The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-22
sanday-schooI Lesson for April go.
The TALENrs-Matt. XIV, 1870.

Golden Tezs-Be thou faithful unto death. and
win give thee q crown OF hfe--Isev ii, To-
HOME READINGS.
Monday-The talents Matt. ky, 1870
Tuesday--Parable Of the pounds Luke xix. 1927
Wednesday--S piritual gifts--.------1 Cor XIII Ill
Tbursday-Variety of talents Rom. xii. 19
Friday-Responsibili Luke xii. 4I-4s
snndsvyRsward Of fathfuness z Tim ", Is
Trench says: s'While the virgins were repre-
sented as waiting for their Lord, we have here
the servants working for Him. There the in
ward spiritual life of the faithful was described,
hero their external activity There, by the fate
OF the foolish virgins, were warned against
negligence and decays in the inner life; here. by
the doom of the sothful servant, against indo-
lence in our outward vocation and work That
parable enforced the need Of keeping the hesrt
with all diligence; this, of putting all diligence
also into our outward service, if We would give
account with joy, and not with sorrow'
The lesson of this parable may be briefly stated
to be our accountability TO God for service
in proportion to our abilities. It will
prevent confusion to observe that the talents
here do not represent abilities, for the talents
are distributed according to the ability of the
servants. One servant had sufficient ability OF
4 business kind th az his Lord could intrust Ave
talents, about five thousand dollars. TO him
for Another, less able. or talented, as We
would say, could only be Entrusted with two .
ffths as much, and still another with only one
fifth. In the providence of God IL generally oc-
that each individual mas Entrusted Co MIN
about all the responsibility he well dis
charge, and no more. One has ability to
Quire learning, another to handle wealth,
another to influence men, another
TO teech but all have some abilities. Those who
combine all these aptitudes the ones who
have received fave talents. Those with fewer
sptisudes those who have received fewer
talents. BUT there is one who has no aDti-
tide, And from whom the Lord withholds a
TALENT He intrusts something TO each one to
do. Sometimes our talent lies in our opportun-
tiles We may be placed IN q situation peculiar.
" suited to the dong Of the Lords work. Then
this teaches us ct our opportunities and apti-
tudos are the gifts of God, and that He furnishes
call account for them
POINTS FOB TEACHERS.
l. Neglect not the gift that is in thee" God
has put every one in trust with great interests
Eech has received according TO his ability"
Each is expected to use his gift for Gods glory.
Neglect is abuse. Omission is sin as truly as
commission. Bewarel
2. Opportunity measures responsibility.
Where much has been given much will be
quired. Small duties demand fidelity equally
with great. ''She hath done what she could" is
the highesS eneomium any mortal can receive.
Have you been thus faithful
3 Fidelity determines reward Not how
much but how we'll is the real test. A night
wAtchman may outreSk bank president in
fidelity to duty. When all WORK is undertaken
as Gods assignment duty will be TRANSPORTED
The faithful will reap reward.