The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-22
M MMElzTeBROKEYNz ME IIEABER~NACLE /lNr- ZNr-4eA -.BIBLE. STUDY. ON .-~D
 Faithfulness to Opportunities
 Luke 19:11-27-July 26

Well done, thou good and faithfu ser want: thou hast been faithful over few things, I will make thee ruler over many Lord ."- Matthew 25;21.
 We are not to confound the parable of the pounds with the parable of the talents. They teach totally different lessons. In the case of tho talents, the amount given to each of the servants differed. In the case of the pounds, each servant received one pound. This parable, therefore, deals with something common to all the class referred sto.
 The Lord and His disciples were ap- preaching Jerusalem, where He was shortly to be crrcfied. The disciples sup posed on the contrary. that the Messianic Kingdom would immediately be estab- lished. This parable was intended to in- form them that a long time would first elapse.
 The kings of Palestine were appointed by the Roman Emperor One of the Her ods had recently gone to Rome, seeking an appointment to a kingdom Some who hated him sent message to Rome, de-  Jesus seized upon this circumstance as an lustration in His own case. He was an aprointee for the Messianic kingdom of the world but He would go to heaven itself and there the Heavenly Father, the great Overlord or Emperor of the uni verse, would invest Him with authority. Later He would return to earth and exer- else His dominion.
 This is exactly the presentation given us prophetically. (Psalm 2:s) The divine reg ulation is that Messiah, after finishing His work shall in heaven itself make ap- pllcaton for. kingdom which divine prophecy has already foretold. Ask of Me and I will give Thee the heather for Thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession
 Occupy Till I Come
 During the Masters absence--in heaven, waiting for divine investiture with the government of earth--IIe has committed to His disciples, His servants, one pound each He has left them with full liberty to use their best judgment in His service. At His return. all these servants will be Ieckoned with. and their zeal and efficien- cy as servants will be manifested by the results and the rewards will be propor- donate.
 The parable distinguishes between these consecrated servants of God and the world It shows that nothing is commit ted to the masses, and that no Judgment, reward, is made in their case at the Mas ter's return as King. Only to His serv- ants did He give the pounds. And only these servants were held responsible for either reward or punishment in respect to their faithfulness
 In considering what is signiiied by the pound we must keep in memory that as the same rt was given to each, the fulhllment nfuse -apw some blessing or re- sponsibility given alike to all of Gods copsecrated people. We can think of but enc thing that is given to the Lords peo- pie in exactly the same measure. They have not talents and opportunities alike, but or the contrary, very unlike-wealth, mental capacity, environment, etc. None of these varied talelts belong to this parable Of the pounds.
 The pound represents Justification! The one thing which the Redeemer does for all His followers is to justify them freely from all things This leaves them on ex- actly an even footing; for Justification makes up to each in proportion as he by nature is deicient-short of pcrfectin.
 "Be Thou Faithful Unto Death
 All who in the present time become fol- levers of Christ must receive from the Lord, as basis for this relationship, the "round''-the free forgiveness of sins Justification. Because all are alike quail fled by Justification, the results will show the degree of loving zeal controlling each servant.
 As in the parable one gained 10 pounds, so such noble characters as St. Peter, St. Paul, St. John and others counted all e fthly things as loss and oross, that they might be pleasing to their Master, the coming King. These. and such as these. orsly in the Lords service. are to have the highest rewards, as represented by the Lords words, "Weli done, thou good and faithful servant Because thou vast