The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1934-02-01

YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
1C-Putting First Things First.
Having set forth in the previous
chapter the standards of the kingdom,
Christ the king now exhibits the IN
DERIVING principles which control the
subjects of the kingdom.
!. AS to Giving (vv.1-4.
Doing aims before men is not con-
demned as that would contradict
Matthew SIG, but the doing of them
before men to be seen of them To
seek publicity in doing our aims is to
miss the reward of the heavenly Fa-
Their.
II. AS to Praying wv. $50.
The spirit of self-advertisement fire.
quently displays itself even in the holy
exercise of prayer. In order to cor
rect this evil tendency he sets forth
1. False prayer wv. 5, y. This con-
sists in
a. Praying to be seen and heard Of
men ". 81. Many of the prayers ut
tered in public are false, for the thing
uppermost in the mind Of the one pray
ing is what the people think rather
than what God thinks.
b. Using vain repetitions ". y.
This does not mean that we should
ask but once for given thing. We
have examples of both Christ and Paul
praying three times for the same thing
VI
means rather the using of meaningless
repetitions.
2. True prayer ". g.. Since real
prayer is transaction of the soul
with God, there should be real de-
sire for fellowship with him which
moves one to meet him in the secret
place.
8. The model prayer wv. $50.
This involves
a. Right relationship-"Our Fa-
Their" ". 81. Before one can pray so
as to be heard he must, through the
regenerating work Of the Holy Spirit,
become a child of God.
b. The right attitude-'Hallowed
be thy name" wv. 8, 10Y. While God
is our heavenly Father he Is more than
that he is the Almighty. We should
go before him then with reverent
alteration.
c. A right spirit-"Give US this day
our daily bread" Forgive us our
SINS" Lead US not into temptation"
wv. lib. Those who would pray
effectively must have such faith as
would trust him for daily bread, and
such love as would forgive those sin
ming against them, and such hatred
of evil as to desire not to be led into
temptation.
~. As to Fasting wv. 1919.
The true reason for fasting is to be
found ia the opportunity it gives for
q clear vision Of God.
~. As TO Earthly Riches wv. 1920.
The Lord knew the temptations
which would befall his children in
Their pilgrimage and the anxiety to
which they would lead; therefore he
set forth the proper attitude toward
earthly possessions.
/. The nature of earthly riches
Gvv. 1920.
a. They are uncertain wv. 10, 20).
Earthly treasures corrode, and may be
taken from US.
b. They are seductive ". 21). Christ
called riches deceitful Matt. IS :22).
It is not wrong to possess earthly
treasures, but when earthly treasures
possess us they become a snare un-
to us.
2. The effect of earthly riches (vv.
22-24).
a. They blunt the moral and spirit
ual perceptions wv. 22,23). Those
who become enamored with the things
OF the world soon become irresponsible
to spiritual things.
b. They render service null and
void ". pa AS soon as ones heart
is stolen by riches, he is untitled for
spiritual service.
v. As to Faith in the Heavenly
Father wv. 25-3G.
/. Be not anxious about food and
clothing wv. 25-32). To be filled with
anxiety concerning food and clothing
a. Shows distrust of God ". 30).
b. 1t is useless ". 81. Anxiety
brings US absolutely nothing.
C. 1t Is heathenish ". 32). Those
who know God as the loving Father
will be free from anxious care.
2. Be sincerely anxious to seek the
kingdom of God and serve him wv.
80, 34). This means that world af-
fairs should be subordinated to spir.
itual affairs.