Luke 2:49 And he said to them, How is it that you sought me? knew you not that I must be about my Father's business? The Rev. N. Haycroft, in urging earnestness as an essential qualification in a Sunday-school teacher, says: — The narrative of a colporteur in Spain, on one occasion, will best illustrate this point. He was travelling on foot through the provinces, selling Bibles. At the close of a long and weary day's journey, he approached, hungry and footsore, the outskirts of a village, where he met a Roman Catholic priest, who asked him what he had in his pack. The colporteur replied, "Bibles and Testaments; and I shall be happy to sell you one." "Can you sell me a real Bible?" "Yes; a real Bible for real money." He unshouldered his pack, and the priest purchased a Testament. Just as he was about to depart he said to the colportuer, "You seem to have travelled far to-day!" "Yes, I have," was the answer; "but it is about my Master's business." "You are footsore and wayworn." Yes; but it is all about my Master's business." "Your Master must have a very faithful servant in you," said the priest. The colporteur, not liking to expatiate on his own merits, was inclined to cut the conversation short, anal prepared to pursue his journey. The priest interposed, and pressed him to remain and lodge with him all night. "No," said the colporteur; "I cannot accept your hospitality, for I must be about my Master's business." "But you must lodge somewhere, so that you may as well come with me." After some persuasion he went. Having spent a useful hour or two together, they retired for the night. The priest was an early riser, and at six o'clock in the morning he called to his housekeeper to know wether the stranger was up yet. "Oh yes! "said she," he has been gone from here this three hours; and the last words he said were, 'I must be about my Master's business.'" Here was earnestness; — and remember there is no qualification for a high pursuit like earnestness. Luther was in earnest; and he pressed on till he had secured the glorious Reformation. Howard was in earnest; and he rested not till he had visited all the prisons of Europe, and made their sorrows patent to the world. Wilberforce, and Clarkson, and Buxton were in earnest; and they persevered till they had obtained the liberation of the slave. Napoleon was in earnest in his ambitious projects; and step by step he dashed on to victory, nor rested till he had trampled under foot the thrones of Europe, and made himself the arbiter of the destinies of the world. His one saving quality was earnestness. Parallel Verses KJV: And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?WEB: He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?" |
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