When Joseph and Mary, after three days of searching, found Jesus in the temple, "sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions," (Luke 2:46) and reproved Him for not being with them, He replied, "Wist you not that I must be about my Father's business?" (Luke 2:49)
What was He doing? He was not teaching, not disputing, for to attempt either would have been most unseemly in a child of twelve; but He was simply listening to the teaching of the doctors of the law, and asking them questions in order to get a more perfect understanding.
He was, in short, endeavoring to increase in the knowledge of God; and this was the doing of His Father's business.
The one thing required of God's children is to know Him. The real business of life is to learn to know God. It is for this that God has placed us here.
Are we attending strictly to business, or are we idling away our time in other things that we make ourselves think are more important?--Present Truth, March 20, 1902--Timeline: I-8 (First Passover Visit)--Luke 2:46-49.