Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-12-24
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
THOUGHTS WORTHY or CALM
REFLECTION.

~ PleoD0ut, 1ntereot1n8s ana An~si
i've Lesson, and Where IL May h
Eound-A Learned and Concise Re-
view Of the Same.
Lesson for December ~.
Golden Text--"For where your treas.
ure IL there will your heart be also."--
Matt. o: 81.
Subject, A Lesson of Trust. Matt.
24-34. Most schools will probably think
that a review for the quarter 10 hardly
profitable, as the lessons covered 20 short
a period of time, and the last two or
three lessons on Solomon's life practical
ly reviewed the earlier ones But If It
Is desired to have a review, It should ba
in the nature of summing up OF the
reign of Solomon rather than mere
catalogue Of lesson titles and golden
texts. The optional lesson on Trust
| is appropriate to the beginning OF the
new year, and will be used by many Sum
day schools. The teacher should prepare
for 1t by reading the whole sermon from
which it is taken. Matt. chap. OF,
The central thought Of the Sermon on
| the Mount is the inward nature OF true
righteousness, and its supreme value.
Jesus shows by illustrations that the law
of the kingdom of heaven Is not to be q
new law in the sense that 1t supersedes
the Mosaic faw, but rather that 1t en-
larges and fnlfills that law by command
ing an obedience to its spirit. Chapters
6 and proceed to apply this truth to the
conduct of believers. If righteousness
| Is the supreme thing, the believer should
not manifest undue concern for worldly
riches, which are far inferior to the
/ fro In hos
anxious about his food and clothing.
Either God or worldly prosperity will
rule mans heart; both can not rule to-
gether.
Therefore" since there must be
choice between God and mammon, and
there is only one right way to choose,
therefore take no thought for your life.
The fowls of the air do the best they
can to provide for their natural wants.
They do not SOW or reap because nature
requires thefi to live from day to day;
and, as Jesus says, the heavenly Father
feeds them. But nothing is further from
the thought Of -ahe teacher than to conn
mand men to initiate the improvidence, or
rather, the lack of provision for the flu
ture of the birds. The squirrel, which
stores up q winters food, or the bee,
would have been just as appropriate for
an illustration. Each of these creatures
lives as it's Maker intended, making
such provision for it's needs as its in
stinct requires, and does not suffer. How
much more will man, being far more
worthy in Gods eyes by reason of his
possibilities If not his attachments. be
provided for by God If he does his best
to meet material needs and refrains from
worry.
"Raiment' in the minds Of his hearers
: was a simpler matter than with us, but
: might occupy just as much time and care
if the wearer chose. The money and care
would be devoted, however, not to the cut
of the garment, for all were about alike,
and were draped loosely about the body;
but to its material and ornamentation
"The lilies of the felds;' the meadows
and plain about the Sea of Galilee, upon
, which the hearers of the sermon looked
down from the "Horns of Hattin" were
Mt this season of the year (the spring.
Z bright with flowers of the most brilliant
: | colors.
] seek We first the kingdom Of God;" tc
. | seek the kingdom of God is not to seei
q for a blessed state somewhere in the flu
!. ture; it is to put in practice in daily life
: the principles of Christ. "Take there
| iOic ho thouSht lOI tnt uOIfOW, tus
advice is APPLICABLE TO all times and con
: ditions. 1t never pays to worry about to
u morrow. Sufficient unto the day is tn,
evil thereof" Jesus ends where he be
: gan, on simple, homely plane. He doe
not talk above the heads of his disciples
J but speaks about their ordinary dali,
u cares and tells them how to meet them.
u Teaching Hints.
z This lesson of trust may be put in tn
e form of a syllogism God will care TO
e his own creatures in the order of their i'm
:, portance; man is more important thai
= birds or flowers. God cares for them
t therefore God will care for his children
], The care of God and the worth of MAJ
o are the two things to be emphasized
y Gods care is seen in human lives, just a
Re Jesus promised. Here is a point that ca
be enlarged upon at WILL The lives O
le every one of us display this care, not onl
d at critical points but in the steady ongs
If ing existence, the constant provision fo
o. our needs.
,r Next Lesson-"Christ's Ascension.
" Acts 1: la.