Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-05-30
TESTING CONDUCT BY IT'S
USEFULNESS
"a Principle Of Temperate Living,

LESSON TEXT-Ezeliel 15.1.6. Ma,
thew S:13-16: 7:16-20: Corinthians
1876. z. '"'
GOLDEN TExT-Ye shall know tbsm
by their fruits.-Matthew 7:16.
Sound principles are foundational
to right living. Right living is TEN.
perate living. The first Temperance
lesson for the year emphasized thu
sacredness Of life. This lesson
which Is our second one on that
subject, properly stresses the i'm.
portance Of testing conduct by its
true usefulness.
The emphasis of modern thinking
is upon learning, upon the brilliance
Of scientific achievement, with little
or no concern about personal char.
acter. Christianity and the Bible 20
to the root Of that matter, stressine
the need Of stalwart moral and spir.
itual character, without which other
attainments are lacking in real
value and meaning. Unless what
man accomplishes is the expression
Of the greatness Of his character, It |
is transient and often detrimental in
its effect on society.
Tested by its results, the liquor
traffic stands couclusively and com.
pletely condemned. Even its own
frantic efforts to clean up and be
more presentable indicates that
fact. McAlpine made a rather
acute comment when he said,
eff I WE'RE A LIAR
I'd advertise beer as q food,
whisky as the promoter Of the
abundant life, and cocktails as
the badge Of social correctness.
They say that if you repeat any
thing times enough, people will
believe it,
The Scripture portions before u
present five inconsistencies, five in
stances where fact denies a false
profession. eser
I. Wood without Strength. (Ezek
1910.
The branch Of a vine is at its best 7
too crooked and pliable to be very
useful, but here we have q piecs
Of vine which has been charred In
the fire until 1t Is so useless that L F
can only be burned UP. This is the
picture of a life, possibly s1mewhfs
limited In its abilities and gifts, but
nevertheless valuable. but made ut
terly useless by careless or disso'
lutte living. How tragicl
II. Salt without SAVIOR MAT. 5:
I'D. g3a Pei
True salt is penetrating, antisep
tic and purifying, but savorless salt
is good for nothing but to make
road for the feet Of men. eye are
the salt of the earth" Christians,
If they have the true SAVIOR in their
lives, will count, by their very Spir'
itual pugnency, against sin and
corruption in their communities
III. Light without nluminatlOn
(Matt. SID.
A light is intended to give illumt
nation to all around about it. It al
ways does that thing unless some
one hides it under a cover, and then
it becomes not only useless. but
dangerous. A life lighted by faith
in Christ will shine to the very ends
Of the earth and, as a missionary
once said, 'The. light that shines
farthest shines brightest at home"
We are the light Of the world, but
il we cover our light we deny the
very essence Of our natures. Here
is no thought Of proud or selfish dis,
play. Light does not shout about
itself, It just shines-but 1t really
does shine.
~. Trees without Fruit (Matt u
16-2O.a aas nts gfl
Every plant brings forth fruit
after its own nature. We do no'
expect figs from thistles, but we DO
expect figs on the ng tree. The
countryside bears no more desolaH
figure than q blasted, fruitless fruls
tree. Quickly the owner cuts u
down and terminates its shame anu
uselessness by burning it. Wh"
about men and women? God nas
made them in His own image and
likeness. He has given them inteHi
gence and personal ability. He "a,
a right to expect the fruit Of a usefu
life from every one, and particr
larly from the Christian, who Is =
good tree"
". Life without Purpose Il Cor
1876, y.
Light and salt are inanimate oo
tects. Trees and vines with then
wood and fruit are alive, but tney
are without intelligence and mora
ity. Man, however. as we nav
already suggested, is the moral anu
intelligent crown Of Gods creation
made In His own image and llHs
ness. If they who know better, NV
lives Of careless indifference, ysa
Of outright wickedness, how Snsu
they escape the judgment of GOO u
the day when they shall stand PC
fore Him to give an account OF Wv
manner in which they have uSeu