El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-03-07
Watchfulness a Christian Test
Waiting for Coming Being Ready Makes People

By WILLIAM 7. ELLIS

The International Sunday school lesson for
4-arch IS 'Hatchtulness: temperance
lesson'-Luze 12:35-4S.
!" HIS story is Oriental from first to
last. The average person reads this
familiar new testament passage for
the first time with beWilderment It
IS all out Of his range Of eLperimence- He
might well be asked to explain the SYM
bols on an Oriental rug.
what does he know about girded loins?
He does not wear long skirts that have to
be tucked up into his girdle when he runs
and does active work The men in the near
East do that very thing today, as have
seen countless times Nor does the untray-
cessiOns and feasts, with a portion brought
home by the guest to his faithful servants.
We ring electric dOOrbells; in the East one
MANNERS loud ana long az the outer gaze
waiting for the movements OF a sleepy
thieves, against Whlch the house IS baErl-
caded has scarcely counterpart in this
Wes-eTn "oElo- ana me me, unjust steward the
advantage Of his masters absence to be
high handed and oppressive-that, also, is
true IN the East today
There are more important teachings in
the text than little lessons in Orientalism-
There is a present meaning in all the teach
ings Of Jesus. his messages are always
applicable; truth is forever Up to dfte This
IS why the bible is more modern than the
novel which came off the nress Yesterday
The inspired book is true to all times. Its
essential teachings can be taken right ont
and pracuced on the next person you meet
The Attitude of Faithfulness.
COMFY old Ben franklin said that the eyes
hands he meant that the oversight Of the
employer is necessary to the efficiency of
the workman As 10000 men can testify, the
average worker eases up when the boss is
not looking. It is a rare class that can be
left out Of the teachers sight Most Of US
need TO be superlntenued
Now Jesus babe his followers live and
work in an attitude Of faithfulness, which
IS vigilance. They were to act as IL the
master were near, and hourly expected.
Every thoughtful person has recognized
this principle Some day we shan moi TefT1TT1
ri f01o
books; Will our days task be left camDletedF
The housekeeper does not want her neigh
Dor suddenly summoned in the morning to
find the supper dishes still unwashed. The
bookkeeper wishes to leave his books In
viii not have to be called in 20 unravei
them There is no greater incentive to good
work every day. right here and now, than
this great teaching OF watchfulness
A Plumb Line for WatchfuIuess.
some Eulls are mere distractions, and
particular to do with this year Of our Lord !
1914 There is none Of that in the discoursas
Of Jesus All that he taught is IivabIe. In
doctrines lies this spirit Of practfea biIffy. II
works out into real life The Sermon on the /
Mount helps a servant to sweep under the j
beds and in the corners. It makes a buiIder .
as careful Of the Integrity OF bfe ONT of $50
construction as Of his facade The great "a /
thedrals are marvels Of thorough workman j
snip, because men wrought in the spirit Of /
''Ihou Cod seest me-
Paraphrased this lesson on watchfuIness I
reads Live your life with respect TO fbe 4
planning
Chart your course in life by the eternal 4
verities- DO justly, love mercy. WALL bnT1
bly-that IS the program, If you are reaIIv
on the watch for the Lords coming"
Dominating Passion
There Is something more than coDecfo,7s
caution 10 this quality Of watchfulness IT
Is a deep purpose, a passion, a soul attitude
The new testament phrase, Looking rnto
Jesus embOdles it. AS a mothers fbo,7gbt
present and absent is with her babe. so the
faithful disciples thought is Of Christ TTef
as a devoted lover has his beloved ever in /
mind his whole day being tinged with her |
personality, so the Christian is dominsfe5 in |
deed and motive, by the expectation Of his
lord
This looking Christward attitude deen1v
affects lie 1t makes one a better r,arson |
to live with Sunshlnyness, courage. heiDfu1- I
ness, pauence-all qualities Of grace go I
along with watchfulness.
Makers of Social III.
Biting and tenacious are The words ~
the gentle teacher when he arraiesns the mon !
who abuse their post Of responsibility and /
who forget their obligations to the bfpbar
authority above them They cease to y,s+cE, ]
and, to quote the lesson text, they t1arin 70 /
beat the men servants and the maid go !
wants and to eat ana drink. and TO he
drunken; the lord Of that servant shan
come in a day when he eXpecteth not ana /
IN an hour when he knoWeth not and SHAH I
with the uufaithfuI"
To all perpetrators o fs0cial Ill TO all man !
who underpay their WOrkmen. to an yvn-.e1 /
who leave their dressnaker's and groeer's /
bills unpaid TO all owners Of foul tenerna1fs l
and resorts OF evil to all makers OF dis
honest and huruul goods. this stern n1essage
uns as q solemn warning from Cod me |