Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-05-02

TEACHERS-Genesis 1927: 2:18-25; Exodus
20:2-17: Matthew 1s:1-l4 19:16-30; Luke IS:
1923.
PRIMARY TOPIC Jesus and the chill
'tlren.
LESSON MATERIAI-Mark 1o:13-16.
MEMORY VERSE-Suffer the little
children to come unto Me, and forbid
them not.-Mark 1914.
JUNIOR TOPIC-How God would have
us live.
ADDITIONAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 20:
PIT; Leviticus 19:11-1s; Matthew 22:34-40.
!. Regarding Marriage wv. 1-12).
The question touching divorce, which
the Pharisees temptingly put to Christ.
brought forth teaching which exhibits
marriage in its true light.
1. Should not be degraded by di-
vorce wv. 1-6).
Divorce was not instituted by God.
The marriage relationship is indis-
soluble. Moses suffered divorce, lin
tied and regulated 1t. Its existence,
its practice, is indicative of the coarse
ness and perverseness of man. Sin is
Its real cause.
2. Marriage is Gods primal law wv.
6-9). :
The ideal law of life for the sub
jects of the kingdom of marriage. This
Is proven by the fundamental fact of
sex. The union of the male and fe-
male natures is physical. mental and
spiritual. In marriage, the male and
female natures are mutually compile
mented. Gods intention is that man
should not be without the woman, nor
the woman without the man Il Cor.
11:11).
8. Remarriage Of the divorcer is
adultery wv. 1922.
The marriage relationship can only
be broken by death and sin. In view
of the fact that marriage is for life,
men and women should not enter this
relationship without very serious con-
sideration. Divorce for other than
marital infidelity does not give the
right to remarry.
II. Regarding Children wv. 1916.
The union of the male and female
natures, according to Gods purpose,
lays the foundation for family life.
The issue Of such union Is children.
In connection with the divine law Of
marriage, II. is fitting that Jesus should
set forth his estimate Of children and
interest in them. The disciples con-
sidered 1t beneath the dignity Of the
Master to spend time with the chill
dren. Those who think It beneath
their dignity to give attention to chill
dren should ponder well the words
of Jesus. This will give the disciples
proper consideration for work among
children, and also to the nurture and
discipline Of their own children.
Christian men and women will regard
children as the property of the Lord,
and will esteem 1t high and holy
privilege to train them for him. Due
attention to Christ's teaching regard
ing children would transform the home
life of society.
I'll. Regarding Riches wv. l7-31).
l. The young rulers question ". 10.
This question reveals void in his
heart. He was young man with
iovable character. The Savior's az
fections were enraptured by him. He
was moral, honest, earnest and cour-
ageous. He had wrong conception
Of eternal life. He thought that eter-
nal life could be obtained by good
works. Though he claimed to have
kept the law, he was conscious Of
something lacking. He was willing to
do something to all up that which was
lacking; therefore he came to Jesus
making inquiry as to that lack.
2. Jesus reply wv. 10, 10Y.
He knew the young mans heart, and
put his finger on the weak spot. When
1t came to parting with his posses
sions In order to help his neighbor he
parted with the Lord, going away sor-
rowful. This revealed the fact that
he was covetous man, violator of
the tenth commandment.
8. Lacking one thing and yet lost
wv. Fl, 22).
When the Lord pointed out to him
that the defect in his life was the love
of his money. he was unwilling to pay
the price. When the time came in
HIS life to choose between eternal life
and riches, he chose wealth and part
ed company with Christ. perhaps, for
ever.
4. The peril Of riches wv. 23-31).
The difficulty does not lie in the fact
that q man possesses riches, for man
may possess great riches and still be
an heir of the kingdom. Wealth is
mighty power. In itself it is good.
1t will provide bread for the widow
and orphan, amelioration for the suf-
fering, and send the Gospel of Christ
to the ends Of the earth. The
step from possessing riches to trust
ing in them Is very short one. The
tendency of growing wealth is to de-
stroy the nobler life of the soul. Many
Of the most useful men ia ancient and
modern times have been men Of
-..salth; but they, like Abraham, chose
to live in tents. looking to the heav-
emily city which hath foundations. AS
long as man possesses riches he is
cofo h1yf co0n a Vii or, ,>oce,,es, 49,,