ches, and pleasures of this life. These are what choke
the word, the growing spiritual seed. The soul ceases to draw
nourishment from Christ, and spirituality dies out of the heart.
“The cares of this world.” No class is free from the temptation to
worldly care. To the poor, toil and deprivation and the fear of want
bring perplexities and burdens. To the rich come fear of loss and
a multitude of anxious cares. Many of Christ’s followers forget the
lesson He has bidden us learn from the flowers of the field. They
do not trust to His constant care. Christ cannot carry their burden,
because they do not cast it upon Him. Therefore the cares of life,
which should drive them to the Saviour for help and comfort, separate
them from Him.
Many who might be fruitful in God’s service become bent on
acquiring wealth. Their whole energy is absorbed in business
enterprises, and they feel obliged to neglect things of a spiritual
nature. Thus they separate themselves from God. We are enjoined
in the Scriptures to be “not slothful in business.” Romans 12:11. We
are to labor that we may impart to him who needs. Christians must
work, they must engage in business, and they can do this without
committing sin. But many become so absorbed in business that they
have no time for prayer, no time for the study of the Bible, no time
to seek and serve God. At times the longings of the soul go out for
holiness and heaven; but there
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is no time to turn aside from the din of the world to listen to the
majestic and authoritative utterances of the Spirit of God. The things
of eternity are made subordinate, the things of the world supreme. It
is impossible for the seed of the word to bring forth fruit; for the life
of the soul is given to nourish the thorns of worldliness.
And many who are working with a very different purpose, fall
into a like error. They are working for others’ good; their duties are
pressing, their responsibilities are many, and they allow their labor
to crowd out devotion. Communion with God through prayer and
a study of His word is neglected. They forget that Christ has said,
“Without Me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5. They walk apart from
Christ, their life is not pervaded by His grace, and the characteristics
of self are revealed. Their service is marred by desire for supremacy,
and the harsh, unlovely traits of the unsubdued heart. Here is one of
the chief secrets of failure in Christian work. This is why its results
are often so meager.
“The deceitfulness of riches.” The love of riches has an
infatuating, deceptive power. Too often those who possess worldly
treasure forget that it is God who gives them power to get wealth.
They say, “My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me
this wealth.” Deuteronomy 8:17. Their riches, instead of awakening
gratitude to God, lead to the exaltation of self. They lose the sense of
their dependence upon God and their obligation to their fellow men.
Instead of regarding wealth as a talent to be employed for the glory
of God and the uplifting of humanity, they look upon it as a means
of serving themselves. Instead of developing in man the attributes of
God, riches thus used are developing in him the attributes of Satan.
The seed of the word is choked with thorns.
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“And pleasures of this life.” There is danger in amusement that
is sought merely for self-gratification. All habits of indulgence that
weaken the physical powers, that becloud the mind, or that benumb
the spiritual perceptions, are “fleshly lusts, which war against the
soul.” 1 Peter 2:11.
“And the lusts of other things.” These are not necessarily things
sinful in themselves, but something that is made first instead of the
kingdom of God. Whatever attracts the mind from God, whatever
draws the affections away from Christ, is an enemy to the soul.*****
When the mind is youthful and vigorous and susceptible of rapid
development, there is great temptation to be ambitious for self, to
serve self. If worldly schemes are successful, there is an inclination
to continue in a line that deadens conscience, and prevents a correct
estimate as to what constitutes real excellence of character. When
circumstances favor this development, growth will be seen in a
direction prohibited by the word of God.
In this formative period of their children’s life, the responsibility
of parents is very great. It should be their study to surround the youth
with right influences, influences that will give them correct views of
life and its true success. Instead of this, how many parents make it
their first object to secure for their children worldly prosperity. All
their associations are chosen with reference to this object. Many
parents make their home in some large city, and introduce their
children into fashionable society. They surround them with influences
that encourage worldliness and pride. In this atmosphere the mind
and soul are dwarfed. The high and noble aims of life are lost sight
of. The privilege of being sons of God, heirs of eternity, is bartered
for worldly gain.
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Many parents seek to promote the happiness of their children by
gratifying their love of amusement. They allow them to engage in
sports, and to attend parties of pleasure, and provide them with money
to use freely in display and self-gratification. The more the desire for
pleasure is indulged, the stronger it becomes. The interest of these
youth is more and more absorbed in amusement, until they come to
look upon it as the great object of life. They form habits of idleness
and self-indulgence that make it almost impossible for them ever to
become steadfast Christians.
Even the church, which should be the pillar and ground of the
truth, is found encouraging the selfish love of pleasure. When money
is to be raised for religious purposes, to what means do many churches
resort? To bazaars, suppers, fancy fairs, even to lotteries, and like
devices. Often the place set apart for God’s worship is desecrated
by feasting and drinking, buying, selling, and merrymaking. Respect
for the house of God and reverence for His worship are lessened in
the minds of the youth. The barriers of self-restraint are weakened.
Selfishness, appetite, the love of display, are appealed to, and they
strengthen as they are indulged.
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The pursuit of pleasure and amusement centers in the cities.
Many parents who choose a city hom
