Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-09-19

LESSON TEXTS-Matthew 25:14-30; 5:1-
II.
GOLDEN TExT-An things are yours;
-. and ye are Christ's; and Christ is
God's.-I Corinthians 3:21-23.
DEVOTIONAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 6.
1926.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS Psalms 17:15; Isaiah 51:11;
Acts 1926; Romans 2:10; SIP.
I. 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
the 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, 49,.
(1) 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. t3)
purposeful one. The talents were
given to be traded with. They were
not given for the servants own use,
but stoeklin-trade for the enrichment
of the master. It'll
2. 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. It 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-taIented man is that he is hiding
his talent. The two-talented and five
talented men are always busy.
8. The accounting for the talents
wv. f9-30).
(1) Its 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 tall
ents VIII rejoice when the Lord comes
TINT they may present unto him their
talents with increase. But the oRe-
talented man will have fear and dread
against that day. t3) The jndgments
announced To the faithful there was
reward This reward consisted Sf
praise swell DONE" promotion: ruler
over rnany things and entrance "upo1
the JOY Of the Lord" For the faithless
one there was awful punishment which
consisted Of reproach--slothful; be-
ing stripped and cast into outer dark
ness.
". characteristics Of the Subjects
Of the Kingdom CMatt. 5:1-12).
These beatitudes are connected with
each other with the strictest order Of
logical sequence. They set forth the
characteristics of those who are sub
jects of the kingdom. They fall into
three groups: four in the first, three in
the second, and two In the third.
l.. Poverty of spirit w. 81. To he
poor in spirit does not mean to be
without money, but to come to the
end Of self, to be in state of absO-
lutte spiritual beggary, having no pow
err to alter his condition or make him
self better.
2. A profound grief because of this
spiritual bankruptcy (v. ~. The
mourning here is not because of ex-
ternal cares, but keen consciousness
of guilt before a holy God.
3. A humble submission to Gods win
and obedience to his commands With
out asking the reason why ". ST. This
is the outgrowth of mourning for spir-
itual insolvency.
4. An Intense longing to conform to
the laws of the kingdom ". 81. Hav-
ing received the righteousness Of
Christ as a free gift, every desire of
his soul is to be filed with righteous
ness.
s. Merciful tv. y. At this stage the
subjects of the kingdom take on the
character of the King. Christ was
merciful; his followers will be like
wise.
| 8. Purity of heart ". 81. This heart
purity begins by having our hearts
sprinkled from an evil conscience with
the blood of Christ, and is maintained
by living in fellowship with him. Those
who have pure hearts can See Ged3ev-
erywhere.
z. Peacemakers ". 81. Those who
have been reconciled to God by Christ
not only live in peace, but diffuse peace.
s. Suffering for Christ's sake ". 10Y.
The world hated Christ and crucifiea
him. Those who live. for him SIS
suffer persecution CT Timothy S:12s