Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-10-07


| of a discorse. and was Immediately pre-
coded by the parable of the ten virgins,
which we studied last week. Let us re-
call the circumstances. Jesus is return
| ing to Bethany from Jerusalem on Tues
day evening, April 4, A. d. 80. He has
| foretold the destruction of Jerusalem
On the Mount of olives, where they
have a superb view Of the city and the
temple. four of His disciples ask Him
| privately to tell them when these things
shall be, what shall be the sign of His
! coming and Of the end of the age. He
| is answering these questions. In telling
| tn enn that their attitude shall be one OF
constant preparedness and watchfulness,
He has illustrated by the parable of the
ten virgins. He continues speaking
along the same line, now using the par
able of the talents.
What is He desiring to impress upon
them by this? A parable presents only
one phase of truth, and this one was
given to present another distinct phase.
The parable of the virgins emphasized
the Importance of getting ready before
| 1t is too late; this one presents the
truth that we must
WORK IN WAITING TIME.
While our Lord has gone away He
has given US a work to do, and does
not intend that we shall idle away the
/ time while We are 'WdlllnSs Jul ihoAO
the most of our advantages. In order
to emphasize this, He tells us that we
shall be rewarded at His return accord
| ing to the dill gence we have displayed
| in utilizing our opportunities.
You recall the story: A man, going
J into another country, calls his servants
and gives to one five talents (about S6,-
OOO), to another two talents. and to
third one talent. He gave them no d.
rect commandment, but they thoroughly
understood what he intended them
70 do with his goods. He
gave to each according to his
several ability. No sooner had he left
than the first one began to trade with
his and showed such diligence that he
gained 100 per cent. In ike manner
| that is, straightway, the second one did,
and he showed such diligence that ne
| gained 100 per cent. But the third was
afraid, and therefore. his activities par
alyzed, so he dug hole IN the srouhu'
hid the $1,000 there securely, sat down
and waited for his lords return.
A long time elapsed; finally the Lord
returned and called his servants to ap-
near and account for the use they had
made of his goods. The first was delight
ed to tell of his success; and the Loro
to hear of his faithfulness He COM
mended him most highly, and advanced
him, since he had shown himself 10 De
man whom he could trust. The second
came with his report; he also mad gam
ed 100 per cent. His lord was delighted
and commended him for his faithfulness
in the same terms, and gave him the
same reward The third had a sad story
70 tell: he had not shown any diligence;
he had been idle; he had not lost any
of his lords goods and returned them
all intact, but he had not used them. He
was not very complimentary to his lord;
he did not give him very worthy cnar-
acter; he was trying to excuse his own
neglect of duty by throwing the blame
ON some one else, in this case, his lord.
II was contemplate! Nor was the con-
ldemnation he received too severe. He
was a wicked and slothful servant; moth
ing less. His very words were his con-
domination; he was a self-confessed idler.
He had demonstrated conclusively that
II was not to his lords advantage to
leave anything in his hands. so the lord
takes away the talent he had been IN
trusted with, and gives 1t to the man
~ large ability and faithfulness. that it
might be IN good hands. The question
NAV be raised why he did not give 1t to
the man with two talents; the answer
is that he was not capable OF looking
after any more than he had. and the
lard lord would not tax him beyond his
ability II he had been, believe the
talent would have been divided between
the two But the saddest part of the
story is the casting out Of the unprofit-
able servant.
THE TALENTS AND THE POUNDS.
lust here 1t will be helpful to COM
pare in a few particulars two very SIM
liar parallels. The parallels of the pounds
was spoken on the Saturday preceding.
In 1t the same amount was given to each
servant, one pound (about 500 When
the king returned the two faithful ser
wants came saying, Thy pound hath
gained not as in this instance, l have
gained. In the one case It was the treas
ure. In the other the servant, although
in both the diligent use Of what had
been entrusted was necessary. The
pound in one mans hand increased LOCO
per cent the pound in the second mans
hand increased only 500 Why? They had
the same opportunities to begin with;
they were entrusted with the same
amounts The different results there
fore could only be accounted for by the
fact that they had accounted for by
the fact that they had exercised differ
ent degrees Of diligence.
In the case OF the talents, however,
their difference in ability was recogniz-
ed: they had different opportunities to
begin with, but each gained 100 per cent
increase; and their reward was there
fore the same. They showed the same
amount of diligence, and were rewarded
accordingly.
REWARD AT HIS RETURN
Let us look at these rewards for brief
time. When the Lord returned, he call
ed to Him His servants and reckoned
with them. He wanted to see how they
had used His goods that He had en-
trusted to them. 1 can imagine the en-
thusiasm with which the first two made
their report; they were bubbling over
with their success. But when the Lord
commended them, 1t was not for their
success so much as for their faithful