The Coolidge examiner., 1937-01-28
0~~N~NN@NNNN
Improved 4 SUNDAY
Uniform cCrroor
- -:-LESSON-: -
BY REV. HAROLD L. LUNDQUlST,
Dean of the Moody Bible Institute
of Chicago
G Western Newspaper Union.
Lesson for January 81
FINANCIAL COST OF ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGES

LESSON TEXT-Proverbs 21:17; 1920
81; Matthew 24:45-51; John 6:26, 27, 35.
GOLDEN TEXT-Wherefore do ye
spend money for that which is not
bread? and your labor for that which
satisfeth not? Isaiah 552.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Why n Servant
Lost His Job.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Why a Servant Lost
His Job.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP.
IC-What Drink Really Costs in Dollars
and Cents.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP.
IC-Alcoholic Beverages-a Financial
Asset or Liability?
Temperance Sunday brings
greatly needed opportunity to con-
slider the entire question of intoxl-
eating liquors. When the prohibi-
ton amendment was under fire the
proponents of repeal contended that
it would reduce taxes, cut down un-
employment, eliminate bootleg liq-
uor, return men and women to tenn
perate and decent habits. 1t is
worthwhile noting that not single
one of these expected benefits has
materialized.
Taxes on liquor have not reduced
general taxes. After all, what de-
cent American would want his taxes
cut with "blood-money? Bootleg
ging thrives more flagrantly than
ever. Evasion of liquor taxes in
dicates that about half Of Americas
liquor is bootleg" The specter Of
unemployment still stalks the land.
And are our people temperate? One
could laugh if it were not so tragic!
The consumption of liquor is fast
becoming a national disgrace. And
the tragedy is that Christians have
for the most part supinely said
What can l do?" and have done
nothing.
The repeal of prohibition was
brought about by the Indifference
of American voters. The issue was
finally settled by the votes of less
than % per cent of the registered
voters. Where were the other n
per cent ? Where are they now?
But our lesson goes deeper than
the matter of Intoxicating liquor.
1t deals with two contrasted modes
of living. What a man is deter
mines what he does. If he lives
for the flesh he will pander to its
tastes. If he lives in the Spirit he
will not only be right in his atti-
tude toward liquor but toward every
phase of life, yes, even toward eat
ing.
Let us consider these two ways of
life-and weigh carefully our own
life decision. In which way do l
walk? Remember that one may live
to the flesh even though he is not
a winebibber. 1t is a matter of
heart interest and relationship to
God.
1. Living in the Flesh.
The word flesh in Scripture does
not refer to our physical flesh and
blood, except as it is dominated by
self-Will. But when self-will rules
the body, and Gods will is ruled
out, man lives in the flesh.
Our lesson gives terrifying pic
ture of such a life. 1t makes a man
senseless lover of pleasure for
pleasures sake prov. 21:1O. He
is a lover of wine, glutton prov
2:20, 2D, careless (Matt. :49),
disorderly and unfaithful ". 49),
and a professed follower of Christ
because of what it brings him
John 6:26). His end even in this
world is disgrace and poverty, and
in the world to come, eternal judg-
ment Matt. 24:5D.
ii. Living in the Spirit.
They that are Christ's have cru
cited the flesh with the affections
and lusts" Gal 5:24. They are
therefore admonished to walk in
the Spirit" that is, to submit their
lives to the control and guidance
Of the Spirit of God. In other words
seek Gods will, not self-will.
What kind of men and women are
those who live in 1.-The spirit? A
re-reading of our lesson texts re-
vealS them as, wise, faithful, dill
gent, temperate, not following the
Lord because of any gain to them
selves.
What is their reward? In this
life they are entrusted with more
work for their Master (Matt. 24:4O.
The reward for Christian work we'll
done is more work. So if you are
lazy, don't begin. But if the fires of
holy ambition to serve him burn
within your soul, go on, and he
will lead you further on until at last
in the world to come you will have
the all-sufficient reward of his "WeU