South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-12
REV. PHILLIPS
DELIVERS TALK
Pastor of the Trinity Church
breaches Sermon on 1.-The
SIothfuI Servant"

The Slothful Servant" was the
title OF the sermon delivered by Rev.
Russell l.. Phillips at the Trinity NJ.
Z. church Sunday evening ia which
the speaker brought out the example
Of the oriental steward who entrust-
ed with his masters goods failed to
make account Of his opportunity and
paralelled the bible story with the
opportunity which exists for every
one 90 make good the powers en-
trusted TO him by God.
Position OF Trust.
The oriental stewards position
in a nobleman's household" ne said
was one Of trust. even 10 the ex-
tent OF persons and property. With
capital amounting TO $1,000 in the
hands OF this particular servant the
master went on a long journeJ ex-
pecting this trusted one 20 us,e his
masters money wisely. Out az fear
! Of losing that which was entrusted
10 him this steward hid his lords
money. against the day OF his return
at which time ne could r4turn It to
him with not even legal usury ac-
comp.-n, ing IT, whereas his fellow
stewards had doubled the capital
left in their hands TO circulate.
AT the masters return this unin-
itiative servant received this scath-
ing rebnke. Thou wicked and sloth-
ful servant. The obvious reason for
such an open an public denunciation
was that this steward had never
sensed the existing powers and forces
Of his own community TO which he
might have advantageously related
the capital entrusted TO him by his
master.
All Are Endowed.
I'm the eyes of God all of US have
some endowment or capital in our
lives. In the last analysis We must
conclude that whatever capacity we
possess TO make progress, il Is in US
because God breathed in us the
breath OF life and personality, with
the latent endowments that accom-
pany them. Consequently it Is our
duty first Of all to honor the giver Of
this capital stock that is ours. To
ignore God in reference TO this would
be the same as spurning one who
furnishes US capital in the financial
and business world. From the bust
ness viewpoint there is no difference.
1t then becomes our duty 20 relate
our personal capital TO the exist
ing spiritual forces about us. A fail
ure upon our part 10 do this curtails
our spiritual development. If we
neglect TO sense and appreciate the
existing spiritual powers about us
and fail to vitality relate our per-
sonal endowment TO them we lay
ourselves liable to the denunciatiOn,
'SlOth servant
Church is Great Power.
Uplifting organizations are forces
for good. Is the capital of your life
related 10 any? The church OF Jesus
Christ is great spiritual and moral
power in the modern world Is the
endowment of your life connected
with this existing force in a work
ing relationship? On the purely
spiritual side the holy spirit of God,
which, when personal talents are re-
lated TO il, nets much increase for
the kingdom OF God. Does the talent
Of YOUR life know an intimacy with
this dynamic force? If our life's
capital knows no relationship with
these prevalent forces, then I'VE shall
stand before our Master with our
unused talent, having been reluctant
TO relate it TO those nearby powers
which would have marked our ad-
vance in His kingdom"