THE K I NG ' S BUS I NES S THURSDAY, Feb. 24. Matt. 26:47-56. The Formation of Character. A crisis reveals character but does not create it. The exhortation “Shew thy self a man,’’ can not be obeyed by any one who is not a man. When in time of need or danger, a great leader comes to the front and shows that he has the very qualities which the occasion de mands, it will be found that he has been preparing himself for many years per haps unconsciously, by the faithful dis cipline of daily toil for the, work which he is suddenly called upon to undertake. His competency is not an -'mpromptu and supernatural bestowment. It is a grad ual and long-continued acquirement. If we would meet the testing times of life without failing, we must fit 181 never to be opened again. Other doors may open but that one nevermore. At last death comes and puts an end to all opportunity. The same door that shut the wise virgins in, shut the foolish vir gins out from the marriage feast. The same door that shut Noah into the ark, shut the world out. The question of questions for us to answer is, “On which side of the door are we?” SUNDAY, Feb. 27. Matt. 25:14-30. Rewards of Faithfulness. The parable of the intrusted talents is sometimes regarded as identical with the parable of the pounds in Luke 19. While the two parables have much in common, the circumstances under which each was uttered as well as the lessons which each one was intended to teach are quite dis tinct. The parable of the pounds was spoken by the Lord on his way to Jeru salem just before his triumphant entry and was addressed to the multitudes. This one was spoken on the Mt. of Olives three days after the public procession and was meant especially for the Twelve. In that one a pound was given to each servant to illustrate different degrees of improvement of the same opportunity with corresponding gradations of re ward. In this one there is equal im provement of different opportunities with proportionate reward. That was designed to correct the error of looking for the immediate coming of the king dom of God. This was to teach the at titude of readiness and activity in rela tion to the second coming. MONDAY, Feb. 28. Duke 21:29-38. The Necessity of Watchfulness. Tfie teachings of our Lord were never one-sided. When he insisted strongly on some particular duty he did not leave his hearers to suppose that nothing else was necessary. When he urged them to action, he said something to remind them of the importance of devotion. When he emphasized inward character, he added an enforcement to outward action. The parable of the ten virgins which taught the duty of watchfulness is therefore supplemented by the parable of the talents which teaches the duty of work. Watchfulness must not degener ate into idleness. Vigilance and activity must be combined. Neh. 4:18. In writ ing to the Thessalonians Paul informs them of the double purpose of their con version. 1 Thess. 1:9, 10. They were
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