The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-06-18
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JUNE %. G
Lesson Text: "Trust in Our Heavenly
Father" Luke xii, 22-34-
Golden Text: Luke xiii,
30-Commentary.

%. "And He said unto His disciples, There.
fore say unto you, Be not anxious for your
life, what ye shall eat: nor yet for your body,
what ye shall put on" (R. W. The previous
verse, which is the last verse Of tbe last les:
son, contrasts treasure in this world for ones
self, and treasure with God, which is endur-
ing. Men who live only for this world will
naturally seek treasure here; but disciples Of
Christ who are no longer Of this world should
seek to have their treasure where they be-
long. ,,r
ing forty days, was tempted to turn stones
into bread, His reply was: Man shall not
live by bread alone, but by every word that
proceedeth out of the mouth Of God" (Matt.
iv., 4. And again when weary, hungry and
thirsty, He sat on Jacobs well and the dis
ciples brought Him food He said II have
meat to eat that ye know not of (Jno iv.,
32. The descendants Of those who had for
forty years been fed daily with food from
heaven, and whose clothing waxed not old
all those years should surely be able to trust
ment. But we do SO forget, just like them.
Then suppose we have the best Of food and
plenty Of it, but have no appetite for it, or
cannot assmilate it when eaten, what is the
benefit of food? Or if the body is frail or
1ecaying what will the richest blessing do
for it? Something more than food and raj
ment is necessary; even the blessing and care
If Him who made our bodies and who alone
,an keep them in life and health, and raise
them up immortal and incorruptible in that
lay.
"a. Consider the ravens; = & God
seedeth them" In the sermon on the mount
he called their attention to birds generally,
but here He selects one kind, and that an un-
clean bird, classed among those which God
had said were to be all abomination to Israel
Lev. xi, 49, 15. If God cares for and can
make use of even the abominable raven,
surely He will not fail to supply the need OF
those who have been made whittier than snow
by the precious blood OF His dear Son.
''Of how much more value are ye than the
birdsr The sparrows two Of which are sold
for farthing, or five for two farthingH
Matt K, 90; Luke xii, O. are cared for by
Him; how much more will He care for thoss
who are bought with such a price.
IS. And which OF you by being anxious
can add cubit unto his stature" [R. W or
''age" as in the margin? To add foot anda
great matter; and as the next verse indicates
that what is here referred to Is some small
matter, it must be that the meaning is 'who
by anxious thought can add even half step
to the length of bis life?' Who can with all
his care prolong his life single moment un-
less God so wills it?
26. "If, then, ye are not able to do that
which is least, why are ye anxious concern
ing the rest% The little child resting in
mothers love, entirely dependent on q
mothers care for food and raiment and COM
fort, not knowing enough to have an anxious
thought, not thinking Of growth or attain
ment Of any kind, is picture of the .uncon-
,ern and rest which every child Of God
should have concerning all things temporal.
1t is hard for q strong man to realize It, but
even the strongest physically is as dependent
upon God for everything as the little child
upon its mother
127. Consider the lilies, how they grow"
Now He directs us to the flowers painted by
His own hand, growing so quietly, so noise
lessly, so beautifully, and He assures us that
these excel in glory all the raiment OF the
wealthy Solomon. However rich and fine
and costly might be the garments Of Solo
mon, they were all put on, they were not his
personal glory, but only such as any one
could obtain with the same money. The
beauty of the lilies could not be bought with
money, it was not put on it was from with
in, the glory Of each flower was part Of it
self. There are garments moro precious In
Gods sight than any that money can buy;
the garments Of salvation, the garments OF
praise, the ornament Of meek and quiet
spirit isaiah Xxi, 3, 10; /. Pet. ILL.,, 4).
%. If then God so clothe the grass
how much more will He clothe you, O ye OF
little faith?' II such beauty is bestowed on
flowers which fade in an hour, surely He
will not fail to provide suitable clothing for
bodies which He will one day make just like
Christ's glorious body.
80. "And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or
what ye shall drink, neither be ye Of doubt
full mind" The margin says "Live not in
careful suspense" If it was not possible for
every child of God to Danish forever every
anxious thought concerning food and raj
ment. our Saviour would not so insist on it.
And when He so insists on il, how dishonor-
ing to God all such anxiety must be. Doubts
will come, Satan will present them, but we
may resist effectually every doubt, and In
such cas-, we do not sin.
80. "Your Father knoweth that ye have
need of these things" Here is the ground
of our quietness and confidence; we have
Father in heaven, and He knoweth.
81 But rather seek We the Kingdom OF
God: and all these things shall be added
unto you." Not only does He tell us that our
Father knows our needs but here is the un-
failing promise of Him who cannot lie, that
if we do the one thing here commanded.
all tho temporal things we need shall 10
added :,
50. Fear not little foc!:, for it is your
Fathers good pleasure to give you the King.
dom" They are to have no anxiety about
such temporal things as food and raiment;-
they are also to have no anxiety about the
Kingdom for themselves. Their Father,
whose children they now are will surely see
to their eternal as we'll as tempora! Welt are.
33. Sell that ye have and give aims, pro-
vide yourselves = = :; q treasure in the
heavens that faileth not" etc. There IS sucn
a thing as adding to Our treasure In heaven.
Our safety being secure in Christ, 1t IS hls
pleasure to reward us in His Kingdom ac-
cording to our labor here; and while the
Kingdom is sure to US il we ara bis, our
position in His Kingdom will depend upon
our faithfulness here.
"a. For where your treasure is there VIII
vour heart be also" The hearts OF Israel
were often back in Egypt. the heart OF c1 LOTS
wife was in Sodom; the hearts or ~ O0o OF
Gideon's army were at home; hence these
were of no use to God. mo man having put
his hand to the plow, and looking back, IS ht
for tho Kingdom of God" Luke i1., o9:-
Lesson Helper.