Our Responsibility to Influence Others by Example
By Roswell F. Cottrell
We are slow to realize our responsibilities in regard to the influence we exert by our example. We are not to live for ourselves alone. We are under obligation to live for Him who died for us; and, in doing this, live for them for whom he died. Christ has made us debtors to him, and to them for whom he died. Our obligation does not end with ourselves; we may help others by our example, and we are in duty bound to do so. Brother, by entertaining your unbelief, and talking your doubts and discouragements, you may retard and injure all the church with whom you are associated: but by taking a contrary course, you may encourage and cheer and help all around you. This, you should do; that, you have no right to do. Do you say, “I cannot be a hypocrite—I must talk and act as I really think and feel?” Let me tell you, You have no right to think and feel as you do. You have no right to your unbelief. You have the evidence. God has given sufficient, and has made it your duty to believe, and by your faith strengthen others. You can help them by your faith and courage, or you can harm them and yourself by your unbelief. Here you have a responsibility. Look around upon your brethren and friends. You can influence them in the way to life, or in the way to death. You can encourage them with words of good cheer, or you can sadden and discourage them. Which ought you to do? Ah! that is a fine scheme of Satan, to tell you that to talk and act faith would make you a hypocrite! You have a right to faith, and a right to talk and act it. Unbelief you have no right to. To justify it is hypocrisy and lying—it is to respect the wrong, as though it were right. You have a responsibility. Fulfill it for others’ good and your own. But here is another brother for whom I have a word. You, my brother, desire the prosperity of the cause. You would like to see all engaged in the work—all in working order. You are willing to contribute of your means as an individual, but you are not ready to say, “Come, brethren, let us go to work together.” You yourself are not fit, you feel, to unite with the church, and take your proper post; for you acknowledge the use of tobacco is wrong—is only evil—and you use a very little. Now, is it so, that the car of truth must be blocked for a small quid of tobacco? How long? Here is quite a company who, because they are not acting upon the plan, are falling in arrears to the cause of God from year to year, for want of adopting this just and wise system. The annual interest is accumulating a large debt, and the prospect of redeeming the past is growing less and less. Perhaps some two hundred dollars a year held back from the cause of God to which it is due, and all this for a very small quantity of that filthy and poisonous weed! You, brother, have a responsibility. It extends beyond yourself, to those around you that should be bringing in their tithes and offerings, instead of robbing God. It is the Lord’s plan to send the truth to men freely; but when he has done this, he does not wish them to think that, because it is free, it is of no value—that they are free from obligation. No; he has made them his debtors to send the truth freely to others; and this, not because he has no other means, but for their own good. All, unitedly, should be doing a part in this work; and no small cause should retard united action. If one individual is not ready for this united action, he is responsible for the effect in others to a great degree. Brethren, come up to the work and bear your responsibilities in the cause and work of God. God holds us accountable for our actions and influence. R. F. COTTRELL.