The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-03-24
IMPROVED
UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Se eao %oyLesson

BY HAROLD L. LUNDQUIST, D. D.
Released by Western Newspaper Union.

AS00VAA AVA Av4SAA SAA onO
lesson subjects and Scripture texts 30.
lected and copyrighted by International
Council of Religious Education: used by
permission.
THE SACREDNESS OF LIFE
TEMPERANCE LESSON
LESSON TEXT: Gen. 1927. %: Matt II:
II. IL: Rom. 14:19.21; Cor. 6:l9. 20.
GOLDEN TEXT: Know We not that your
body Is the temple of the Holy Spirit7-S
Corinthians 6:19
A high and ennobling concept Of
the value of human life is an impor-
tant element in Christian thought.
The Word of God always regards
human life as sacred-a gift of God
to be used for His glory, never to
be exploited for gain or destroyed
at will.
This important truth needs con-
slant reiteration in social order
which is so shortsighted and sinful
that it will permit the destruction Of
man through the sale and use of alco-
holic beverages. The lesson has a
real application to the liquor prob
lem.
1. God Honored Man (Gen. LAT,
28).
1t should be of primary interest
and concern to discover what the
Maker and Lord thinks of His crea-
ton, man. He knows what is in
man and if we learn of Him we
may come to evaluate man Alright.
l. He Made Him in His Own
Image ". 27).
The teaching of Scripture makes
Il clear that this image was not
anything material or physical, but
rather likeness of personality. AS
God is personal, moral, intelligent
Being, so is man.
How tragic then that man will not
only reject that grace, but will SUBJ
ject his God-given personality to the
narcotic and destructive influence of
alcohol.
Not only did God make man in His
image, but
2. He Gave Him Power and
Authority ". 28).
This is the very thing man is seek
ing, and here we learn that the only
One who had right to give it-God
Himself-bestowed it upon man.
Having dominion over the entire
earth, man is in place of response
bility, not only for his own moral
choices, but for the welfare Of 9TH
ers. Think that over as it relates
to the ever-growing liquor problem.
III. Man Should Honor Man (Matt.
l2:11, IL; Rom. 14:19-2I.
Since God has such a high re-
gard for man, it is clear that we
ought to have real respect for our
fellow man. "Man's inhumanity to
man. is often declared to be the
worlds greatest difficulty. It would
not be so if Gods Word were
obeyed. Man would learn that
/. He Should Recognize His Fellow
Mans Value (Matt. 1911, 12).
Property values are so well to
the front in the thinking of all, that
it requires no argument to convince
anyone that a sheep that has fallen
into a pit should be rescued. But
the sad thing is that the man who
would run for help to rescue sheep
in that predicament will hardly cast
an interested glance at the drunk in
the gutter, or lose a few minutes
sleep over the girls who are going
to hell by way of our countless tav-
ems.
The plain fact is that we do not
regard man as of more value
than a sheep. Many a neighbor-
hood has been stirred to angry re-
prisal over the poisoning of a pet
dog, but will let the liquor dealer
poison men and women-all for Q
small license fee.
The man who loves his fellow man
knows that
2. He Should Sacrifice for His Eel
low Mans. Good (Rom. 14:19-2D.
Paul here states high principle
of Christian consideration. He
makes clear that man is his broth
er's keeper and must do nothing
which will tempt his brother to do
that which will harm him.
iii. Man Should Honor Himself
Il Cor. 6:19, 20).
Man is told not to think more
highly of himself than he ought to
think (Rom. 1879, and that is good
counsel. But at the same time he
ought to think as highly of his own
being as God does. He should rec
cgnize that
/. His Body Is the Temple Of the
Holy Spirit ". 1917.
The Bible teaches that the mo-
ment a man believes in Christ his
body becomes the dwelling place of
the Holy Spirit. That means that he
must never take that body in any
place (su,:h as tavern) to do any,
thing or partake of anything like
intoxicants) which would dishonor
the Holy Spirit of God.