GIVING THE BEST

The "prop" for this old graduation cap is full of air--
hopefully not the condition of its former wearer (me)!

Graduation time! Who didn't know of someone who graduated high school or college this year? With the moving of the tassel comes great dreams and great aspirations. Yet often, the high of “graduation” is followed by the low of reality. Relationships change. Jobs are scarce. They're supposed to move on—but to what?

Imagine the dashed hopes of youth after America's Civil War. Casualties—death and disability-- devastated families. Years of war left the country in financial shambles. The country's youth wondered what, really, was their future? Then in 1881, out of the ashes and disillusionment of that conflict, a youth evangelical group was birthed in Portland, Maine. Founders described its purpose as “to promote an earnest Christian life among its members, to increase their mutual acquaintanceship, and to make them more useful in the service of God.” Its membership soon spread to the British empire and beyond. By 1906 there were 67,000 youth-led Christian Endeavor societies, with more than four million members, across the world.

This was no local high school Bible study/fun night. Its membership pledge reflected the founders' desire that youth have a useful place in the church:

“Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, I promise Him that I will strive to do whatever He would like to have me do; that I will make it the rule of my life to pray and to read the Bible every day, and to support the work and worship of my own church in every way possible; and that just so far as I know how, throughout my whole life, I will endeavor to lead a Christian life.

“As an active member I promise to be true to all my duties, to be present at and to take some part, aside from singing, in every Christian Endeavor meeting, unless hindered by some reason which I can conscientiously give to my Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. If obliged to be absent from the monthly consecration meeting of the society, I will, if possible, send at least a verse of Scripture to be read in response to my name at the roll call.”

Leaders of the organization started publishing materials, including a hymnal for meetings, edited by Rev. Howard Grose, a Baptist minister who wore many hats during his life: university president, history professor, and editor of Christian Endeavor Journal for 23 years. He wrote the lyrics for a Christian Endeavor hymn. It was matched to a tune composed by a prolific British ballad writer, Charlotte Barnard. The hymn's lyrics follow the organization's encouragement to give God the best of your life, not the scraps:

Give of your best to the Master; give of the strength of your youth.

Throw your soul's fresh, glowing ardor into the battle for truth.

Jesus has set the example, dauntless was He, young and brave.

Give Him your loyal devotion; Give Him the best that you have.

The three verses and chorus to this hymn can be found here:

Give of Your Best to the Master > Lyrics | Howard B. Grose (timelesstruths.org)

The late Robert Cottrill, who wrote extensively about hymns, recalled his own father's high standards that reflected the values of Christian Endeavor. One night, he said, his father was leading the choir practice at their church when a young man slid in late. When the senior Cottrill asked why the youth was late, he just shrugged and said nothing. “At which,” the younger Cottrill recalled, “my father stunned him—and set the bar for all of us—by saying to the latecomer, 'The Lord doesn't want your spare time.'” (1)

If the hymn lyrics don't convict you, read 2 Peter 1:5-7 about ways to live out one's faith. And check out Ephesians 4:3 which in the King James version uses that key, get-with-it word, Endeavor.

(1) Give of Your Best to the Master | Wordwise Hymns (accessed June 5, 2021)