The Sabbath School by William Clarence White

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 10, 1880

The Sabbath School.

By William Clarence White

TIME TO STUDY.

WHEN urging our scholars to a more thorough study of the lessons, we are often told that it is impossible to find time, and we as often think of the little boy who after a severe whipping, was asked if he would be good answered "I can't find time." We often make this an excuse for neglecting these things we do not especially enjoy; and we too often find time to do those things which do not benefit us and are not necessary. This is well illustrated by the following paragraph from the S. S. Times:—

We always find time to do the one thing which we feel is most important of all to be done. We are always ready to do one thing more for the person who is dearer to us than all the world besides. Whatever and whoever are left unattended to, in our daily life, are crowded out by something, or some one, deemed worthier of our first attention. All our activities, therefore, and all our endeavors, are materially shaped by our desires and our affections. How important then that we give the first place in our love and longings to the persons who, and the things which, ought to be foremost. The old German symbolist tells of a lock shown to Gotthold, which was constructed of separate rings, on each of which was a letter, and the lock could be opened only when those rings were arranged to spell a word to which they had been set by him who closed it. This made Gotthold long to have a lock on his heart set to the name of Jesus; and his prayer was, "Lord Jesus, engrave thou thy name with thine own finger upon my heart, that it may remain closed to worldly joy and worldly pleasure, self-interest, fading honor, and low revenge, and open only to thee." How many of our hearts are so set that they will open readiest of all to that name.

W. C. White.