Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-09-07
CHRISTIAN ENDEANOR.
Copic For the Week Beginning Sept. IL.
Comment by Rev. S. IL. Doyle,

Topic For the Week Beginning Sept. IL.
Comment by Rev. S. IL. Doyle.
TcPIc.-"Self Indulgence or self denial?"-
Cor. TX, A-27; Gal. V; 1924. "A temperance
topic.)
Self indulgence is the greatest curse
of Christianity today. Self denial is its
greatest need. Self denial is demanded
and self indulgence forbidden, not only
for the good of others, but also for our
selves. We should deny ourselves for
the sake of others We should also deny
ourselves for the sake of self Self in
terest should make us self denying and
keep us from self indulgence. Paul prac-
ticed self denial both that he might
save some" and also that he himself
might be partaker thereof"
l. The willingness Of men to deny
themselves for perishing worldly honors
should inspire us with willingness to
deny self for immortal honors II Cor
24-2T. Paul illustrates this by the run
ner in the Isthmian games. One who
contested for the prize in the lsthmian
games, the glory of Corinth, had to
deny himself, had to be temperate in all
things. For ten months before the con-
test the candidates, according to ancient
authorities. had to be pure, sober and
enduring to obey orders to eat sparely
and simply and to endure fatigue and
hardship. This denial of self was abso-
lutely necessary to inspire hope Of sue
cess. Without it 1t would be useless for
one to contend. His condition would be
such that he could have no hope for
success The contestants did not refuse
to fulfill the conditions They did it
willingly and cheerfully, and, too, that
they might obtain corruptihle crown,
a fading garland of Isthmian or Nemean
parsley, or Pythian olive or Olympian
bay. How much more willing therefore
the Christian should be to deny himself,
since he strives for an incorruptible, an
unfading. an unwithering crown, "a
crown of righteousness, "a crown of
life" and that, too, eternal life. This
self denial is also absolutely necessary
to success in the Christian race. We
cannot live an indulgent and Chris
tian life at the same time. The extent
to which Paul went in self denial he
illustrates by this pugilist as fighter.
He strikes real blows at his body, not
feints or blows at random. He declares
that he bruised his body and smote it
under the eyes. Keeping it thus in sub
lection, Paul referred to no harmful
bodily torture, but to noble self sacri-
ficing labors and self denials for the
good of others.
2. The fruits of self indulgence and
self denial should inspire self denial
gal V, 1924. Self indulgence leads to
the grossest sins, which forever debar
Us from the kingdom of God Self de-
NAL produces the fruits Of the spirit,
which make us Christlike and Christ
possessed They that cruelty the flesh
for Christ sake are Christ's
AS Christians and Endeavorers let US
go often to Calvary that we may drink
deeply from the fountain of noblest sac
rifce and self denial, and, thus refresh
ed and strengthened, go into the world
and teach 1t by our lives what true.
self denial is and its superiority over
self Indulgence,
Bible Readings.-Prov Xxx. /; xiii,
Is; Jer. xxxv, l-9; Math. xvi, 24-2S;
Mark viii, 343s; Luke iii, ll-14; tx,
1925; xiv, 26-33; Acts ii, II, 45; xx,
"a; Rom. VI. 12-14; xii, /, 2; XIV, l-3;
Phil. H. ll2; Heb, xi, 1926; Pet. Ii,
II. 10.