Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-09-26
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
Topic For the Week Beginning sept.
30-Comment by Rev. S. IL. Doyle.

Topic For the Week Beginning sept.
3O-Comment by Rev. S. IL. Doyle.
1orIc.-our foolish excuses.-Luke xiv, 1924
THE PARABLE.
The parable of the great supper was
spoken by Christ at feast in the house
of Pharisee on the Sabbath day.
Christ had been speaking to the host
on the subject of the character of
guests who should be invited to a feast.
This led one3who was present to ex-
claim, blessed is he that shall eat
bread IN the kingdom of God" Theu
Christ spoke this parable of the supper
as much as TO condemn a mans enthu-
siasm over this feast. when at the
same ,.IlIe a. As4d not accepted the In
vitation to attend It and was probably
making an excuse for not doing so. 4
man made a great supper and invited
many. When the time came. he sent
forth his servant, which was usual in
the east. to tell the invited ones to
come. But all, with one accord. in one
spit of worldlness, began to make
excuses. one had bought n field. and II
needed his attention. Another had pur-
CHASED yoke of oXSn and had TO 90
to prove them. A third had married n
wife and could not come. The Mosaic
law exempted newly married man
from military duty for year. Then
the mas in anger sent his servants
into the highways and hedges to COM
pei others to come In and declared that
those first Invited. being unworthy.
81 4
THE INTERPRETATION.
The Master who made the feast is
God. The feast represents the bless
ings Of the gospel. specially blessings
OF the saved in heaven. Those first in
yited We're the Jews, and those urged
later to attend the gentiles. The serv-
ants who first gave the invitation were
the Old Testament prophets. The last
servant was Christ Himself.
THE APPLICATION
This parable teaches US most forci-
bly, that our excuses are foolish and
will not stand. The excuses offered by
the invited guests III this parable are
the ti0lg~1- Cat man can offer. They
were not light and trivial worldly af-
fairs, but the press Of business. the OBJ
legations Of home ties, the most sncred
human obligations. Yet Christ here
declares that these excuses win not
Justify US in refusing to accept Gods
offer of salvation in Him. and II these
excuses much more trivial in character
what can be said in favor of our many
excuses much now trivial in character
than these? The parable teaches that
no excuse will justify failure to accept
Christ and to consecrate our lives to
Him. Human claims are not superior
to divine claims No amount of faith
fitness to human obligations will ex-
cuse neglect of duty to God. If we re-
fuse to accept Gods Invitations
through Christ, in the day OF judg-
ment we shall stand without excuse;
Others will occupy the places that could
have been ours, and we will be cast
out. VIII 1t pay US for anything In
this world to meet such fate? Christ
Himself has declared that it will not,
though we should win the whole world,
for He says, What Is man profited
If he shall gain the whole world and
lose his own soul?' If 1t will not pay
US to sacrifice the souls eternal life for
the whole world. how much less will it
do so for the infinitely small part of
the world which any of US may gain?
THE PRAYER MEETING.
Make special study of Biblical ex-
cuses and Biblical answers to them
Assign an excuse to each one of ten
members and let them give the answer
and apply it.
BIBLE READINGS.
Gen. iii, 9-13; Ex. lii, ia; xxi, 1924;
] Kings Xxx, 35-43; Matt. viii. q. %; xi,
$3.50; xxi. PA; Rom. /, 1920; ii, 14-16;
Rev. xii, II.