May 1930
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tail. Franklin learned the secret of the lightning with a kite made of a silk hand kerchief and a key. Gifford worked out his first problem in mathematics on scraps of leather from the cobbler’s shop in which he was apprentice. This is the divine principle—“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10). “Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things” (Matt. 25:21). . * * * How to Use Our Talents Matt. 25:14-30. Memory V erse: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful oyer a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matt. 25:21). Approach. —Does it make you glad when the teacher says: “You did well” ? Or when father shows he is pleased with your faithfulness in any task he gives gins to teach them to be ready at His coming. He told the story of our lesson today to show that while they were wait ing and watching for the Bridegroom to come, they should be faithful in the work He left them to do, that is, faithful in all their everyday lives. In the East, men who had wealth and property often left servants in charge who were trustworthy and capable, while they went on a long journey to some dis tant land. The householder in this par able represents Christ, and the servants are His disciples—those who love, serve and follow Him. Jesus was about to leave this world , for “another country,” and while He was away, He left His disciples a work, a mission, a trust. They were to represent Him here and, according to their abilities, be faithful in His service. In the story, one servant received five talents, which was a large fortune. This represents those who are rich in talents and opportunities for service. As the one with the five talents invested them in a way that pleased his master, so God is pleased when one uses talents in His ser vice, making the most of them for His glory. The talents may mean musical or artistic ability, literary gifts, physical or spiritual strength and skill—whatever gift one has. If used for Him, it will bear rich fruit, and win the “Well done” of the Master by and by when He comes again. The man with two talents represents those who have “ordinary” gifts, and who use them faithfully for the Master. He does not ask us to use what we do not have; not all have special gifts to con secrate to His service. But it pleases and satisfies Him when we use our time, money, power, education, ability of any kind, just as He gives the opportunity, serving Him faithfully every day in any O 'V IS 'O * you? Jesus s a i d : “O c c u p y t i l l I c o m e,” and those who have been true, loyal, faithful, dili gent, will be made happy by His smile of approval a n d His “Well done.” Lesson S t o r y . —Jesus h a d told H i s disciples the story of the ten vir
BLACKBOARD LESSON ■u\.AVjesv/s IN1P ro i
23:19, 20). The law was often disre garded (Neh. 5:10-12). In Jesus’ day there were bankers who received deposits and paid interest. It was to this custom that he referred. V. 28. T ake ye away. Gifts are taken' from the man who makes no use of them, and given to the man who can and does make the most use of them. V. 29. E very one that hath shall be given. This is a general principle. “It points to a law of life, hard but inex orable.” V. 30. The unprofitable servant. Note that he was not cast out because of what men look upon as degrading habits or vices. It was merely because he was use less. The useless man is both injurious and unjust and deserves judgment. * * * L esson Q uestions V. 14. Who is represented by “a man travelling” ? What is represented by “a far country” ? Who are represented by the “servants” ? What is represented by “his goods” ? V. 15, What is a “talent” ? What was the basis of division of the talents to servants? Who decides what gifts a Christian shall have (1 Cor. 12:11)? Is any servant left without a gift? After distributing the talents, where did the man go? V. 16. For what purpose were the tal ents given? What did the man with the five talents do? What is meant by trad ing? How can we trade with our talents (1 Tim. 6:17, 18)? V. 17. What did the man with two talents do? Was he as successful as the man with five talents? V. 18. What did the man with one talent do? What does that represent? Do one-talent Christians sometimes hide their talents ? V. 19. What is represented by the ex pression, “after a long time” ? May the Lord’s delay sometimes lead servants to become careless (Matt. 24:48-51; Lk. 12: 45, 46) ? What is meant by the expres sion, “reckoned with them” ? Are all of us expected to render account for our service (Rom. 14:12; 1 Cor. 3:14, 15)? Vs. 20-21. What statement did the five- talent man make? What is involved in the Master’s “Well done” ? Was that in itself great reward? What is meant by the expression, “ruler over many things” ? When will this be granted us if we de serve it? What is meant by “the joy of thy lord” (cf. John 12:26; 14:3; 17:24)? Vs. 22-23. Why did the two-talent ser vant receive the same commendation and reward as the man who had gained five talents ? V. 24. What did this man mean by the statement, “I knew thee” ? What wrong idea of his Master did he have? V. 25. What excuse was made? Had he hidden the talent presumably for safety? Was it enough that he should return only that which had been entrusted to him? Vs. 26-27. What kind of a servant was he? What did the master say he should have done with the money? What did the master expect in addition to his money? Vs. 28-30. What general rule was laid down? Does neglect of talents always mean loss of talents? What judgment falls upon unprofitable servants?
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ABLE 2=4 GAIN ABLE /- I LO SS /■G.HJUNE /■____________________________ SECANTS UN P ractical P oints 1. Talents represent natural gifts and also gifts of the Spirit (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:4, 8, 11, 28; Eph. 4:8-11). The impartation of supernatural gifts is made with due regard for one’s natural gifts. For instance, God does not make a man a teacher who has no brains. 2. Every Christian has some gift. It is his duty to stir it up and use it (2 Tim. 1 :6 ). . ; 3. There are three kinds of servants— those who make proper use of their gifts, those who neglect them, and those who misuse them. In which class do you be long? 4. Larger capacity for usefulness car ries with it greater responsibility (Luke 12:48). 5. He who uses his gifts for his own pleasure or profit is an embezzler. 6. In this age God is as much or more concerned about the training of the worker as He is about The work to be done. He has large and varied interests that will require service in the ages to come. Are you in training? (Rev. 22:3.) 7. Use or lose—such is God’s order to the one-talent man. 8. Moaning or complaining about the fact that one has only one talent is a criticism of the Lord whose right it is to distribute His J ’goods” (1 Cor. 12:11). 9. When our Lord comes it will be useless to “come and say” if we cannot “come and bring” some “gain” for Him. 10. “Do it now” was the motto of the faithful servants. They went “straight way.” What is your motto? 11. If your Christian life is fruitless either you are wrong or Christ is wrong. Will you try to shift the blame upon Him? 12. The Christian is saved now through faith in Christ (John 5:24). He will re ceive reward for his service at the judg ment seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:13-15). 13. Are you so living and serving that you will have no regrets or shame when Jesus comes? (1 John 2:28 ; 4:16, 17.) 14. “Here, a few days of joy enter into us; there, we enter into joy,, as ves sels set in a sea of glory.”— Leighton. * * He G olden T ex t I llustration Some great workers began with very simple tools. Ferguson made his wooden clock, of marvelous accuracy, with only a penknife. Dr. Wollaston, a famous chem ist, was asked to show some visitors his laboratory. He pointed to a corner ot his room, where stood an old tea-tray, containing a few watch-glasses, test pa pers, a small balance, and a blowpipe. That was all he had. Wilkie, the great artist, learned to draw on a barn door with a burnt stick. Benjamin West made his first brushes with hairs from the cat’s
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