enough, to the specific which is even more challeng ing. There are many areas of responsibility, but let us consider three. Some of us will find ourselves an swerable in all three particulars, some perhaps two. None of us will be able to say we are unaffected by all three. Consider the story of Eli and of his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, as described in First Samuel, chapter 2 . Suffice it to say their evil was two-fold, (a) They abused their office as priests, and (b) they were morally evil. We read that Eli reproved them in a mild and wish-washy manner, but took no positive action. Then in I Samuel chapter 3 comes the familiar story of the Lord’s appearing to Samuel by night. His sad and sorrowful message is summed up in verses 12 and 13: “ In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house. . . . For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he re strained them not.” There is not time to go into the full ins and outs of the story, but this much is evident: First, Eli came under the judgment of God because he failed in his duty as a parent, and secondly, part of that failure at least was in that although there was reproof, there was no restraint. If we are parents, God holds us responsible for the way in which we order our homes, and for the way in which we train and discipline our children. Two Bible directions are relevant: First, Proverbs 22:6: “ Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This verse carries for me the picture of a gardener training a plant in a certain direction. Gently he guides a ten dril here, nipping off a wayward shoot there, en couraging such natural growth as is moving in the right direction and firm ly restraining all that would hinder the correct growth. God expects the same as parents. But this is not sufficient for the Christian parent; added to it must be instruction and guidance concerning God’s Word. In this connection, turn to Paul’s second letter to Timothy and link verse 15 of chapter 3 with verse 5 of chapter 1. "From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures. . . .” “ The unfeigned faith . . . which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice." The fact that Timothy followed his parents’ faith can be attributed to the fact that from a child he had peen taught the scriptures. This links up with the solemn Old Testament injunction to Hebrew parents concerning their children. “ And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, 28
and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deut. 6:6-7). Do you teach your children the Word of God? Do you talk about the Bible? Do you ever read it together? Do you set a good example yourself? Do your children know that at a certain time during the day, you are having your quiet time with the Lord, when they should try to avoid disturbing you? Think on these things for “ we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” ana worKGrs ana i»Gaa 6 r$ In Hebrews 13:17 we read: “ Obey them that have the rule over you [that guide you], and submit your selves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account.” The verse is, of course, an in junction to the rank and file. You may not always agree with what your Church officers decide, with your Club leader, your Sunday School Superintendent, your Fellowship leader, but you must recognize that if they are looking upon their jobs in the right light, whatever action they have decided upon has been done in the knowledge that one day they will have to give account to God. But what about you who are the leader, the work er, the Sunday school teacher, the Committee mem ber, the Church officer— do you “ watch for the souls” of those under your authority? What a solemn respon sibility this is! How our service for God would be transformed if we could only grasp this fact. Leader ship of any kind in the Christian church is a dele gated responsibility under God Himself to care for the souls of those who come under our influence. This will, of course, involve seeing that the particular section of the church’s work allotted to us will be carried out efficiently and thoroughly, but far more, it will mean prayerful waiting upon God constantly to see if we are caring as we should for the souls in our charge. What about you choir members, you door stew ards, your soloists— no souls under your charge per haps— but do you carry out your service “ as those that must give account” equally as much as those whose responsibility involves caring for souls? All those who take on any kind of service for their Master immediately place themselves in the position of those who must give account. Let us not shirk responsibility because of this, but rather accept it with a more profound feeling of the honor and obligation. Linder this heading I would refer you to the para ble of the Talents. This is one of the most well-read, well-known and most misunderstood passages in the Bible. To catch the full import of its teaching, we must remember it is directed towards disciples, to believers, to Christians. As such, it teaches us exact ly the same as Paul states— that all Christians will THE KING'S BUSINESS
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