility.
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
WHAT would be thought of the pastor of a church who would occasionally be absent from service on Sabbath morning without sending any excuse, or even letting the congregation know that he intended to be absent? Or, if a minister should make an appointment to preach on a certain evening, and then should stay away without informing any one of his intended absence, how would he be regarded? The reply is at once that a man who would do such a thing, and repeat the offense, could not expect to retain the confidence of the people. They would justly feel that he had no appreciation of the responsibility resting upon him. His course would show that he was not a true minister—a servant of the church—but a server of self. But how much worse would that be than for a Sabbath-school teacher to absent himself from his class, without any real excuse, or without notifying anybody of his intended absence? The cases are exactly parallel. When the teacher consents to take charge of a class, he virtually pledges himself to be present every Sabbath and do his duty by it. He has no more right to be absent from the Sabbath-school than the pastor has to be away from church. The teacher who does so shows his unfitness for the work in which he is engaged, and should he reform, ought not to be retained in his position. Some teacher of this sort may say: "Well, I am willing to give up my class; let them fill my place with some one who can do better." What an admission! Willing to give up all responsibility, because it interferes with your convenience. Willing to do nothing, when you ought to, and by the practice of a little self-denial could, do a great deal. How much better it would be to say, "I am willing to do all I can; if I fail, it shall not be on account of lack of effort." You who are so humble that you don't want to occupy any position of responsibility; who are willing to let others do all the work, do you imagine that you will take things so calmly when you see another coming forward to take your crown? Think of this. It is well to consider consequences.