The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-22
j. E. Gilbert, DID,
Secretary of American
Society Of Religious
Education.
The Duty of WatChfulneSS
Luke xii, 35-46.

they who are faithful shall reign with Him In
His kingdom. QI Peter i: llD
FAITHLESS-Jesus did not expect that cvcy
man who entered His service would be faithful.
lie knew TO the contrary, and predicted the
downfall Of one He had chosen. (John vi: ca
Many men cannot appreciate a promised reward.
Indeed, the very position Of minister some
times proves 4 snare and leads TO his ruin.
There are emolumcnts of office in which they
may find much satisfaction, and certain
amount Of authority is committed to them which
may be exercised with pride and severity. MAT
thew xiii: l0) Jesus knew the weakness and
porvelSty OF man, and ioresaw what has caused
much trouble in all parts OF the church from
that day to the present. In graphic manner
lie illustrates this form Of ministerial infdelty
by servant, who, forgetting his duty, becomes
gluttonous and intemperate in his habit and
abusive in his treatment Of his fellows, thereby
usurping the masters prerogatives and misus.
ing the Masters gifts, q Peter v; 3D. When
the minister becomes an il.tempcred and ty-
rannical lord, and the people the victims Of hll
ambition and lust, nothing remains Of the
Christly spirit in him. and the church will be
wasted and spoiled. Uam. iy: l3-l4)
PUNISHED--Such a breach Of ministerial
trust will be met with sure and severe punish.
ment, as Jesus declares That punishment will
not be immediate. II is one of the mysterious
features OF the government OF God that evil.
doers are allowed to continue their wicked ca
reer for a time (Eccl viii: IL, and that they
are not always excluded from the church which
ia devoted to the salvation Of men. CSatt Xiii
3O) But Justice will some day be meted out.
Jesus portrays under three particulars the fate
of these uniaithiul ministers-hrst, they will be
"cut asunder," removed from their office, which
they have disgraCed (Rev. ii: o.; second, they
will be chastised for disobedence by an out,
ragged and offended Master, receiving few OF
many stripes according to their deserts; and,
third, they will be assigned their portion with
unbelievers (Aets i; 2j,) to which class they
really belong. No one will consider this penal,
ty severe after me assuring the gravity of the
ohense. The minister occupies the most exalt,
ed position. Matt. xix: 2S.) 1t is for him ia
| do what will bring glory TO God and unspeak,
| able good to, men. (Ezek XNNii: 7.s) Iii.
character and conduct involve not only the
destiny Of individual but the good order or So
ciety and the stability Of nations.
REFLECTIoNs--It ia evident that in this pas
| sage Jesus sought primarily to instruct ant
warn the twelve, and through them all VIII,
| should afterward be inducted into the slcrel
Office He intended His kingdom to be estab
lished in the earth through the faithful, self
sacrificing efforts Of holy men duke, xxi, 29)
| But, though He constituted a class (John, xv
| l6) and doubtless intended to perpetrate Clas
of men as ministers in holy things q Cor xii
| 2s) it is not safe TO assume that any of IN,
followers Of Christ are wholly released from ser
vice. The whole spirit Of the gospel impose
duty upon every recipient of good (Matt. \, 81
The very law Of spiritual life and growth neces
state activity Of usefulness Matt, XIV, $500
and the love which is the essence Of true disciple
| ship Matt. xii, 87.S9, will prompt one 4
labor (John, ill., ID for the person upon whom
affection is bestowed. 1t follows therefore, tina
all believers are called to faithfulness in meet
ing obligations in their several places, eve
obedient unto Jesus Christ as their only maste
(John, XIV, 40, expecting that, though now the
suffer loss, they shall at the end receive at Iii
hands an ample return Ol Tim, iy, 7.s),