Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-11-01
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 3
APPETITE AND GREED.
rssoN TEXT-GenesIs S.e7-sl.

LESSON TEXT--Genesis a:27-a,
GOLDEN TEXT Every man that strv-
eth for the mastery Is temperate In all
things Now they do II to obtain cor
ruptible crown hut we an incorruptible,-
Corinthians 1926,
DEVOTIONAL READING Romans IA:
1923
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
Hebrews l2:l5-T
I. Boys With a Difference ". 2O.
Esau and Jacob were in decided CON
trast. They differed In appearance
and disposition. Esau was cunning
hunter. n man of the field. Jacob way
n plain man. dwelling In tents. They
were born that way. Every child born
into the world possesses a peculiar
bent which we call individuality. No
two are exactly alike. even twins Ike
Esau and Jacob. The wise parent.
the wlde.awake teacher, the educator,
seeks diligently to discover that pc.
callar individuality. and TO give It d.
rection according TO the laws Of Its
own being. This bent Is the basis Of
character. Neither Esau nor Jacob
Is nm ideal personality. Both are
selfish.
II. Parental ravorltism ". 2S).
Isaac loved Esau because he did
eat OF his venlson. He ought to have
loved him because he was his son {.
but II Is a sad commentary upon a ia
Their that his love for his son had such
n sordid basis as that Of his stomach.
Isaac. however, was like many today
whose love Is secured through their ap-
petltes. Rebecca loved Jacob though
we are not told why. Perhaps II was
because Of his cunning. In this re-
spect he was like his mother, who
practiced crnftlness to finish on her
husband. Cleverness Is n bond which
strongl binds together many people.
Many hold the respect OF their friends
because Of their shrewdness. irrespec
tive OF their moral qualities. Parents
should treat their children alike. To
show Partially Is both unwise anS
unjust. Even when children possess
peculiar qualities which call forth pa
rental affection, II should never be made
manifest that preference Is made.
~. A Birthrieht Sold wv. 29-34.
!. Esau's profanity UIeh. II 1910.
He sold his blrthrlght for bowl
OF pottage The birthright was the
right of being at the head OF the patrl-
archal family, n position of honor and
influence. ms well as being the inherit.
or OF Il double portion of the fathers
estate. This being gift of God
should not be despised. He came from
hunting physically exhausted. In this
moment of distress. he thought only
OF that which promised immediate sat
isfaction. He was willing to relin-
Quish all claim upon the future, II
only his present desire could be graft
fed. A profane person is one who
for the enjoyment Of the present Will
Forfeit all claim upon the future. He
would gladly gain both worlds, but
seeing that mess of pottage he lets go
OF the future for the present Sweat
ing is profanity, but not the most COM
mon. To be under the sway Of appe-
tite is to he profane. What prOfan'
ity about u.s. For moments SIN
ful pleasure men and women are
throwing away innocence. happiness,
and their souls eternally. This Is
most serious, for acts are irreyocable.
2. Jacobs cunning 1t was right that
Jacob should have the blrthright for
I. was according to Gods plan W<lch
had been pronounced ". 23), but his
scheme to get II Is TO be condemned.
He took advantage Of hls brothers
weakness 10 drive sharp bargain.
The same thing Is practlced when I'M
der the force of necessity unlawful In.
terest Is exacted, or property Is bought
under price because one Is obliged to
sell.
To get rich at the expense of anoth.
er Is to practice Jacobs sin. Modern
competitive business methods to a de,
cided extent are OF this type. Let each
one ask: rs my name Jacob?' The
end never justifes the means. God
said that the elder should serve the
younger. 1t was his plan that Jacob
should be at the head but God was
able TO bring his own plans to pass.
He did not need the scheming of ia
cob and his mother to further his
plans. To do evil that good may come
Is always wrong.