Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-10-31
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR.
Topic FeU tze Week beginning Nov.
4-Cosa2asHt by Rev. s. II. Doyle.

4-C0<AaasEt by Rev. =. II. Doyle.
TorIc.--Are you doing your best ?-Math. XIV,
tA-3o
THE PARABLE.
In the twenty fourth chapter of Mat
thew Christ spoke of Ills second COM
Ing and the destruction of the world.
In this chapter He illustrates by para
bles what His disciples are to do until
He comes. First. they are to watch.
This is taught by the parable of the
wise and foolish virgins. In the second
place, they are to work. This is
taught by the parable of the talents,
(which forms our study. man took
journey into far country. Before
doing so he called his servants unto
him and delivered unto them his goods.
ITO one he gave five talents, to another
two, to another one according to their
several abilities. These Were large SUNS
of money. The man who received five
talents used them TO the best of his
ability and made five talents more.
The one who received two talents used
them and made two more. But the
l.an who received but one talent neg
lected 1t by simply burying it in the
ground After a long time the lord
returned and called his servants to
account. The two who had faithfully
discharged their trusts were commend
ed and rewarded. The slothful. neg
lectful servant, though he made ex-
cuses. was condemned and punished.
His excuses We're false. He had not
even put the money out at usury. He
was probably envious or had false
ideas of human inability. Yet these
things would not excuse him. Though
he had but one talent, if he had made
the best of it he. too, would have re-
ceived commendation and reward.
THE INTERPRETATION.
/ This parable is not difficult of in
tterpretation. Christ is represented by
the man who went on the journey.
The servants who received the tai
,ents are the disciples of Christ. to
whom he intrusts his goods. in pro-
portion to their ability to use them for
him. The journey of the master rep
resents Christ's present absence from
the earth and his return Christ's sec
iond coming. The judgment, rewards
and punishments represent the judg-
lments, rewards aud punishments to
be melted out by Christ in the great
day of Judgment. when the Son of Nan
shall come and ali His holy angels
with Him to judge the earth.
THE APPLICATION.
| The parable of the talents teaches
plainly that Christ only expects us 10
la
portunities and abilities. The men
who received five and two talents were
mot rewarded because of the value CT
their talents, but because they used
faithfully what they had. The man
who had but one talent was not pun
fished because he Lad but one talent.
but because he failed to use what he
had, though it may have been small
and insignificant. The one talent man,
had he been faithful, would have been
las amply rewarded as the five talent
imam who was faithful. Christ only
expects rs to do our best. but He does
expect us to do that. If we have but
one talent Christ will only require US
to account for one talent but He will
require Us TO account for that. Be
cause our opportunities and abilities
may be but small. we cannot afford
to neglect them. We will be held as
strictly to account as If our talents
were many. Let us do our best with
what we have. This is all God asks
of any man. but He does demand this
much of US.
THE PRAYER MEETING.
Have a question box meeting. Let
Questions be distributed at least one
week before the meeting. covering all
lphases Of doing our best.
BIBLE READINGS.
Mum. xxi, 1912; Deut. vi. Is; Eccl.
tx, 10; Math. V. 14-16. As; vii. 24-29;
X, AZ; John tx, 4; l Cor. XIV, IS; Gal.
vi, ITO; Rev. xii, u.
Moving Gods Way.
The world Is moving Gods way,