The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1921-02-24

ing of Gods business in His world.
The tragedy of the one-talent man is
heart breaking, but the tragedy of the
no-talent ones because we are not
willing to share fully cur lords life,
is terrific. Servants still but I'M
trusted with the larger affairs of the
Kingdom because unwilling to share
all the passion of our Lord.
THE TEST OF TINE.
"Straightway" is the first word
that is applied to this man handling
the affairs Of his Lord. There was no
delay in setting in motion the affairs
committed to his trust. Promptness
is a characteristic of every successful
soul. The only hour marked upon
Gods clock is now" There are few
leaders in the Kingdom who began
late in life. The man who has no note
of immediacy is the one who buried
his talent. "Went and traded" throb
with the activity of these users of
their Lords possessions and indicate
the line of advance for all. Every en-
ergy they possessed was given to the
carrying out their Masters pucposa,
and while the planning was their own
the power was His. UnknoNjng The
time of His return they would still be
busy about His business whenever the
time might come. The man who failed
was dilatory in beginning, made no
plans for carrying out his Lords will,
misdirected the energy he used in the
transaction and grew a crouch be-
cause God did not bless him in the
same fashion that was evident with
the others. He is rockingham
saint; sleeper instead Of pillar in
the Temple of God. Time brings moth.
ing but the rusting Of his provided
power and the growing impossibility
to understand the Giver of il.
THE RETURN.
Sudden summons to the presence of
their Master found them all willing to
make accounting. Two were eager to
have their work inspected, while the
other was anxious to have it over with
and get rid of the care he had carried.
There was abundant praise as the
basis of successful life was unbared
before the faces of all. With equal
proportion of gain as the result of
their enterprise they were told, "Well
done, good and faithful servant"
Goodness and fidelity are the two re-
quirements of life if it would please
the Master, and these are within reach
of everyone. In the story of the pounds
there is a difference in diligence or
business sense that brought a differ
ence in the results achieved and a
careful grading of rewards upon that
basis. Here the effort was equal, and
again the balance was true. When it
came to the last whose honesty could
not be questioned there was the utter
failure in fidelity that vitiated all the
goodness that accompanied it. Good
ness that is good for nothing except
as a slave for ones own feelings is
unpraised of God Goodness asking
cash equivalent is wicked in Gods
speech. Slothfulness was the other
charge against the honest servant. Fer
in the absence of knowledge upon ones
own part there are always those who
may be consulted abour ways for IN
vcsting Gods gifts so that they will
bring returns.
THE ACHIEVEMENT OF JOY.
Enter into the joy of your Lord was
the portion of each commended serv--
ant and the cutting off of the other
from such sharing marked the close
of the transaction. Yet there can be
no arbitrary imposing Of spiritual
gifts from God. Their reception is
| always an achievement. Could Mar
shall Foch say to Hinderburg, center
thou into my joy" with any hope of its
being possible? He could say it and it
was realized by Haig, Pershing
and the rest because they shared the
activities that made it. Gould must
clan, an artist, an explorer, states
man say and have it realized by any
who had not already shared in the
experience? These servants had
entered into their Masters ideals and
work before they could be invited into
his joy. No one can share Christ's
JOY without first having experienced
His pain. He'll and Heaven are both
achievements of the spirit instead of
matters of geography.