The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-11
CHRISTIAN EMpEAvoR.

1splc Tor sAs wssk Beginning March -,
Comment BY Rev. o. II. Doyle.
ToPIo.-How 70 keep the Christian Kndssvor
pledss.-Math. NV. l+So.
The parable of the talents, which
forms our topical rsfsrence, was spoken
by ChrfDt 20 . MIXED multitude on the
Mount Of Olives short time before His
crucifxion. 1t illustrates the faithful
and unfsithful use of different gifts
and talents and the results. 1t may we'll
introduce rs 10 the study of the subject
Of how we should keep the Christian
Endeavor pledge.
!. We should keep the pledge as a
duty and an opportunity from Christ.
In the parable Of the talents the master
who goes away and intrusts talents to
his servants represents Jesus Christ,
who has gone to heaven and left duties
and opportunities to His disciples. The
duties and opportunities of the Endeavor
society as represented by the pledges are
obligations owed to Christ. We pledge
ourselves to Him. Our vows are given
not to the society, but to Christ. We
promise Him that we will do whatever
He would like to have us do. That mo-
ment the Christian Endeavor society
with all its opportunities for service be
comes Christ's vineyard. The opportu
mites become talents intrusted by Him to
us, to be used for Him and to be ac
counted for to Him. II we would keep
these facts constantly in mind, we
would keep the pledge more faithfully.
Q. We should keep the pledge in ao-
cordance with our diversified gifts All
the servants did not have the same
number Of talents. To one the master
gave five talents, to another two and to
another but one, according to the abil-
ity of each one. Christ has not given us
all the same ability. To some He has
given five talents, to others but one.
This should not make those who possess
great ability proud and arrogant, but
humble and charitable, since it is gift
of Christ and since also great abilitie
bring correspondingly great responsible
tiles. Nor should those who have but
one talent say, "Sinoe l can do SO little
I will do nothing" If Christ has only
given us one talent, He will only re-
quire us to account for one, but He will
call us to account for that one. The un-
faithful servant did not escape punish
ment because he only had one talent.
He was held to as strict an account as
the servant who had five talents. With
all the ability, be it much or little,
that the Master has given us let us per-
form the duties and obligations of our
pledge.
3. We should keep the pledge faith
fully in view of the fact that Christ
will call us to account for our steward
ship. If faithful, we will be rewarded
in proportion to our faithfulness; if I'M
faithful, if neglectful, we will receive
Christ's condemnation. Let US not for
get also that the unfaithful servant sim
ply neglected his talent. He did not
abuse it, simply let it alone, and yet
Christ held him accountable How many
Endeavorers are neglecting their splen-
did opportunities? How can we account
to Christ?
Bible Readings. Gen. xviii, 20-22
Mum. xxi, 1-3; XXX, /, 2; Deut. xiii.
81; Eccl. v, 4, 5; Ps. !, IA; lxxvi, IL;
cxxxii, 10; Math. XIV, 31-46; Cor. X,
81; Gal. vi, 0. 10; Col. iii, IL; JAS j,
1927; Rev. ii, 10.