The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-08-12

DuHudy ScHoOi lcSSoH ioi aug
ust IA.
Scripture: Proverbs 4:l0-23;
] Thessalonians 5: 6-S.
Golden text: Wine is mocker,
strong drink is raging: and who
ever is deceived thereby is not
wise.-Proverbs 20: |.
The relation of temperance to
character is set forth in the pas
sages before us from Solomon
and Paul. The paragraph from
Proverbs calls for the life of wis
dom which demands self-develop-
ment, and so magnifies temper
ance in the guided life. The para
graph from Thessalonians calls
for the life of self-control which
demands self-discipline and so
magnifies temperance in the
guarded life.
THE GUIDED LIFE
proverbs 4:lO.23)
SELF DEVELOPMENT fea-
lures the life of wisdom which
calls for temperance in the guild
ed life. The message in our selec-
ton from proverbs may be group
ed under five imperatives:
% Accept the Challenge of q
Worthy Goal (verse l0). Notice
here sacred relation. The Father
is speaking. He is addressing one
whom he calls my SON." He calls
attention to his oral instructions
continued through years until
they are outright and urgent
duty. The son must hear the Fa-
Their; must hear him every time
lie speaks; must hear every word
he speaks. Moreover, the son must
receive the Fathers sayings; must
receive them as I priceless herit-
age; must receive them as cher
ishcd treasure. Notice, again, the
precious promise. Longevity seems
TO lie upon the surface; but much
more than long life is involved.
There is life in it, fullness and
richness; life at its highest and
hottest and best. The true mea-
sure Of life is in its magnitude
not It's mathematics; its size rath-
er than its length; its deeds more
than its years. There is the hint
that it is my saying" that shall
increase and multiply through the
years Of devoted life.
(2) Follow the Way OF Wisdom
oversees ll~13). The principal
thing is wisdom. A man may be
u walking cyclopedia and yet be
L 'simpleton. All his knowledge is
worthless if it is without wisdom.
| Rubies and diamonds, houses and
lands, are as nothing compared
with wisdom. The principal task
therefore is to get wisdom. The
path is difficult and it will take
hard work to win out. But no 9th
er goal is so worthy. Concerning
the way of wisdom observe here
The way taught, for the Father
says, 81 have taught thee" the
way tested, for the Father says,
81 have led thee in right paths
the way trustworthy. for the Fa-
Their assures the dutiful son that
his steps shall not be Straitened
nor stumbling; the way travelled,
! for the Father takes into account
the sons progress whether walk
ing which is obligatory or run.
ming which is optional; and the
! way triumphant, for the Father
assures the son that to have the
larger and longer life he must
take fast hold Of instruction and
treasure it tenaciously.
CD Avoid the Way of the
Wicked (verses ll4:l7. Think
first of the way, and then Of the
warning. See the way. 1t is con-
tirmed course of conduct. 1t is
habit crystallized in character. II
is the way Of the wicked who are
in rebellion against cd. 1t is the
way Of evil men who are corrupt
ing to their fellow men. 1t is the
way of designing persOGns who
delight only in doing mischief and
who can neither eat nor sleep
without causing somebody to
stumble and fall. 1t is the way
Of those who ravenously eat the
bread of wickedness and gulp
down the inflaming wine of vio-
lence. Hear the warning. Upon
such q way enter not, however Sc
ductiNe it may appear. Avoid it,
as one would avoid plague. Pass
not by it, as one would shy away
from q serpent's den. Turn from
il, as one would turn from scene
Of horror sickened by the CHASTITY
sight. Pass on quickly and dcei-
sively, leaving behind the mud and
miry clay, and pursuing the ada
mantine highway Of integrity and
security.
(4) Irradiate the Path to the
Larger Life oversees l8, 49,.
Striking is the contrast between
the path of the just and the way
Of the wicked both in their char.
acter and their destiny. The
dawning light at first energies on
tiny strip of sky, then gradual
" fills the eastern horizon, and
finally, with the rising of the sun,
floods the earth with glory. SO is
the path Of the righteous, first
emerging from the dark, then
broadening into twilight, and at
last bursting forth in full-orbed
day. On the other hand, the way
of the wicked is as the deepening
darkness that settles down in
gloom, scatters murky night, and
seethes with inky blackness so
that unseeing and unaware the
traveller stumbles over obstacles
he never suspects and sprawls up,
ON the dismal way that must end
in wreck.
fsl Had EyarU SYLLABLE of All