Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1914-03-05
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SljllDMSC1O0L'
LESSON
By e. o. SELLERS, Director o6 Evening
Department, The Moody Bible Institnta.
Chtcago.)
LESSON FOR MARCH 8
WATcHFULNEss.

GOLDEN TEXT-"Blessed are those
servants whom the Lord when he cometh
shall md watching.'-LukeH H:N.
The words of Jesus are the greatest
authority the believer has upon which
to found his belief In the Second Com
ing Some refuse to have much to do
with this important theme because 9TH
ers have perverted 1t or else overly
emphasized It" yet in the ESQ chapters
in the New Testament there are 318
distinct references to this theme, a far
greater proportion than is placed upon
some of the doctrines upon which
whole denominations have been found
ed.
Relative Value.
I. Tho exhortation to watch, w. S5-
20. This is the beginning Of a new
paragraph. Jesus has been showing
the relative value Of material posses
sions and the Kingdom Of God and
epitomizes his teaching In v. "a. He
now sets before his disciplines what
shall their attitude towards him during
his absence (II. Pet. IL, IL r. ". IT.
tus 2:1S; II. Tim. 4:S). Thus to be
watchful seems to contradict his sug-
gestions about anxiety. We need to
remember, however, that the child
Of the Kingdom is In entirely new
relationship with the world. His
desire Is not for self enrichment but
rather to be in such relations with God
as his rights demand and thus to bring
to others their highest good. This par
able epitomizes opportunity. Rightly
to make use Of none's opportunities
spells happiness for the disciple when
he the king shall appear. The evidence
that we are watching for his appear
ing consists Of the readiness OF the in
dividual who is or is not watching.
v. IS; I. Pet. 1:13. Jesus knocks at the
individual heart (Rev. 3:20) but when
he comes twill be to be present at
feast, ". SO. We cannot contract this
time and there is no call to service to-
morrow. Lions girt, ready for the bat
tie or for the race, and lamps burn
ing. Qight is always the result of some
thing being consumed), are today's Wis
ible evidence Of continuous service
Peters Question.
u. Tho explanation to Peter, w.
4148. Between this parable and the
one which follows. Peter interrupts by
asking the question, Lord, speakest
thou this parable unto us, or even un-
to all?" That which follows is his an
swer to that question but 1t Is also q
continuance Of the teaching just given.
In this part Jesus refers to stewards
(bond-servants) that 1t Is their su-
htvd IN ho
by selling In order to give. The one
work Of servant is to give to the
members Of an household, each In due
season his portion Of the fathers
bountiful grace. John 21:15-17: /. Pet
So; Jer. 3:15. There are many de-
ceitful servants who first feed them
selves. or feed only portion of the
household, or who feed chaff rather
than bread, even the true bread Of life,
/. Pet 2:2; 4:10. IL. Jesus teaches us
that each bond-servant shall likewise
be judged and that suddenly.
III. The exhortation. Jesus Christ
here presents to us the fact that we
shall all be judged. That the measure
Of our reward or Of our punishment
is dependent upon the measure of our
knowledge and Of our opportunity.
James 4:17. To him to whom much
is given, Of him shall much be re-
quired. Our present responsibility is
that OF being ready for the coming of
the King and of his Kingdom. The ex-
preston Of that readiness is evidenced
by our lives OF service. There are of
course many other phases of service
not included In this parable, but our
Lord Is emphasizing opportunity. stew.
ardship. service, watchfulness. In or.
der to fulfill our service we must enter
into fellowship with the king in his
reign. and those who enter into that
fellowship, who are faithful, he will
reward Wv. 81. 43. The measure Of our
punishment is conditioned upon the
measure Of our knowledge ". 48) and
our knowledge can be enlarged as we
use our opportunities.
w. Tho Golden Text, ". 37). Is
intended to fix our attention upon the
acts OF our Lord when he shall return.
1t seems astonishing that he shall com.
pei those whom he finds watching to
seat themselves that he may grid him.
self and serve them. Here We grid
ourselves that we may serve him by
serving others Matt. 25:40). But In
that tomorrow the day Of his victory,
he will gird himself and serve those
who have been watchfulness and obe-
dent servants. This is a suggestion
Of the exceeding grace mentioned by
the Apostle Paul. Rom. 1888.
v. The Temperance Lesson Ia sug-
gested by the conduct of those who
are not watching for the Kings ap-
pearing ". 45). They were indulging
in the animal pleasures Of the moment.
The Kingdom Of God IL not in eating
and drinking but consists of righteous
ness and peace and JOY in the Holy
Spirit, Rom. 14:17. The effect Of in
temperance on the death rates. on the
next generation, from an economic
standpoint or viewed from any angle.
is only the result Of the most criminal
qh0rtq nj pdneea cIoar appraha on.