Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-03-18
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for March sc, 500
Faithful and UafaithfuI servants-Luks

Atc<A
GOLDEN TExr.-Be not drunk with wine
wherein IL excess: but be filled with the
Splrit.-Eph. Sis.
TIME.-Noyember, A. u. %
PLAcE.-In Persia. somewhere between
Galilee and Jerusalem.
THE SECTION includes Luke 12:l-5s. to-
watchfulness on the Tuesday before the
crucinxion. four months later In Matt
2i:5'-1l; Mark l3'2s-SI: Luke u 1916: also
the parallels in Matt. 25:l-23
This lesson may be used as a tenn.
perance lesson. The application is very
clear. First. watch the effect of strong
drink on others. The wise man ever
looks around in life, and reads in his
tory to- see the effect of any course be-
fore he tries il himself. 1t makes men
silly. II Injuries his nerves. 1t is a
breeder of lies. IL destroys the health.
1t destroys good business judgment.
The Chicago d Alton Railroad company
recently issued an order prohibiting its
employees from using any Intoxicating
drinks while they were on duty. Too
many serious accidents have resulted
from the use of intoxicants. A few
years ago a large steamer ran ashore
in Portland harbor in broad daylight
II was said the captain, though not
drunk, at the time was suffering from
the incapacity resulting from hard
drinking the night before. Second,
watch what saloon keepers are doing
as TO laws and law abiding. Says John
Willis Baer: God curse the saloon
business and put it to confusion! God
save the saloon keeper and give him a
clean henrt and a prosperous life."
/ Horn
best understand this warming of Jesus
when we consider the circumstances
of the disciples. which demanded CON
tinual watching. as we learn them from
the Lord Himself. They would be e,s-
posed to the dangers of great tempta-
tions, of being deceived, of growing
careless and worldly. There were to
he wars, persecution, great iniQuities.
false prophets, the love of saints even
growing cold, fearful fluctuations
which could Toe typified only by the sun
and moon darkened and the stars fall.
ing from Heaven; great changes and
overturnings, which seemed like the end
of all things, but were in reality the
SprinStime of the new kingdom. the
birth of the new Heavens and the new
earth
III. The Duty or THE UoUR-WATCH.
VS.. 37-39. The word watching. as
here used, meant in the Greek to wake
up, hence, TO be awake. alert. The cor
responding word in Mark 49,: % is de-
rived from two words meaning "to
hunt sleep The picture is of one in
pursuit of sleep and, therefore, wake
full, restless. Watchfulness is a state
of readiness for any duty or opportun-
ity. blessed" says Jesus, "are those
servants, whom the Lord when He
cometh shall find watching. Verify /
say unto you that lie shall GRID Him
self. and make them TO sit down to
meat, and will come forth and serve
them" The figure used to express the
high blessedness of those found watch
ing, that the Lord will grid Himself
and wait upon them is a very surpris-
ing one, and must betoHen an honor
and blessedness beyond all thought.
But 1.-THE Son of Man cometh at an hour
when ye think not Not only His
final coming, but all of His cominps
are sudden, at unexpected times, and
In unexpected ways.
III. THE FAITHFUL SERvANT-Vs.
41-44. Peter recognized that the
apostles We're referred to. and would
of course reap the reward promised,
but how about other people? Was
there room for them? The Lord an
swers, implying by a parable what He
at another time directly said: what
] say unto you / say unto all, Watch. -
We see by this illustration of Christ
what He means by watching: not gaz-
ing up into Heaven for signs, but faith
full performance of duty, as if God Him
self were ever present, with hope and
JOY I'm the thought of His coming. The
reward of the faithful watcher is both
outward and inward, more glories, and
blessings, and joys, and larger capaci-
ties for usefulness and endowment.
Nv. THE UNFAITHFUL SERvANT-vs.
45-4S. This servant says to himself
that the time of reckoning is far away.
the Lord will never know of the evil
doings of his servant, and the servant
VIII have time to put all in order again.
30 lie begins ito beat the men servants
and the maidens. and to eat and drink.
and TO be drunken" The two forms of
SIN most common TO those in high
places arc oppression and sclf-indul-
gencc. All! but the Lord knows all
that is being done. and at the right time
will come suddenly. and reward meet
for his course will also come. His
portion will be with the unhcIieyers.
hypocrites-according to Matthew.
For such an unfnithful servant is q
hypocritc. for he would never have held
lies position had he not proposed to be
faithful. IAN eye servant is neccs-
sarily a hypocrite. Many an unfaithful
man knows wIat hell is long before nc
dies. This is II general principle Of
life. The untuithfu clerk. or work
Lnhn. or capitalist. or business man is
ON the certain road to ruin, and he will
get there sooner or later. unless nc
changes his life. Verses g. and As state
- general principle which serves 10 ex-
plain the severity of the punishment
spoken of in verse 90. The severity
viii rHrY according TO the measure of
light against hich sin has been com.
mitt"d. Greatness. genius. talent do
not cNcuSc men for shining. but add TO