Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-02-25


faithful servant thou hast been faithful
over a few things ! win make thee ruler
over many things Matt g5;23
REFERENCE MATERIAL + Matt. Is
Sl-4i Luke lg;l-21 Rom l2l-S, | Pet. 4:l0
PRIMARY TOPlC--pong our Rest.
JUNIOR TOPlC-Duties and Rewards.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Faithful Use of our Abilities.
YOUNG PEAPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Use or Neglect of Our Resources.
This parable like that OF the ten
virgins Is associated with the Second
Coming Of Christ. In both instances
the appropriateness for His coming on
the part of the people Is exhibited. In
that of the ten virgins their unreadi-
ness consisted IN their failure of in
4 ward life-ahSenCe of the Holy Ghost.
In This of the talents it consisted in
their failure to properly use the gifts
which had been IntruSled 10 them The
first WAS failure TO watch; the second,
failure 10 work
|, The Distribution OF the Talents
wv II, ~,
!. II was sovereign act He called
His own servants and distributed 10
them his own money The Lord did
nor consult Us as 10 our gifts.
. 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 dislribu-
ton upon that basis The reason some
have greater gifts than others Is due to
the fact that they possess the ability
to use them.
3. II was Il purposcful act The tai.
ents We're given 10 be traded with.
They We're not given IL be used for
ones own gain and profit but as stock
in trade for the enrichment and glory
of the Master
II. The Employment Of the Talents
wv l6-1S)
!. All the servants recognized that
the talents were not their own-that
they We're responsible to the Lord for
the use made OF them. We nre not re.
SponSihle for the creation Of gifts, but
for the employment Of such gifts as
have been given to us.
. Two servants used their talents.
The five talented man put his to use
and gained five more The two tai
ented man put his To use and gained
two more. This shows that Gods gifts
can be increased. She exercise of any
rift increases il. The faithful use Of
what we have in the place we are viii
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 10 what We possess.
but according TO our fathfuInesS. The
crime Of the Ons talented man was not
that he had but one talent, but that
le hid the talrnt which the Lord gave
him
ILL., The Accounting for the Talents
wv. 1870,
!. lis certainty. There is day
coming when III must give an ac-
count Of our stewardship.
>. The time This will he at the
coming Of the Lord. II we have done
we'll we shall then have praise. If we
have been unfathful we shall then he
east ont from the presence Of the
Lord WatchfulncsS is not idlenesS
3. The judgments announced. Cd Re-
ward Of the faithful. (a) Praise
We'll done" We all like to be praised
How blessed will it be 10 hear from
the very lips Of the Lord the werd .
well done CD Promotion-"Be /
thou ruler over many things Promo
ton is desirable TO ALL Much of that
10 which we look forward in life is
the passing from lower to higher privi-
eses and positions. (c) Entrance
upon the JOY of the Lord. The five
talented man and the two-talented man
received the same praise and same
promotion. (2) Punishment of the
aithless The one-talented man lied
when brought to account The talent
when dug NJ was not the same as when
L was buried-it WINS not Of the same
weight, Gifts unused are lost. The
natural eyes lose their power If we
I've continually In darkness. This is
rue spiritually The one who ceases
% grow in knowledge and grace loses
HE capacity 10 grow. (a) Reproach-
ne was called slothful and wicked. To
be called lazy Is reproach which
'veIl the lazy man dlslkes (b)
The talent which was given
10 him was taken from him. (c) Cast
Jut He was condemned on his own
ground The very fact that he knew
he character Of the Lord should have
leen an incentive for him 10 have OK
lrted himself. His condition was his
Dwn fault In the day of accounts
here will be no excuse To be made.