Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-03-11
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.


Iopic For the Week Beginning March
15-Ccmment by Rev. $. III. Doyle.
Topi2-Lessons from the sermon on the
mount: What Christ teaches about trust
Matt vi, 1884.
The fatherhood of God was frequent
ly emphasized by Christ. He not only
believed In Him and trusted Him as
His own Heavenly Father. but taught
His disciples that God was their Heav-
emily Father and as such was worthy
of their trust and confidence. Trust
In the sermon on the mount is distinct
~ founded upon the Fatherhood of
God.
1. Christ teaches that if our trust is
In God we should lay up treasures in
heaven. Where your treasure is, there
viii your heart be also" 1t certainly
seems inconsistent to profess that our
trust is in God, that our supreme in
terests are in heaven, and then to
devote our entire time to laying up
treasures on earth. We trust in what
we have. If our treasures are heaven
", SO will our trust be; If they are
earthly, our trust win be here. But
earthly things are temporary, while
heavenly things are eternal. There
fore also we should lay up treasures in
heaven rather than upon earth.
2, Christ teaches that trust in God
must be whole hearted. We cannot d.
vide heart trust equally between two
persons or things. One or the other
will obtain the supreme place. Eye
cannot serve God and Mammon." Do
not try to love and trust both God and
the world Supremacy. 1t cannot be
done. Therefore give the supreme
place In trust, as in love, to God.
3. Christ teaches that trust in God
should make impossible undue anxiety
concerning the future in this life. Take
no thought for your life, what We shall
eat or what We shall drink, nor yet for
your body, what ye shall put on" And
why? "a Because life is more than
meat and the body more than raiment.
God has given us life and has made
our bodies. They are more valuable
and important than the food and
clothes required for them. Having Civ
en- US the more important, can we not
trust Him for the less? C2l Because
undue anxiety is worthless. (which of
you, taking thought, can add one cubit
to his stature? If worry were worth
anything. it would still be unnecessary,
dnce God can do more for US than we
could possibly do for ourselves. But
how much more unnecessary-yea, even
dnful-it becomes in the light Of the
TACT that 1t is worthless. Therefore it
should certainly give place to supreme
trust In God. 81 God takes care of the
flowers of the field and the fowls of the
air. Much more will He care for His
children. Would the mother who never
fails to give water and sunshine to her
plants and food to a pet bird in its
cage neglect her child? We cannot
think SO. Is Gods love then not SO
strong as mothers? Yea, it is in
finitely greater. when my father and
my mother forsake me. then the Lord
win take me up" Can we not there
fore trust God with implicit confidence?
f. Christ teaches that God should
have the first place in our hearts and
lives. Seek ye first the kingdom of
God and His Righteousness" Some
thing will have the supreme place. Let
us give that first place to God. He is
worthy of it, and nothing will help and
bless us so much as to give it TO Him.
BIBLE READINGS.
Josh. /, lie; Ps. xvi, Ill; xvii, /. IA;
xxxyii, Is; xl, IA; cxviii, 10; lisa. Il.
1881; l. 10; Nah. /, Z; III Tim. i, II.