Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1927-02-03
improved Uniform international
Sil19ldayScllool
' Lesson '
tBy REV. p b. FIrzwATER. DID. Dean
OF Day and Escning Schools. Moody Bible
Institute of Chicago.l
20. 1927. Western Newspaper Union.t
Lesson for February 6
THE PRACTICE OF CHRISTIAN
STEWARDSHIP

LESSON TExT-Matt. zo:I4-3o.
! GOLDEN TEXT-Thou hast been
faithful over a few things. / will make
! thee ruler over many things. Enter
thou into the JOY of thy Lord.
PRIMARY TOPIC-The story of the
Three Servants.
JUNIOR roPIC-Three Stewards and
How They Kept Their Trust.
| INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-What 1t Means to Be Steward.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-The Scope and Spirit Of Christian
Stewardship.
Stewardship here Includes oneself
and substance. Stewardship In money
is only small part Of our RESPONSE
bility. This parable like that Of the
ten virgins is associated with the sec
ond coming of Christ. In both In
stances the unpreparedness for His
coming on the part Of the people is
exhibited In that of the ten virgins
their unreadiness consisted In their
failure Of inward life-absence Of the
Holy Ghost. In this Of the talents 1t
consisted In their failure to properly
use the gifts which had been en-
trusted to them. The first was fall
ure to watch; the second was failure
to work. BY talents is meant what
ever gifts and powers one possesses
as gifts from God, whether Of nature
or grace, such as strength, reason, en-
ergy. knowledge, influence, time.
money, ability to speak, sing, etc.
4. The Distribution Of the Talents
wv. IA. 16).
/. 1t was a sovereign act. He
called his own servants and distrib-
uted to them his own money. AS the
One who created us and absolutely
owns us, He has assigned us our
places and given US our several pow
ers. intending that we put them to the
best possible use.
2. 1t was an intelligent act. SAC
cording to his several ability The
God who made us knew our ability to
use gifts, therefore has made the dis
tribution upon that basis
8. 1t was a purposeful act. The
talents were given to be traded with.
They were not given to be used for
ones own gain and profit, but as stock
In trade for the enrichment and glory
Of the Master.
u. The Employment OF the Talents
(vv. 1919.
/. All the servants recognized that
the talents were not their own-that
they were responsible to the Lord for
the use made of them.
2 Two servan<s used their talents.
The fve-talented man put his to use
and gained five more. The two-tal-
ented man put his to use and gained
two more. This shows that Gods
gifts can be Increased. The exercise
of any gift increases 1t. The faithful
use OF what we have in the place we
are will prepare us for greater useful
ness and honor.
8. The one hid his talent. The fact
that one possesses but one talent
should not discourage him, but should
make him strive harder. God does 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.
~. Tho Accounting for the Talents
wv. 1890.
/. Its certainty. There is a day
coming when we all must give an &C.
count Of our stewardship.
2. The time. This will be at the
coming of the Lord. If we have done
we have been unfaithful, we shall then
be cast out from the presence of the
Lord.
8. The judgments announced.
~ Reward of the faithful. (a)
Praise-"Well done" We all like to
be praised. From childhood on
through life commentator is pleas
ing. (b) Promotion-"Be thou ruler
over many things" Promotion is de-
sirable to all. (c) Entrance upon the
joy Of the Lord. The five talented
man and the two talented man re-
ceived the same praise and the same
promotion.
(2) Punishment of the faithless.
The one talented man lied when
brought to account. The talent when
dug up was not the same as when 1t
was buried-it was not Of the same
weight. Gifts unused are lost. (a)
Reproach-he was called slothful and
wicked. To be called lazy Is re-
proach which even the lazy man dis
likes (b) Stripped-the talent which
was given to him was taken from him.
(c) Cast out-he was condemned on
his own ground. The very fact that
he knew the character Of the Lord
should have been an incentive for him
| to have exerted himself.