Evening star., 1914-07-25

stood how by trading some would in
crease their stewardship and others fail
! by neglecting to use their opportunity for
| His glory and the advancement of hu-
manity.
All receive the same capital from tho
| Lord. We have the same commercial ad
vantage to use the gifts intrusted to us
J in His work. There is an equality of op-
/ portunity, time, property and social po-
sition, which angelic conditions are
! changed by the unfaithfulness Of the
men upon whom Christ depends to carry
out His worldwide program. In the par
able of the pounds We have the message
of unequal faithfulness to equal trusts.
while in that of the talents We have pre-
sented the message of equal faithfulness
to unequal trusts. In both the pounds
and the talents Jesus presents a message
of rewards for the performance of serv-
ice during the period of His absence
which will end with the inauguration of
His kingdom.
Rewards.
In both parallels it was human ma
ture. not heavenly freedom. that de-
cided results and rewards. In the
parable of the pounds the return OF
the nobleman. or Christ. was an hour
Of accounting. When they We're all
compelled. as some day we will be. to
give account of their stewardship.
the returns were found to be all diff
ferent:
The faithful men who counted upon
the return of their Lord and that the
gifts intrusted to them We're not thei-
own in both parallels increased the
same The shirker in both neglected
his duty and failed to receive any re-
ward. The faithful ones were re-
warded according to the results in the
pounds. while in the talents those that
ed
by their Lord. which is always the
most grateful thing which a master
can bestow on a servant, the one thing
a good and faithful servant prizes
above all reward.
In the parable of the talents Christ
shows His complete knowledge of hu-
manity. Here the fact is faced that
men are different and that because
they are unlike He gives them different
trusts In making the rewards Jesus
shows how the opportunities and abil-
ity or men are considered I'm His
standard of measuring the work of
men. He gave promotion to those who
were faithful to their trust in this life,
indicating that in the future we that
are faithful are to continue in His
service in the administration Of His
Jesus will care for those who have
proved their faithfulness by giving
them increased opportunities to use
their powers that will not be impaired
by the inroads of time. In this He
gave them of the joys of His fellowship
and service.
1t is evident that Christ does not judge
our work by our successes or by our
falthfulness. The right Use of our trusts
Will bring rewards. while failure will bring
condemnation, exposure of false excuses
reproof and punishment. The sudden
breaking Off of the parable of the pounds,
verse only being devoted to the judg-
ment upon His enemies (the man that
shirks his duty is traitor and enemy).
enforces the severity and hopelessness
OF the MesSianic retribution.'
II We fail to serve we will not only be
deprived of what We claim to possess,
but also be shut out of the kingdom, for
by their fruits or works men show forth
their character If We are not producers
We are not wanted today. The world de-
mands dividend payers. Christ calls for
diligence and faithfullness. Are We doing
our best for the advancement of His
kingdom among men. 1t is difficult TO
of anything that could have been
said to the disciples at that great period
Of their life stronger than those words
Of the Master. They ought to have nerved
and strengthened them for the tasks to
which Jesus would soon send them, and
enable them to work faithfully while
they waited for the return of their Lord.
when they as well as must give an
answer for the work done. The man
that is faithful may be failure in the
eyes OF men. but he will not lose his
I'd