The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1940-02-22

: GOLDEN TEXT-Well done, thou good
and faithful STANDARDIZATION 25:2l
Christ is coming again! This is
the message of Matthew "a and Is,
which is the background for the les
son of today. Here we also learn
of the end of the age. To many it
seems that the time cannot be long
before that great and fateful day
breaks upon this chaos which we
call civilization. These two chap
tiers contain much important pro-
phetic truth, but in studying our les
son we must limit ourselves to the
one fact that when Christ does come
again we shall be called to give an
account of our stewardship.
Men are prone to think of their
life as something accidental. They
are here and they seem to have GER
tain abilities and opportunities
which they may make use of or not
as they choose, and then when the
time comes, they expect to leave
this world, in which they have
sought primarily for pleasure and
ease, and go out into eternity with
out any special responsibility. That
theory of life was undoubtedly pre-
pared by the devil and is promoted
by him for the purpose of destroy
ing the souls of men.
1. Christ Makes Men Stewards
of His Goods wv. 14-18).
All men are stewards, for it is
evident that our Lord has given to
each one of us ability and oppor-
tunity to serve Him. The unbeliever
who entirely rejects or ignores His
responsibility before God will have
to answer for His failure to follow
and serve Christ. So will the pro-
Tossing Christian who denies his pro-
fession by his works have to answer
for his hypocrisy. Every true Chris
tan likewise must stand before the
judgment seat of Christ and be
judged for the work he has done
in the flesh.
The Lord has committed to each
man responsibility according to his
ability. God is not unreasonable.
He does not demand that which is
beyond our capacity. He gives to
each one the amount of His goods
which that man is able to make use
of, and then it becomes his respon-
sibility to use those goods diligently
and faithfully.
III. Christ Will Return for a Stew
ardship Accounting ". 19).
Life is far from a meaningless
existence without responsibility and
ultimate accountability. Christ is
coming again, we know not when,
but we know that He is coming and
that He may come today. What
answer will you and I give Him
when He asks us to account for the
goods He has left in our care?
Well aware are we that there are
those who scoff at the thought of
Christ's return. The Bible told cen
turtles in advance that we should
expect such an attitude of unbelief,
and it also told why men scott at
this truth, namely, because they are
walking after their own lusts" and
are Willingly ignorant" of Gods
Word (see II Peter $3.50.
What a solemn indictment that is!
Let us see that it does not apply to
us. Let us rather be among those
who are looking for that blessed
hope, and the glorious appearing of
the great God and our Saviour Jesus
Christi Titus 2:13). In preparation
for that day let us obey His admoni-
ton, Occupy till I come" duke
1919, that we may not stand
ashamed in His presence in that
day.
III. Faithfulness Brings Reward,
UnfaithfulneSS Results in Judgment
wv. 20-27).
The man who because of special
ability had received five talents had
a great opportunity to serve his
lord, and he did so with courage
and fidelity. So also did the man
who because of lesser natural en-
doWments received two talents.
Both made the most of their oppor-
tunities and were equally faithful,
and also received equal rewards.
We shall not be judged on the basis
OF the greatness or the limitation
of our opportunities, but rather by
the use we make of them. That
fact should encourage the one who
is by circumstance or calling con-
fined to a limited field, while it
should solemnize and stir to greater
faithfulness the one who has been
given great opportunity. Observe
that the reward for doing ones work
well is not retirement and a pen
sion, but more work ". 2D.
What about the man with the one
talent? Apparently he yielded to
the ever-present temptation to be
hurt because he did not receive as
much as the others wv. 24-26). In
stead of approaching the kindness
of his lord in not burdening him
with more goods than he was able
to care for, and doing what he could
with what he had, he hid the talent
in the ground and went about his
own business. Such rebellion and
carelessness naturally brought forth
the reproof of the master and judg-
ment (see Wv. 20, 30).