The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-01-09

IT,
Matthew 6:25.
People, people, and more people!
Have you ever said, Pm just so
tired of people. I wish I could
get away from everybody? Most
of us have felt that way some time
and have possibly needed and de-
served a rest. We must not permit
that feeling to so color our thinking,
however, that we lose our interest
in men and women, boys and girls.
Jesus had His times of prayer and
quiet communion with the Father,
but for the most part we find Him
out among people. He loved them
and consequently dealt faithfully
with them, showing tenderness to
those who needed it, and often be-
ing severely plain and direct in
dealing with those who were hypo-
critics. He valued human person
atty highly, hence He gave Himself
in sacriicial devotion to winning,
guiding, controlling and, above all,
saving men.
The lesson presents some inter-
esting contrasts.
l. How and How Not to Use the
Sabbath wv. 1-6).
Jesus was at formal gathering
with invited guests ". y in one
of the chief houses of the commu-
nifty, on the Sabbath Day. That such
gathering was held on that day
was a sign Of the degeneracy of the
age. ''The same thing is being done
on Sunday by Christian people to-
day. They go to church (if con-
venient) in the morning and devote
the afternoon and evening to recre-
alton and social" occasions. We
agree with DR.. Morgan that "the
whole thing is a sign of spiritual
decadence. " That's how not to spend
the day of rest and worship.
Another wrong thing was that they
used the occasion to try to entrap
Jesus. He was at the feast, not to
''have a good time" but to minister
to their spiritual needs. They
brought the sick man in to tempt
Jesus to heal on the Sabbath Day.
He used their trickery to condemn
them and to silence them wv. 4, g..
Declaring Gods truth and His
love for man by worship and by
work for Him-that is the right way
to use the Lords Day. Let's get
back to its proper observance.
II. What and What Not to Do for
Advancement wv. 7-1D.
Getting ahead, even at the expense
of others, seems to have been quite
the thing in our Lords time, as it
is today. Looking at that SNUG, self
satisfied crowd of "grabbers," Je-
sus made good use of His presence
at the feast to expose their folly and
selfshness. Again we agree with
DR.. Morgan that one should not ''try
for the chief seat. Why not? Be
cause the place of honor is for the
honorable man; and man who
struggles to sit in the place of honor
proves thereby that he is not an
honorable man." Think it over!
The way up in spiritual things is
always down. Humility, which is so
despised by the world, is precious
in the sight of God, and will be re-
warded by Him. The principle stat
ed III verse II is and always will
be true. The young man or woman
who really wants to get ahead will do
we'll to let it control both thought
and deed. 1t is a far better rule
for the New Year than any resolu-
ton you may have made-and prob
ably forgotten by now.
III. Who and Who Not to Invite
for Dinner WV 12-14).
Is the Lord interested in such
matter as that? Indeed He is! Ev-
erything about life concerns Him,
and, as a matter of fact, this is
very important point. Here an at
titude toward life is revealed which
is vital and fundamental.
Hospitality is a virtue highly re-
garded by the Bible (see such pas
sages as Rom. 1918; I Tim. 3:2;
Titus Ia; 1 Pet. 4:9). To debase it
by asking only those whom we eX-
pect will ask us in return, is really
to destroy it. 1t is not hospitality
at all to limit our invitations to
those who invite us. Obviously we
are not to cut them off simply be-
cause they do ask us. That is not
the point We are not to let that be
the controlling factor.
Ask those who cannot pay you
back, if you really want to get a
blessing out of it. There is so much
need in the world that we who fol-
low Christ have little time to spend
merely entertaining those who have
no need. God will recompense. DR..
j. w. Bradbury in The Gist of the
Lesson well says, There is a good
reason not to seek recompense here;
there are more enduring and valu-
able recompenses hereafter (Matt.
6:1-6, 1919. When we get no rec
ompense here for the good we do,
we ought rather to rejoice than be
sad. 1t assures better recompense
hereafter"
He goes on to say, "The profess
ing church has often followed the
worlds method rather than Christ's
DANES 2:1-6)." Sad-but true.
What shall we do about it?