30
Counsels on Sabbath School Work
spiritual truths which these facts are designed to teach. We should
especially impress upon the minds of the young the importance of
seeking the full significance of the scripture under consideration....
Parents, set apart a little time each day for the study of the Sabbath
school lesson with your children. Give up the social visit if need be,
[42]
rather than sacrifice the hour devoted to the precious lessons of sacred
history. Parents, as well as children, will receive benefit from this
study. Let the more important passages of Scripture connected with
the lesson be committed to memory, not as a task, but as a privilege.
Though at first the memory may be defective, it will gain strength by
exercise, so that after a time you will delight thus to treasure up the
precious words of truth. And the habit will prove a most valuable aid
to religious growth.
If the time that is worse than wasted in gossip, in ministering to
pride, or for the gratification of appetite, were devoted with equal
interest to the study of the Bible, what encouragement would be given
to our Sabbath schools! But when parents are more anxious to have
their children fashionably dressed than to have their minds stored with
the truths of God’s word, the children themselves will soon learn to
regard dress and display as of more consequence than the things which
concern their salvation....
Observe system in the study of the Scriptures in your families.
Neglect anything of a temporal nature; dispense with all unnecessary
sewing and with needless provision for the table, but be sure that
the soul is fed with the bread of life. It is impossible to estimate the
good results of one hour or even half an hour each day devoted in a
cheerful, social manner to the word of God. Make the Bible its own
expositor, bringing together all that is said concerning a given subject
[43]
at different times and under varied circumstances. Do not break up
your home class for callers or visitors. If they come in during the
exercise, invite them to take part in it. Let it be seen that you consider
it more important to obtain a knowledge of God’s word than to secure
the gains or pleasures of the world.—
Testimonies on Sabbath-School
Work, 10, 11
.