Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-07-22
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
~
BY BIN NEM.SOrfE
Lesson July 20, Isaiah 55.

to throw their energies chiefly into
the accumulation of worldly things.
especially to the exploitation fthat
business sagacity that in after years
came to be synonymous with their
racial name. He did not condemn
them for being diligent In business.
but urged upon them the thot that
II was Improbable in the long run
10 make business the end and aim
OF life. There is an aim In life that
is vastly higher, more noble and more
profitable than the accumulation of
richcs-for riches can only cater to
the wants of the body during the few
short years of human life, while the
soul must be provided for not here
only, but for eternity. Their obses-
sion IN commercial pursuits was un-
profitable and foolish. because 1t was
taking the place to them Of that
spiritual life and the Joys which no
amount CT money can buy.
Again he appeals to them to recog
nize the folly of Improbable spend
Ing, Wherefore do you spend money
for that which is not bread. and your
labor fer that which satisfieth not2'
Not only the pursuit of money-gctting,
but the lure of physical enjoyment,
the satisfaction of desire and the
comparatively on which to lavish your
cndeavors and upon which TO waste
your. substance. The trouble with
those things Is not every time that
they are essentially evil In them
selves, We may waste our substance
on mary qualifications that are really
harmless, possibly beneficial within
certain limits. but the evil comes in
placing these things above the wei
fare of our immortal souls. We strive
after that (which satisfieth not" For,
however enjoyable these things may
seem for awhile. they soon grow old
and we crave newer diversions. There
is no such thing as satisfaction in any
thing earthly. 1t all falls short of It's
promises and pals on our appetite.
Just as the man who gets In tho habit
of relying on some drug to whip up
his faculties and enable him to do
better work in the face of physical
or mental deterioration. II takes more
and more OF the stimulant as time
passes to have the necessary effect.
and after awhile he finds himself
worse eff than II he had never begun
the practice, sometimes enslaved be-
yond his physical powers to effect a
liberation. So with every earthly
pleasure-while we do not join with
those who think 1t sinful 10 enjoy the
things of earth in the proper manner
and measure-the pursuit of gratifi
cation when made the chief end OF
living becomes not only unsatisfac-
tory in the long run. but Is apt to
prove a curse. All of this effort to
enjoy life without making the glory
of God the predominant motive is
Improbable spending.
The appeal to the thirsty reaches
an universal want. No man is satis
fled. Some may be deceived by think
ing they have found the undyiEg foun,
of happiness and drink deeply In
ignorance of their mistake for a
time these may think they are on the
road 10 satisfaction, but ultimately
req lie their error. The only thing
offered to mankind that gives him
the Joy that knows no end and always
makes him better the longer he clings
to It. is the gifts of the spirit. and
they come without money and with
out price az far as man Is concerned.
The cost was all paid by the Savior
on the cross and the blessing is free
to all who will accept 1t. We have
only ourselves to blame II we go on
wasting our substance in riotous liv-
ing. or steeling our souls against any
sentiment that does not make its re-
turn in dollars and cents. when all
the time we are urged to freely come
and "eat that which Is good and let
Gods word Is never wasted. Every
uttcrance that has come fiom the
throne of divinity has accomplished
useful purpose. We cannot always
see what is mplished-sometimes
1t looks TO us as tho Gods purposes
are defcated-but we cannot see his
plans and we are assured that not one
promise or decree ever fails of fulfill
mcpt This Is a great encouragement
to those who aspire to teach Gods
word to others. Their work is never
wasted, tho the teacher may never
see the fruits of his labor. II may
he neglected or lost sight of for n
time, maybe for years, but 1t can never
be entirely forgotten. In the years
to come, both in this life and the
next. II will rise up In the memory
TO either bless or curse. according as
II has been accepted or rejected.
And Gods thots are not as mans
thots Gods thots are always for
the good. Most of mans thots are
evil. That is why the Christian has
such n conflict to keep down the
evil, because his own thots are con-
tinually suggesting to him the things
which he would like to Danish from
his mind Our fight against tempta-
ton is not often a resistance to the
enticements of others, but 1t Is the
battle we have to make with the evil
suggestions In our own minds. Paul
found 1t an invariable fact that "when
! would do good, evil is present with
me-" And II Is mans thots that de-
termine his character much more
thoroly than his deeds. As man
thinks, so Is he-not that n man can
suddenly make up his mind to be
good and he will be good. but the
persistence in good thots will prove
a power In shaping his conduct and