Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-09

~ HE house built upon the sand ane
vi the house bull, upon a rock form
the basis of Christs warning tina
faith without works is dead. Hearing
must be followed by doing, or else the
hearing of truth is a condemnation. Oul
Lord gives us as a preface several clear
illustrations bearing upon the subject. \
blind man cannot lead blind man: thai
is. he who would help others must frs
have Gods help and learn of Him how
to help others. The disciple must follow
his Master and seek TO be like Him
otherwise he is not a true disciple. The
man who would correct the faults OF
others must first know his own faults
and seek pardon for them. The good tree
and the good tree only. can bring forth
good fruit If we love God we will prove
our love by our lives. All these are Won
derful and helpful suggestions as to how
God would have us live and serve. We
must first come to Him for pardon and
wisdom and strength. and then We can
go forth and do the work lie has given
US to do
Then Christ turns to the other side and
shows how vain is that life which knows
but does not make use of its knowledge.
The blind man must. indeed. have his
blindness cured before he can lead others
who are blind. but then he must lead
them. The disciple must follow his Mas
ter. but in so following he must initiate
his Master in good works. else is his
discipleship unreal. He who would rem
edy the faults of others must indeed
have his own faults pardoned first: but
after his own faults are pardoned if he
does not go out with his new sense Of
freedom to help his fellows. he is use
less in the kingdom. If the tree is good.
it's goodness is proved by the fruit it
is drawn of two builders. One has only
sand as the foundation of his house; the
other builds upon a rock foundation. By
and by the spring freshets come-most
common in the land of Palestine-and the
dry valley becomes rushing torrent. Be-
fore the waters the house with a sand
foundation gives way. but the house built
upon rock endures. The man who hears
and obeys is safe and saves others: the
man who hears and does not do what the
truth he has heard demands of him is
lost, and others whom he might have
saved if he would are lost, too.
We have here the responsibility of our
privileges clearly taught. Whatever we
have of happiness of knowledge. OF
strength, of comfort of faith, We have
as a trust These blessings are not to
be wrapped up in a napkin. they are not
to be treasured and boosted of and en-
1ONeQ Out lHey are 10 ne uS6u lOI TIE
worlds good To boast of wealth OF
education while the poor suffer and the
ignorant die in their misery is to deny
God, to prove ones self unfit to possess
wealth and knowledge. and to perish
absolutely. A young. conceited college
man once rebuked Mr.. Moody for his
preaching because he had not had a lib
eral education: You make mistakes in
grammar. and it offends the ears of the
listeners. Yes, answered dear Mr.
Moody, with his sweet humility, Il know
7 make mistakes: l never had the priv
iIege of an education. for / was working
in shoe store when the Lord called
me. But YOU have lots of education, and
YOU know all about grammar my friend
what are you doing for the Lord with
them?" All. that is the question. What
are We doing for Christ and His world
with the gifts and powers and oppor-
tunities which arc ours?
We have here again the meaning OF
all that comes to us made clear. What