The citizen., 1918-08-22
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER I
SOME LAWS OF THE KINGDOM OF
GOD.


blessed 10 give than TO receive.-Acts 20;
B
DEVOTIONAL READINo-u corin-
thians s:6-i5.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS-Luke 1879; Romans i2s; ii
Corinthians s;6-i5: Hebrews 1916: Ezra 4:
a.; I Chronicles 29ii-b.
The principles Of ethics which shall
prevail in the earth when Jesus Christ
shall be king are entirely different
from those OF the world. The worldly
spirit always inquiries as 20 what gain
will accrue from nm action or service.
Its policy Is doing good for the sake
Of getting good Those who have been
mnde partakers OF the divine nature,
who are really subjects Of the king
dom, do good because they have the
nature and spirit OF God. not because
they expect something In return.
I. Give 10 Every Man That Asketh
Of Thee ". 30).
This does not mean that any request
that may be made by the idle. greedy
and selfish should be granted. Only
evil would result from such indiscrimi-
nnte and unregulnted giving. Such
benevolence would foster idleness and
selflshness. Oftentlmes the worst
thing you can do for man Is TO give
him money. The drunkard will only
spend II for more drink: the gambler
will continue his dissipation. The
meaning then Is. give 10 the one ask
ing the thing which he needs. The
man in poverty needs TO be given way
20 earn his living. rather than 20 be
given money without the necessity OF
labor. There is that In the human
heart which refuses charity. and
cries out for means 10 honestly gain
n livelihood.
~. OF Him That Taketh Away Thy
Goods, Ask Them Not Again ". 30).
ASK" here means demand. n doubt
less forblds the forcible demanding OF
the return OF that which has been
taken from one.
~. Do TO Other Men ss You Would
That They Should % Unto You tvv.
1880.
This ethic puts life's activities on
the highest possible ground. He does
not say. refrain from doing that which
you would not like TO be done to you,
as even Confucius taught; but 20 pos
itively make the rule OF your life the
doing TO others as you would wish
them 20 do unto you. Loving those
who love us. doing good to those who
do good TO us. and lending TO those
from whom we hope 20 receive. Is just
what all the sinners Of the world are
doing. The child OF the kingdom OF
Christ Is to be different
~. Love Your Enemies ". 35).
That which Is natural 10 the human
heart Is 10 hate the enemy. To love
In the real sense means 10 sincerely
desire the good uf even ones enemy
and willingness 10 do anything pos
sible to bring that good. Such action
Is only possible To those who have
been born again. Christ loved those
who hated him. He was willing even
20 die for his enemies.
v. Lend. Hoping for Nothing Again
". 95).
This Is what the Heavenly Father IL
constantly doing. He Is kind and gra-
cious unto the unthankful and the
wicked. He sends his rain and sun
shine upon the unjust and sinners. He
makes fruitful the toll Of those who
blaspheme his name. He thus does be-
cause II Is his nature 20 so do.
VI. BE MereIful ". 36).
The example for the imitation OF the
disciple is the Heavenly Father.
VII. Judge Not ". 3D.
To Judge does not mean the placing
OF Just estimates upon mems actions
and lives. for. "By their fruits ye shall
know them" The tree is judged by
the fruit II bears. The thorn tree does
not bear figs, nor the apple tree bear
grapes. Our only way Of discerning
the character OF men and women IL
their actions. That which IL CON
demned Is censorious judgnfcnt-the
impugning OF motives.
viii. Condemn Not ". 37).
This means that we should not pass
sentence upon men for their acts, for
20 their own master they stand or fall
CRom. 14:4). The real reason why
such action is not warranted is that
the bias OF our hearts and the limita-
tion Of our judgments render II Inn
possible TO righteously and intelli-
gently pass judgment.
TX. Forgive ". 37)
Those who forgive shall be forgiven.
The one who has realized the forgiv-
ing mercy Of God will be gracious and
forglying toward others.
xI. LiberaiIty Determined by What
10 Left Uuke 21 I'D.
The rich cast into the treasury much,
but II was from their abundance. The
poor widow cast In all that she had
there was nothing left. God estimates
gift by what one has left. not by
the size Of the gift. To give the Wild
ow's mite is TO give all. For the mil
llonalre to give the widows mite would