The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-04
g E gEEG5ROKEYNz ,lE4AlBERNA ACLEC
.sTUDY~oN
SOWING AND REAPING

Galatians 6:1-10-November s
 Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall
 he also reap."-verse '.
 Today's study was intended, by those
 mapping out these lessons, to be a tenn perance lesson. There Is surely a sense | in which it is true that those who yield to appetites craving injurious stimulants and narcotics will certainly
 reap corresponding weakening Of | character. All people who have at heart
 the welfare of humanity must surely deplore the revages of intemperance;
 and any word or example that would
 assist fellow creatures to become
 strong useful members of society
 should not be withheld.
 We may be sure, however, that noth- ing will thoroughly liberate mankind from the weaknesses of their fallen
 nature except Gods appointed remedy I-Messiah's kingdom. But this convic- tion should not hinder us from taking
 our place publicly on the side of right eousness and humanity's best inter ests in respect to every question. Let us not go to the extreme which some would approve, but follow the
 Bible teachings. Pursuing this course ! now, 1t is our duty to point out that the apostles words have no reference l whatever to one kind of intemperance more than another. The apostle is ad | dressing neither the world in general | nor some poor inebriates As the open- ing 4yerses of the epistle declare, he is addressing the consecrated people of God
 | The Law of Christ These consecrated Christians the | apostle speaks of as brethren, and in-
 structs them how to deal with any of | their fellows who might be overtaken | in fault. The most spiritual ones of the church should exercise themselves to restore the errins one to a condi-
 ton of righteousness and fellowship l with God. This they should do meek | ly, remembering that they also are inn perfect in the flesh and that they also may at some time inadvertently fall | into sin. contrary to their heart in- tentions
 Thus they were to "bear one an- | others misunderstanding one another 1 in battling against the weaknesses of | the flesh and the besetments of sin. In this way they would fulfill the gen. eral law of Christ-self-sac in the interests of others. Those who. finding brother overtaken in fault, merely
 throw back their heads, denouncing the brother in naughty, holier- -than-thou manner have not yet attained proper appreciation of the law of Christ, which is to govern all the members of the body.
 This law, the Apostle points out is a law of love. Governed by this law, our I.ord laid down His life even for His enemies. All who claim to be His fol- lowers should have the same mind, the same disposition, the same spirit, and should seek to assist the brethren out Of
 difficulty and to bring them nearer to
 the Lord and His glorious standards
 Too Much Self Esteem The apostle shows that one great dan
 ger which besets all true followers of
 Jesus is headiness-thinking too highly of self and, therefore, not highly enough
 ot the brethren-especially if they stum-
 ble in some particular in which this in-
 dividual has not stumbled as yet
 One of the first lessons to be learned
 Is that we are really nothing, that we
 are bundles of imperfection, that on the strength of our own merit we could not have Gods favor. and that in proportion as we think of ourselves as somebody to that extent We are displeasins to God and in His sight all the more melodies Whoever thinks of himself as somebody fin Gods sight should begin to realize that he is nothing except through divine favor in Christ. Such a person deceives Himself and flinders his own progress in the good way.
 Each one. thefeore, instead of judging or reproV1ng n1S nelgnDOr or nih DrOtnor in Christ, should prove his own work. He should carefully discern to what extent 1 he has put away anger, malice. hatred, envy, strife and put on meelkness, gentle ness, patience, long suffering. brotherly kindness. love- To the extent in which he is progressing in these graces of Gods Holy Spirit he has ground for rejoicing.
 without in any degree seeking to estimate
 himself by the imperfections of others. Thus should each seek to find out his
 own weaknesses, to bear his own bur
 dens. and not to be reproach to others.
 Along this line there is no room for clericism. Those who are taught in the
 Word, should communicate with those
 who teach,' telling them of blessings or
 clearer views of Gods Word which have
 been received. and seeking opportunity
 for recompensing them either with thanks
 of with cooperation or in some other way helping to forward their teaching in any profitable manner
 There is principle at stake. God oper- etes along the lines of justice and cannot be deceived His eye reads the heart. deceive ourselves with spacious arguments but no one can deceive God. It is a prin- oiple of Divine arrangement that sowing shall bring reaping and that the thing reaped shall be of the same character as the thing sowed.
 The Christians Arduous Task
 The world does not engage in the sowing and reaping of which the apostle speaks; only the church do so, These should understand that reaping of spiritual blessings will depend upon faithfulnese in sowing to this end, Whoever seeks to serve Gods spirit in act, word and thought, will reap the in character likeness to Christ. But