The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1914-11-06

Nowhere do the Scriptures excuse
men from the results of their own
sins. The effects of sins, and of bless
lngs alike, are unto the succeeding
generations. France is still paying in
the physical realm the cost of Ma
poleon's ambition, Europe will have
a greater debt to pay biologically than
any which will be charged against its
exchequers as the result of this in
human and uncalled-for war
I. Those Who Trespass, w. is.
Jesus plainly instructs us that tres
passes must needs come" Our prob
lem is (a) to avoid being the tres
passer and OBJ the manner of our con-
duct towards those who do trespass.
In this lesson the second question is
treated first. Though a man be over
taken in the very act of trespassing.
those who are taught and governed by
the Holy Spirit (see chapter 5:16-25)
are to prove to the world by their
conduct that they are thus taught and
governed. They are to restore such
an one" considering at the same time
themselves lest they, too, stumble. To
restore is to replace ito reduce frac-
ture," to put a member of the body
into its proper place. Every believer
is a member of the body of which
Christ is the head Cor. 1912, IA, 27,
and one who falls (stumbles) into sin
is member out of place.
Mans Duty to Man.
The first step is to help our erring
brother to bear his burdens (weights)
of temptation, weakness, failure and
sin. and in so doing we fulfill the law
of Christ" Oh. IA; John 1894; Rom.
1853. Jesus Christ not only gave us
this law, but he also lived it as well,
Phil. 25-8. The true disciple, who is
really trying to help his brother bear
his burden, does so with the conscious
ness not of his own rectitude, but rath-
er that through the grace of God he
has been kept from like fate. Other.
wise the man who "thinketh himself
to be something" deceives himself, and
no one else. God knows, so does the
one whom we seek to help, if we are
animated by spiritual pride and boast
fulness. This Is a measuring line
whereby we may Judge ourselves
". ~. Pride and criticism of others
largely comes from desire to glory
in ourselves, not so much that we
condemn the acts of our neighbor, In
verse three we are admonished to bear
the burdens-"weights others. In
verse five we are told that every man
must bear his own burden-'load," j.
e.. the burden of his own RESPONSE |
bility. No man can bear that load
for another, whereas all men can share
the weights" of temptation, weak.
ness, failure and sin.
III. Those Who Are Taught, w. 6-10. |
Paul clearly sets before us the re-
sponsibility of being enlightened. Being
taught, we must pass on the knowL |
edge we have been taught, share the
good things" ". g. we have re-
ceived, see Prov. 11:24; II Cor. 9;6. |
Those who refrain from thus aiding
their teachers gain no personal adj
vantage. The word Knocked means |
to sneer. Men may sheer at God and
think they escape the result of their
sin, but like still produces like. Sow
corn, reap corn; figs, reap figs; sin,
reap sin; Rom. SIS, 6. In spite of the |
contempt men have for God and in
the face of their acceptance Of this !
principle in other realms they con-
tinue in their sin with a strange ia
talistic persistence.
Habits Bless or Curse.
This principle has a wide applica-
ton. Sow shame, reap dishonor; SOW
hate, reap bitterness; SOW love, reap
the fruits of love, kindness, affection
and esteem. Every act is process of
sowing. Every appetite fostered, graft
fed and pampered helps to produce
a crop of habits either to bless or to
curse. This gives color and signifi-
canoe to the words of verse eight. He
that soweth to his own flesh shall of
This OWN the flesh reap corruption"
If, however, under the leading of the
Holy Spirit (cf. John g. So; II Cor. $3.50
we SOW to the Spirit, we will reap
eternal life for this is eternal life
that we may know him"
Sow a thought, reap an act;
Sow an act, reap a habit;
Sow habit, reap destiny.
The practical application is in verse
nine. If there are such possibilities of
development, let us not weary of we'll
doing" Our sowing is not a matter of
caprice or convenience. Nor should we,
through WEAKNESS, cease our activity.
The temperance application is all
too plain. We must constantly SOW in
the minds of the youth the 'reaping
of the flesh" for those who cultivate
taste for liquor. We must SOW in the
minds of taxpayers the criminal waste
and folly of trying to regulate this
traffic or seeking to tax it for the sup
port of governments. We must SOW
in the minds of those poor souls now
in the clutch of this damnable evil
that there is a way of deliverance-
the way of the Cross, permanent and
complete cure for the one who has
gone the farthest or sunk the deepest
in sin.