The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1918-09-21

. and ye are Christs; and Christ IL
God's.-I Corinthians 3:21-23.
DEVOTIONAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 6;
1925.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS-Psalms 17:15; Isaiah till;
Acts 1925; Romans 2:1o: 5:1-2.
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 e~ndowments, 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, 15).
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. (3)
A purposeful one. The talents were
given to be traded with. They were
not given for the servants w use,
but stock-in-trade for the enrichment
of the master.
3. 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. 1t 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-talented 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. 19-3O).
~ Its certainty. There is a 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 tai
ents will rejoice when the Lord comes
that they may present unto him their
talents with increase. But the one
talented mar will have fear and dread
against that day. (3) The judgments
announced. To the faithful there was
reward. This reward consisted of
praise: swell done :" promotion ruler
over many things" and entrance upon
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.
II. characteristics Of the Subjects
Of the Kingdom (Matt. 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 ". 81. To he
poor in spirit does not mean to he
without money, but to come to the
end of self, to be in a state of ahso-
lutte spiritual beggary, having no pow
er to alter his condition or make him
self better.
2. A profound grief because of this
spiritual bankruptcy ". A.. The
vnAY,rnfnn hnra 30 MT hnnaTTGn nf nv
ternal cares, but a keen consciousness
of guilt before a holy God.
3. A humble submission to Gods will
and obedience to his commands with
out asking the reason why ". 81. 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.
5. Merciful ". 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.
6. 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 God ev-
erywhere.
z. Peacemakers ". 81. Those who
have been reconciled to God by Christ
not only live In peace. but diffuse peace.
8. Suffering for Christ's sake ". 10Y.
The world hated Christ and crucifed
him. Those who live for him shall
suffer persecution (H Timothy 8;12).
9. Suffer reproach ". ~. 1t a
suffering under false charges. Ii such
case we shall glory in II because 1t
brings great reward In heaven.