The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-02-24

over lev things. I will make thee ruler
ever many things Matt % %
REFERENCE MATERIAL - Matt %
sizes. Luke ~ IL u Rom. u rs Pet 10
PRIMARY roPIC-poiug our best
JUNIOR TOplC-Duues and ReNitds
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR IDI'iC
-Faithfui Use OF our Abilities
YOUNG PEOPLE AID ADULT rOpIC
The Use OF Neglect Of our Resources
This parable. like that Of the ten
virgins. H. associated with the Src,nd
Coming 81 Christ In both instance,
the unpreparedness for His coming on
the part OF the people Il exhibited. IN
That ~ the ten virgins their unrpadi.
ness consisted in their failure Of IN.
ward life absence OF the Holy Ghost
In this Of the talents u consisted IN
their failure 10 properly use the gifts
which had been lntrusted 10 them. The
FIRST was failure to watch the second.
failure 20 work.
l. The Distribution Of the Talents
wv. ~. ij)
l. II was u sovereign act. He called
His own servants and distributed TO
them his own money. The Lord did
not consult Us ~ to our gifts.
2 II was an intelligent act. accord.
Ing 10 his several ability" The God
who made Us knows our ability TO use
gifts. therefore has made the distribu-
ton upon that basis The reasoD some
have greater gifts than others Is due TO
the fact That they possess the ability
20 uss them
3 n was purposcful act The tai.
ents were given To lie traded with.
They were not given to be used for
ones own gain aud profit but rs stock
In trade for the enrichment and glory
oflhe Master
~. The Employment Of the Talents
wv. 1919
! All the servants recognized that
the talents were not their own--that
they we're responsible 10 the Lord for
the use made Of them. We are not re
sponsible for the creation Of gifts. but
for the employment Of such gifts as
have been given TO US.
2 Two servants used their talents
The i've talented man put his TO use
and gained fiNe more. The two tai
eDted man put bis 10 use and gained
two more This shows that Gods gifts
can be- increased The exercise of any
gift Increases II. The faithful use Of
Whist we have In the place We are will
prepare us for greater usefulness and
honor.
3. The one hid his talent. The fact
that one possesses but one talent
should not discourage him. but should
make him strive harder. God sees not
reward according To what We possess
but according to our faithfulness. The
crime OF the one talented man was not
that he had but one talent. but that
he hid the talent which the Lord gave
him.
~. The Accounting for the Talents
wv. 1880.
|. Its certainty. There Is day
coming when NIL must give an ac-
count % our stewardship.
.. The time. This will be at the
coming OF the Lord. IL we have done
well we shalt then have praise. II we
have been unfaithful we shall then be
cast out from the presence OF the
Lord Watchfulness Is not idleness.
& The judgments announced. u) Re
ward Of the faithful. (a) Praise
"Well done" We all like TO be praised.
How blessed will IL be TO hear from
the very lips OF the Lord the word
well done ?" tb) Promotion-"Be
thou ruler over many things" Promo
tion Is desirable to all. Much of that
To which We look forward In life IL
the passing from lower to higher priyi-
leges aud positions. (c) Entrance
upon the JOY of the Lord The i've
talented man and the two-talented man
received the same praise aud same
promotions CD Punishment OF the
faithless The one talented man lied
when brought to account. The talent
when dug up was not the same as when
IL was buried--it was not Of the same
weight gifts unused are lost. The
natural eyes lose their power II we
hive continually in darkness. This Is
true spiritually The one who ceases
to grow in knowledge and grace loses
the capacity 10 grow (a) Reproach-
he was called Slothful and wicked. To
be called lazy is II reprOach which
even the lazy man disllkes. Oh
Stripped The talent which was given
10 him was taken from him. (c) Cast
out. lie was condemned on his own
grpund. The very fact that he knew
the character of the Lord should have
been an incentive for him To have eX-
erted himself His condition was his
own fault la The day OF accounts
there will he no excuse 10 be made.
Fountain OF Glsdness.
A kind heart - "A fountain OF glad !