Arkansas State press., 1942-05-01
Weekly Sermon

Text: Phil. 4:ll.2O. 81 have
learned how to be content
wherever l am. | know how to
live hpmbly; ! ne how to live in
prosperity. l have been initiated
into the secret for all sorts and
conditions of life. for plenty
and hunger. for prosperity and
for privstions. In him who
strengthens me ! am able for
anything
SUBJECT: Religion And The
Good Life"
The trouble with mankind is that
80 much of the time We are not
ready for life, Pain and suffering
come; dear snes are taken from
us; failure to hold On to our saw
ings and wealth, as usual disap-
pointment and failure come; we
lose our courage and give up hope
and surrender our faith. We are
not able to do anything until we
have learned to know, "Him who
strengthens u.s." and have sur
rendered our lives to HIM He who
has learned to trust God is living
in a FORT against any emergency.
Those in Christ have found some
thing for which to live that no
catastrophe can take away. Today
we are charmed by world where
We hear conflict of voices. This
conflict of voices was heard long
ago by Paul, but We could speak
through the conflict and say as
found in Philippians 4:ll-20. 81
have learned how to be content
wherever l am. ! know how to live
humbly; ! know now to live in
prosperity. l have been initiated
into the secret for all sorts sorts
and conditions Of life, tor plenty
and for hunger, for prosperity and
priyations. In HIM VINO strength
ems me l am able for anything"
Pau's hope, faith and words are
that we might see the good life,
so he tells US that the supreme end
OF living in the ultimate scale of
human values, is the achievement
Of the GOOD LIFE. Moreover, we
will have to see the questions that
the good life will concern itself
with what the individual puts as
his standard as to human value
Today We are confused as to the
values that will work in our ex-
perlence. The good lie should
have to do with ENDS. We should
know that the good lite is the
affair of persons. rhas good life is
q way OF BEHAVING with refer
ence to ethical values.
A person may ask how may the
Individual know when he OF She is
on the road for the achievement OF
the good life?
/. First, there must be a desire
of the type Of person you should
like to become, and people can de-
pend on you in may types Of sit
uations. Ne is said to be in the way
to achieve character-THE GOOD
LIFE.
(Ex) Zacchaeus, a publican, de-
sired to see Jesus. Yes, the good
life is an affair of persons. Again,
q person may be considered good
or bad conduct.
Il. Second, is GROWTH, growth
is an evidence of the good life.
When life fails to grow, it
fails to achieve the good life. In
st. Matthew 1881, Another pa
rable put he forth unto them, say
ing, The kingdom Of heaven 10
like to grain of mustard seed,
which man took, and sowed in
his field: Which indeed is the
least Of all seeds; but when it is
grown, it is the greatest among
herbs, and becometh a tree, 80
that the birds of the air come and
lodge in the branches thereof"
Ill. Intimacy, mans longing for
intimacy is an evidence OF the
good life. A need for the contact
with others. But beyond the limits
Of human intimacy there is an
outreach for an intimacy that is
perfect in its understanding and
limitless in its sympathy-an in
timacy in which nothing in the in.
most self is hidden by fear or res
traint, Human nature demands
something more than a sense OF
security from belonging to and
participating in the affairs of per-
sons. Within these limits of a
friendly world the human spirit
yearns for intimate companionship
with the ideal person whose COM
plete understanding is uncontrolled
by social distance and whose SYM
pathy is as unhunded as under
standing love, Religion achieves
this sense of intimacy within a
friendly, personal universe through
prayer. Prayer is the heart OF re-
ligion. 1t is by far the most person
al thing in each of our lives. II
we are to achieve the good life