The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-05
Sunday School Lesson for February 6.
Our Fathers Care.
Matt. VII 24-34.
BY j. e. GILBERT, ID. D., LII. d.,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education

ing Verse 33) The precept is very
bold. Seek" denotes an earnest intelli-
gent effort. First" before all other
things, "the kingdom of God" the splri-
tual rule which He sets up over willing
minds. Ills righteousness, the recti-
tude of life and conduct prescribed by
Him. Or, briefly, make 1t tne great busi-'
ness to be obedent to God and right in
His sight. The promise will startle some
one. "All these things" the necessaries
of life about which men have been anX-
ious, "shall be added or literally
thrown in as gratuity. 81 do not be-
lieve it," says some one. But there Is
the Masters word. There is a close con-
nection between godly living and worldly
comfort. David recognized it psalm,
xxxvii, 2O, and Paul declared 1t. q Tim
othy, iv,tS) Here is the whole science of
economics. When Jesus came the pow
erty on every side was most deplorable
but the one remedy He offered was the
gospel. (Matthew, xi, 81 Some say I'M
prove mans temporal and you will i'm
prove his spiritual condition" Jesus re-
verses this statement But the precept
is positive, not negative. 1t does not for
bid industry, economy, honesty, but in
cludes them.
INSTRUCTION.-One point further ana
Jesus dismisses this important topic
and passes to another in His sermon.
Having shown THAT the disciple ought
not to be anxious Nubout his worldly flu
ture He now calls attention to the fact
that each day demands the best use of
our powers. (Verse 34) This He puts on
two sides When the morrow comes there
will be need of the utmost thought that
can be bestowed on it's duties. If one is
busy about a day that has not come he
will not have sufficient strength for the
day that is now here Besides, if there
is evil, as many fear, there will be
enough in each day without importing
that which belongs to another Hence,
dismissing the coming day to the good ia
thcr who knows better than we, let us
live in the present, discharge its duties,
and bear its trials manfully. This ad-
vice is an excellent corrective of any
mistaken notion which any might have
had concerning the previous words of
the lesson, showing that Jesus does not
encourage a careless presumption upon
the goodness of God. Rather we are to
meet the things that are upon us and
, borrow no trouble about imaginary
things which may never come.
REFLECTIONS.--Th instruction con-
tanned in our lesson bears directly upon
the every day life of every man. See
the great company of excited, perplexed.
care-ridden men, who toll from morn tin
night and peer into the future with fore"
bodings of evil cherishng gloomy
thoughts and anxious fears. Let all such
| read the thirty.fourth verse. See the
larger company, who live from hand TO
mouth, denied all tho luXurics and occa
sionally failing OF the necessities of life
at times scarcely able to keep their chill
dren in bread. Let all such read the
thirty-third verse. There may be wicked
men who keep part of their wages CLe-
viticus xix, 13, and there may he plut-
ocrats who fatten on their earnings. The
| industrial problem is disturbed most of
, all by goddess capital and goddess labor.
| There is a God who takes care of those
| who love Him, who challenges the trust
| of men with a pledge based in good phi
| losophy. When will men learn that there
| Is no peace but in the love and service
| of God? There is one cure for ali per-
| sonal burdens. Trust in the Lord and do
| good. psalm, XXxvi, 80