Sabbath School - Meat In Due Season Advanced Commentary

2023-Q1

MANAGING FOR THE MASTER

Till He Comes

Introduction to the 1st Quarter Sabbath School Lesson

Ministers of God should be of good repute, capable of discreetly managing an interest after they have aroused it. We stand in great need of competent men who will bring honor instead of disgrace to the cause which they represent. Ministers should be examined especially to see if they have an intelligent understanding of the truth for this time so that they can give a connected discourse upon the prophecies or upon practical subjects. If they cannot clearly present Bible subjects, they need to be hearers and learners still. They should earnestly and prayerfully search the Scriptures, and become conversant with them, in order to be teachers of Bible truth to others. All these things should be carefully and prayerfully considered before men are hurried into the field of labor. {4T 407.1}

If All Responsible Men Were Temperate. --Should representative men keep the way of the Lord, they would point men to a high and holy standard. Those in positions of trust would be strictly temperate. Magistrates, senators, and judges would have a clear understanding, and their judgment would be sound and unperverted. The fear of the Lord would never be before them, and they would depend upon a higher wisdom than their own. The heavenly Teacher would make them wise in counsel, and strong to work steadfastly in opposition to all wrong and to advance that which is right and just and true. The word of God would be their guide, and all oppression would be discarded. Lawmakers and administrators would abide by every good and just law, ever teaching the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment. God is the head of all good and just governments and laws. Those who are entrusted with the responsibility of administering any part of the law, are accountable to God as stewards of His goods. --Review and Herald, Oct. 1, 1895. {Te 48.1}

Those Sabbath-keeping brethren who shift the responsibility of their stewardship into the hands of their wives, while they themselves are capable of managing the same, are unwise and in the transfer displease God. The stewardship of the husband cannot be transferred to the wife. Yet this is sometimes attempted, to the great injury of both. A believing husband has sometimes transferred his property to his unbelieving companion, hoping thereby to gratify her, disarm her opposition, and finally induce her to believe the truth. But this is no more nor less than an attempt to purchase peace or to hire the wife to believe the truth. The means that God has lent to advance His cause the husband transfers to one who has no sympathy for the truth; what account will such a steward render when the great Master requires His own with usury? {1T 528.1}

He has given varied trusts, proportioned to our varied abilities, and he expects corresponding returns. Some have five talents to improve, some have two, some have one; and these talents are not to be used merely for the service of self, but are to be put out to the exchangers, to be doubled, and returned to the Master. It is the duty of every church member to consider carefully whether he is acting as a wise servant, doing his Master's business, or using his time and talents to please and honor himself.

Have you acted as if you were your own master, instead of a servant hired to do the work that God has given you to do in his vineyard?

Can you dispose of yourselves as you see fit, without looking to the Master for his directions?

There is much nice work to be done in the vineyard of the Lord, and God expects you to bring tact and skill, and thoughtful consideration into his work. You manifest skill in managing temporal matters, and shall the work of God be done in a haphazard manner?

If anything demands the very best service that human skill can give, it is the service of God. Men and women are required to give their noblest energies to the work of the salvation of souls for whom Christ died. There are many who are simply passive church members. They do not feel the necessity of struggling for immortality; but God calls upon all to throw their energies into warfare, to put to stretch every muscle, and exert every power, in order to be found worthy of eternal life. Half-hearted and indolent service will not be acceptable to God. The servant of God must gain increased ability by using what he has. He must pray for guidance, help, for wisdom, so that he may serve God intelligently. To keep carefully apart from the church and invest the powers God has given you in worldly schemes, is robbing God and dishonoring him before his face. {RH, June 19, 1888 par. 9}