Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-05-18
CHRISTIAN ENDEAyoR.
Prayer Meeting roply ssor the weel


Prayer Meeting ropiv ror the Week
Beginning mas -.
Topic.-Faise and true anbitioa.-Matt.
Hx. 20-&.
In the incident before rs Salone.
the mother of James aud John and
probably the sister of Mary. the moth
or of Jesus, asks the Master that her
SONS might sit zone on Thy right hand
and one on Thy left hand in Thy king.
dom" The request was suggested by
the sons Mark X, 80. Believing that
Christ was about to establish TEN
poral kingdom. where there would be
no differences in rank and power.
flames and John solicit the all Of theil
mother, probably because of her near
relationship to Christ, - secure for
them the highest places of honor.
which would give them special author
tty. This desire and request were from
q human standpoint very natural. and
Yet the request was based upon igno
rance and prompted by ambition
Jesus at once pointed out its falsity
and impossibility. These places meant
what they did not understand. They
were not similar in character to ranks
In civil and political life and were not
bestowed after the same fashion. To
sit on My right hand and on My left
hand is not Mine to give, but it is for
them for whom it hath been prepared
of Ny Father" On earth one place
was given to dying, unrepentant
thief and the other To q repentant
thief dying also by cruciixion. In the
Judgment day the saved will stand on
Christ's right hand and the lost upon
Bis left. How little the apostles
mother knew of what she was asking,
Would she have had her sons crucified
On earth and one of them lost in eter-
nifty?
In this incident. however, we have
very clearly and strlkingly pointed ont
true Christian ambition.
/. In the kingdom of Christ the am
htion to have rank or power superior
% the other members of the Kingdom
= false ambition. Christ teaches us
fhis very clearly in this incident. Such
vas the ambition of james and John,
and Christ rebuked it, Moreover, He
declared that His kingdom was unlike
worldly kingdoms in this particular.
sYe know" he said. that the rulers of
the gentiies lord it over them. and their
great ones exercise authority over them.
Not so shall it be among you" Dis
onctions of rank, OF power, are out of
place in the kingdom Of God. for in 1t
Ill are brethren. and one is the Lord of
Ill, even Christ Himself Certain Chris
tan denominations have ignored this
teaching of Christ and have set up &C.
clesiastical distinctions as to rank and
power, but it Is no less true that the
ambition for such positions is false
one. Therefore. lin honor preferring
one another" let us guard against false
desires for place and power In the
church Of Christ
2 In the kingdom of Christ the ambi-
ton TO be of the greatest service is the
true ambition. "Whosoever would be-
come great among you shall be your
minister, and whatsoever would be first
among you shall be your servant. even
as the Son of Man came not 10 be min
astered unto. but TO minister, and to
give His life "a ransom for many"
christian greatness is greatness of
service" 1t is therefore a closed door
to none, for all can serve.
BIBLE READINGS
Gen. xi, 10; xvii, 1921, Al; Mum.
hi, lis; II Sam XIV, 10; Prov. xvii.
10; lisa. xiv, 1920; Matt. X, ~: xviii.
Ia; xiii 1-12; Rom. xii, TO-