The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-05-29
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Improved Uniform International
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Y Lesson
Lesson for June /
CONTRAST BETWEEN FAITHFUL
NESS AND SLOTHFULNESS
(By REV. F. B. FITzwATER. DID, Mem
Der of Faculty, Moody Bible Institute
of Chicago.)
(@. 1880, Western Newspaper Union.)

LESSON TEXT-Matthew 25:14-3o.
GOLDEN TEXT-Well done, good
and faithful servant; thou hast been
faithful over few things, will make
thee ruler over many things: enter
thou into the joy of thy Lord.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Doing the Best
for Jesus.
JUNIOR ToPIc-Jesus Rule for
Promotion.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
I1C-How to Use Our Talents.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
tIC-Stewardship of Service.
This parable, like that Of the ten
virgins, has a vital relationship to the
second coming of Christ. In both in
stances the unpreparedness for His
coming on the part Of the people is
shown. In that of the ten virgins their
unreadiness consisted in their lack Of
1.-THE inward life-absence of the Holy
Spirit. In this of the talents, their
failure was properly to use the gifts
which God had entrusted to them. The
first was failure to watch; the second
was failure to work. To each Of His
servants, God entrusted certain gifts
and will hold each responsible for their
luse. By talents is meant whatever
faculties and powers one possesses as
gifts of God-physical strength, rea-
son, energy, knowledge, influence, time,
money, the gift of speech and song.
|. The Distribution of the Talents
wv. IA, 15).
1. 1t was a sovereign act.
The Lord called His own servants
and distributed to them His own
our gifts. The One who created us
and absolutely owns us has assigned
us our place and given us our several
powers, intending that we put them to
the best possible use.
2. 1t was an intelligent act. accord
ing to his several ability"
The God who created us knew our
liability to use gifts, therefore made the
distribution upon that basis.
3. It was a purposeful act.
The talents were given to be traded
with, not to be used for ones own
gsin and profit, but as stock in trade
for the enrichment and glory of the
Master.
! II. The Employment Of the Talents
INV. 1919.
] III the servants recognized that
!th-.alents were not their own; that
fthey were therefore responsible to the
Lord for the use made Of them. This
Is the first principle of right Christian
service. We should remember that we
iare all stewards of the manifold bless
Iings and grace of God.
2. Two servants used their talents
The five-talent man put his to use and
lgained five more, and the two-talent
man put his two talents to use and
gained two more. This shows that
Gods gifts can be increased. The ex-
ercise Of any gift increases it. The
faithful use of what we have in the
place where 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
rather make him strive the more. God
idoes not reward according to what we
possess, but according to our faithful
ness. The crime of the one-talent man
was not that he had but one talent,
but that he hid the talent which the
Lord gave him.
III. The Accounting for the Talents
!(vv. 1880.
/. Its certainty ". 1917.
There is day coming when all must
give account Of their stewardship. An
swer must be given as to the use
made of Gods gifts.
2. The time ". 19).
It will be at the coming Of the
Lord.
8. Judgments announced wv. 21-30).
~ Reward of the faithful wv.
,21-23).
a. Praise. "Well DONE" All like to
be praised. How blessed it will be to
hear from the lips Of the Lord Him
SCI, swell DONE" b. Promotion. The
great consideration for all is not how
many talents we possess, but as to
ihow faithful we are in their use. (2)
Punishment of the faithless wv. 24-3O).
The one-talent man lied when brought
to account. a. Reproach. "Thou
wicked and slothful servant" To be
called lazy is reproach disliked even
by a lazy man. b. Stripped. "Take
therefore the talent from him." Even
was now wrenched from him. c. Cast
out. "Cast into outer darkness" This
servant was condemned on his own
ground. The very fact that he knew
the character of his Lord should have
been an incentive for him to have ex-
erted himself.