Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-09-20
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER u
FRUITS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LESSON TEXTS Matthew 25:14-SO; 81
T.
GOLDEN TEXT-All things are yours;
and ye are Christ's; and Christ is
God's.-I Corinthians 3:21-23.
DEVOTIONAL READING Galatians 6:
1926.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS Psalms 17:15; Isaiah SILL;
Acts 1925; Romans 2:10; 5:1-2
!. The Parable of the Talents.
This parable like that of the Ten
Virgins, is associated with the second
coming of Christ. In both instances
there is evident an unpreparedneSs on
:he part of the people. In the first
case there is failure of the inward life;
in the second, there is failure to use
the gifts which have been entrusted to
them. The first was failure to watch;
the second was failure to work BY
talents is meant, the gifts which God
has entrusted to his servants. 1t may
be natural endowments. special endue-
ments of the Spirit or it may be the
gospel of Jesus Christ. With refer
ence to these talents note:
]. Their distribution wv. IA, 15).
0) A sovereign one. The servants
belong to the Lord as well as the
money. (2) An intelligent one. The
distribution was made on the basis of
the ability of each servant. The rea-
son one man received one talent was
because the Lord knew that he would
be incapable of using two or five. (3)
| A purposeful one The talents were
| given to be traded with. They were
not given for the servants own use.
| but stock-in-frade for the enrichment
| of the master.
3 Employment of the talents wv.
1919.
In this employment all the servants
recognized that the talents did not be-
long to them. The two-talented man
and the five-talented man put their
talents to use, which resulted in a
large increase. 1t is always true that
the right use of talents increases them.
The one-talented man hid his in the
earth. The unmistakable sign of the
One-talented man is that he is hiding
his talent The two-talented and five
talented men are always busy.
8. The accounting for the talents
(vv 1890.
DhIts certainty. There is day
coming when the Lords servants shall
give an account to him for the use they
have made of their talents. (2) The
time Of This is at the coming of the
Lord. Those who are using their tai
ents will rejoice when the Lord comes
that they may present unto him theil
talents with increase. But the one
talented man will have fear and dread
against that day. (3) The judgments
announced. To the faithful there wa.
reward. This reward consisted o
praise: "Well done; ;" promotion: "rule
over many things" and entrance ''upol
the 10y of the Lord" For the faithles
one there was awful punishment whicl
consisted of "slothful;" be
ing stripped and cast into outer dark
ness.
II. Characteristics of the Subject
Of the Kingdom Matt. LIP.
These beatitudes are connected witt
each other with the strictest order 0
logical sequence. They set forth tn
characteristics of those who are sub
jects of the kingdom. They fall int
three groups: four in the first, three il
the second, and two in the third.
l. Poverty of spirit ". -. .&3To h
poor in spirit does not mean to b
without money, but to come to tn
end of self, to be in a state of absC
lutte spiritual beggary. having no pow
er to alter his condition or make him
self better
>. A profound grief because of thi
spiritual bankruptcy ". ~. TIL
mourning here is not because of e1
ternal cares. but keen consciousness
of guilt before holy God.
g. A humble submission to Gods wi
and obedience to his commands will
out asking the reason why (v. 81. Thi
is the outgtowth of mourning for spil
itual insolvency.
4. An intense longing to conform t
the laws of the kingdom ". e.. Ha'
ing received the righteousness {
Christ as n free gift. every desire c
his soul is to be filled with righteous
ness.
). Merciful ". y. At this stage til
subjects of the kingdom take on Il
/ character of the King Christ wa
merciful; his followers will be lik,
wise.
. g. Purity of heart ". 81. This heal
purity begins by having our heart
sprinkled from an evil conscience wit
the blood of Christ and is maintaine
by living in fellowship with him. Thos
! who have pure hearts can see God e.
erywhere.
Z. Peacemakers (v. 81. Those wi
have been reconciled to God by Chri
not only live in peace, but diffuse peac
8. Suffering for Christ's sake (v. 10
The world hated Christ and crucifie
/ him. Those who live for him sha
suffer persecution tII Timothy 3:12)
8. Suffer reproach '(v. 1D. It mear
suffering under false charges. In suC
t case we shall glory in it because
{ brings great reward in heaven.