The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-09

worldly wise for Unworldly Ends.
Tho international SUNDAY school Les.
enn Tor May 10 II THE Unjust
steward"-Luke 1s:1-13.
By WILLIAM Z. ELLIS
"Auntv. Won arc so charitable that
I think you would find a@good WORD
to sav about old Satan himself, one
well" was the reply. there y hi1
persistence for one thing. Out OF
evil GOOD may. be learned. This pres
emit world u full of lofty suggestions
ana admonitions to the saintliest per-
sons, even though the ways OF the
world may not be approved. Big
business certainly has much to teacn
the church and the laboring man,
even though, broadly speaking. 1t may
be at enmity with both. Gooo ways
may be learned from a bad man. 80
leans cited the parable OF the unjust
steward, not to commend the steward:
but to point out that the children OF
darkness are sometimes wiser tnan
the children of light Because we use
the murderer's case to teach lesson
Il no endorsement OF the muro9reI
PARALLELS may not be compelfed TO
run on all tours. Trying to md some
homfletical meaning in every detail OF
our Lords parallels has done endless
harm to Christian teaching. "A para
BILE, It has been said. is a narrative.
fictitious, but agreeable to the laws
and usages of human life. by which
either the duties of men or the things
of God, particularly the nature ana
history of Gods kingdom, are hgura-
lively portrayed. A parable is to be
distinguished from q fable. me Tor
mer is probable and might be true.
the latter introduces irnpossibihties.
<uyL - tho former
teaches important spiritual truths. the
latter does not advance beyond nome
Nv lessons Of worldly prudence. me
parable is also to be distinguished
from an allegory. The parable Is
story-complete in itself. quite apart
from its interpretation. whereas an
alIegory has no meaning at all apart
from its Interpretation. The parable
differs still more from the myth. In
which allegory and fact are 80 mixed
that the allegory Is taken for fact. No
parallels occur in the fourth gospet;
their place is taken by allegories. OF
which the most complete are those
Of the fold. the good shepherd and
the vine and the branches.
branches"
Commonly it is the unfit who are
tho unfaithfuL This steward found
himself discharged from his position.
and in a panic because Il have not
strength to dig: to bog am ashamed"
Two business man were taking to-
gether about their work. my great
est dinlculty." said the first. "is to ind
q rood assistant. can get clerks by
the drove: but to find a man who will
stand in my stead, who will make my
interests his interests. and upon whom
/ can depend absolutely. il the hardest
problem in all my business" Busi-
ness men are dependent upon the
trustworthiness Of their helpers. just
as was the rich man in the parable.
So il every one of US; 30 is God. Even
the great work Of the Lord Almighty
is hindered by tho unfaithfulness Of
his stewards. To be faithful stew
ard Of God IL to gain highest success.
A burglar breaks into a house and
steals. but the news OF his crime does
not distress US az does the news of an
absconding cashier or of q defaulting
trustee. Tho latter offenses are par
ticularly grave because they arc vio-
lations OF trust. The wickedness Of q
steward in whom all confidence has
been placed Is greater wickedness than
many other sins. That is the saddest
part about a Christians doing wrong:
he violates Gods trust In him. An
offending Christian is q faithless stew
ard. There Is a double offense when
ever q Christian sins.
One Of the pathetic incidents that
most business men meet IL the case
OF tho man or woman who wants work
-or wages-and has no special ability.
These are often persons who have sud-
denly fallen from wealth to poverty.
The steward was in Just this FIX: II he
got out of his easy position what could
he do? He felt almost forced into
further wickedness, because he had,
or thought he had. no other re-
sources Thousands Of criminals arc
made in the same way, for they have
not pluck and principle enough to suf-
fer rather than to do wrong. Self
fulnees.
Using tho Present for the Future.
A shady transaction by the steward
of the story-he reduced the obliga-
tons OF every one of his masters
debtors. in order to win thefr friend
snip. although he also thereby quickly
collected tho debts for his employer
70 made the point Of the parable. Sud-
denly Jared into prudence. the stew
ard belatedly began to take thought
for the future. He usod hin present
opportunity for subsequent advantage,
His was foresight, evei, thon9lf q the
eleventh hour. He realised chat the
greatest use Of today IL to make to-
morrows out Of It The larger part Of
life 10 preparation.
That same quality Of sagacity Il
what the Teacher sought for his hear
era. Most Of US are opportunists. We
live q day at q time. in hapry-go-
lucky fashion. more or LEES like the
negro Of the story. who. asked If he
wanted to earn Q quarter replied,
why boss. rse got quarter" and
went whistling on his way. When
hard times befall, how few firms
weather the storm. A long look ahead,
. life Of real purpose, . building fox
the future-this was tho quality which
Jesus commended in the unjust stew
ard Tn afatAam anahin rAlfsr1nr h,,ss
ness and pleasure II II faf-sightednesn
that prevails.
Becoming Men ok lfoanD.
Tho Master calls unAAannaH. or mon
~. ''means'' Or. VIZ Ehn - the point
OF his teaching hers Do not make