The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1918-11-02
MPRovED UNIFoRM INTERNATIONAL
LESSON
By REV. p. b. FITZWATER, d. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
Copyright, 1918, Western Newspaper
Union.)
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 3
AND E

LESSON -TExT-Genesis 5:2-s4
GOLDEN TEXT-Every man that striv-
eth for the mastery is temperate In all
things. Now they do 1t to obtain a cor
ruptible crown, but we al i~ncorruptible.-
l Corinthians 9:25.
DEVOTIONAL observation-disclosures IA:
1923.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS Corinthians S:1-13; 1o:23-s3;
Hebrews 12:15-1E.
I. Boys With a Difference ". 27).
Esau and Jacob were in decided con-
trast. They differed in appearance
and disposition. Esau was a cunning
hunter, a man of the field. Jacob was
a plain man, dwelling in tents. They
were born that way. Every child born
into the world possesses a peculiar
bent which we call individuality. Nc
two are exactly alike, even twins like
Esau and Jacob. The wise parent,
the wide-awake teacher, the educator,
seeks diligently to discover that Pc
culiar individuality, and to give 1t di-
rection according to the laws Of its
own being. This bent Is the basis of
character. Neither Esau nor Jacob
is an ideal personality. Both are
selfish.
II. Parental FaVoritlsm ". 28).
Isaac loved Esau because he did
eat of his venison. He ought to have
loved him because he was his son,
but it is a sad commentary Upon a ia
Their that his love for his son had such
a sordid basis as that of his stomach.
Isaac, however, was like many today
whose love is secured through their ap-
petites. Rebecca loved Jacob, though
we are not told why. Perhaps It vas
because of his cunning. In this re-
spect he was like his mother, who
practiced craftiness to a finish on her
husband. Cleverness is a 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 and
unjust. Even when children possess
peculiar qualities which call forth pa.
rental affection, it should never be made
manifest that preference is made.
III. A eirthright Sold wv. 1884.
1. Esau's profanity (Heb. - :16-17),
He sold his birthright for a bow
Of pottage. The birthright was the
right of being at the head of the patri
archal family, a position of honor ant
influence, as well as being the inherit
or of a double portion of the father
estate. This being a gift of Goo
should not be despised. He came from
hunting physically exhausted. In thi!
moment of distress, he thought onl!
of that which promised immediate sat
isfaction. He was willing to relin
quish all claim upon the future, 1
only his present desire could be graft
fed. A profane person is n VIII,
for the enjoyment of the present will
forfeit all claim upon the future. H
would gladly gain both worlds, bu
seeing that mess of pottage he let's g
+ of the future for the present. Swear
: ing is profanity, but not the most com
o To be under the sway of appe
= tite is to be profane. What profar
, ity about us! For a moments sin
full pleasure men and women ar
throwing away innocence, happiness
: and their souls eternally. This |
| most serious, for acts are irrevocablC
, 2 Jacobs cunning. It was right tina
Jacob should have the birthright, fo
4 1t was according to Gods plan whic
: had been pronounced ". 23), but hi
I scheme to get it is to be condemned
4 He took advantage of his brother
q weakness to drive a sharp bargain
The same thing is practiced when III
e der the force of necessity unlawful II
? terest is exacted, or property is bough
under price because one is obliged t
sell.
To get rich at the expense Of anott
er is to practice Jacobs sin. Moder
competitive business methods to a d.
cided extent are of this type. Let eac
: one ask: us my name Jacob?" TIL
!, end never justiies the means. Go
? said that the elder should serve tn
younger. II was his plan that Jaco
. should be at the head, but God wa
able TO bring his own plans to pass
a He did not need the scheming of ia
: cob and his mother to further hi
! plans. To do evil that good may com
is always wrong.