The Idle Christian

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 5, 1859

The Idle Christian.

WHY stand ye here all the day idle? Matt. 20: 6.—Exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 1 Tim. 4: 7. Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life. Rev. 2: 10.

Christianity calls to a life of activity. Its true spirit is a spirit of activity. Many a person thinks himself a pretty good christian because he cannot, as he supposes, be convicted of doing anything inconsistent with his profession. He is guilty of no immorality. He does not lie, swear, nor drink. This is good but they do not go for enough. Christianity not only requires us to abstain from vice, but also to practice its virtues. It has a positive as well as a negative. We are called to work in the Lord's vineyard; but this the idle christian does not do. There are sins of commission and of omission. 2 John 5: 4. James 4: 17.

TO BE IDLE IS TO BE—NOT LIKE CHRIST. Christ led a life of activity. He labored for the good of the lost race of man. "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"

TO BE IDLE IS TO NEGLECT TO GLORIFY GOD.—We are to live for God's glory. 1 Cor. 6: 20. The idle child is no credit, no honor to his parents.

TO BE IDLE IS TO BE FALSE TO THE CHURCH.—She needs help. The christian belongs to the church. He is not his own. The church has a right to his service. In whatever way he can promote the interests of the church he is bound to do it. One can make money—another can be useful in the prayer-meeting—a third can exhort—a fourth can preach—a fifth can sing—a sixth can write. Too many christians feel that they do not violate any of the prohibitions of God's word. It is just as much a sin in the sight of God to disobey his commands as it is to violate his prohibitions—to neglect the prayer-meeting as it is to lie—to neglect to give of our means to support the church as it is to swear. The true spirit is "Lord, here am I, send me." We should arrange all our business so as not to interfere with the interests of the church. One says, "I cannot attend prayer-meeting, I have other engagements, &c."

TO BE IDLE IS TO BE CRUEL TO DYING SOULS.—James 5: 20. It is as cruel as to leave a wounded man to perish by the way-side when we might save him. The good Samaritan shewed the true spirit of christianity.

TO BE IDLE SHOWS A LACK OF LOVE. 2nd Cor. 5: 14, 15. The parent who neglects his children, lets them run clothed in rags, in ignorance, &c., shows a want of love for them. The parent may provide for the physical want of his child, but neglect his soul. Christ showed his love for man in what he did for him.

TO BE IDLE IS INJURIOUS TO THE HEALTH. Exercise is necessary to health, and many injure themselves through indolence. Thus it is with man spiritually. Benevolence, sympathy, love, forbearance, devotion must be exercised to keep them alive. Soon as christians neglect this their spiritual health declines.

TO BE SPIRITUALLY IDLE IS TO BE SPIRITUALLY POOR. "The hand of the diligent maketh rich." See that man who has come down to an old age of poverty. Why is it? Idleness. Men differ, but all may accumulate something. Many come down to old age spiritually poor. O, says one, if "I could pray like such a one I would love to pray." He acquired this gift by cultivation, and you could do the same.

TO BE IDLE IS TO HINDER A BLESSING. Idleness hinders the crop. "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse." The gifts must all be brought into exercise if we would have the church prosper. In the industrious family all do something, and they prosper; but in the idle family all go to ruin. Thus it is with the church. In the idle family one is too lazy, another too proud and another too intent on pleasure. Thus it is in the church.

TO BE IDLE IS TO BE WEAK. Many men come up into life weak, because their powers were not developed and strengthened by exercise. Thus it is with many christians.

IDLENESS HINDERS ASSURANCE. The idle farmer has no assurance of a crop. Thus the idle church has no assurance of prosperity.—"Make your calling and election sure." How is this to be done? "Be thou faithful."

IDLENESS HAS NO PROMISE. The idle student has no promise of success. "So run that you may obtain." "Let no man take your crown."

IDLENESS BRINGS A CURSE, poverty, and want; and this leads to vice and wickedness. Thus it is with the church. Idleness breaks down the prayer-meeting, and the church. "Curse ye Meroz; curse bitterly; because they came not up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty."

THE IDLE ARE LIABLE TO A DISASTROUS END.—It always leads to ruin. "Man commences life with fair prospects, but ends in ruin." "Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness."

IS IT TRUE THAT THE IDLE CHRISTIAN DOES NOTHING INCONSISTENT WITH HIS PROFESSION? Is it not inconsistent with our profession to neglect the family altar, the prayer-meeting, and the house of God?

THE ELEMENTS OF SUCCESS IN THE CHURCH are an active, industrious, spiritually minded minister; a devoted, earnest, benevolent, praying, hard working membership. Where these elements exist they always secure prosperity, and without them the church will go to ruin.

A glorious reward awaits the active, faithful christian. A CROWN OF LIFE. Matt. 17: 49; Dan. 12: 3; Rev. 7: 9, 17.—Herald of Gospel Liberty.