December 1926
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
736
pressing their astonishment, and one of them, more sober than the rest, told her of their wager, and asked how, being a religious person, and there fore not approving of their conduct, she could treat them with such kind ness. “Sir,” replied she, “when I married, my husband and myself were both un converted. It has pleased God to call me out of that dangerous condition. My husband continues in it. I trem ble for his future state. If he dies as he is, he must be miserable for ever; so I think it my present duty to make his existence here as comfortable as possible.” This reply- affected the whole com pany, and made a deep impression on the husband’s mind. “Do you really think, my dear, I shall be eternally miserable?” he exclaimed. "I thank you for the warning. By the grace of God, X. will change." From that time he became another man, a serious Christian, and consequently a good husband.—From an Old Book. Suggestive Scripture References For Class Hour Use . Grace Maxwell A Central-Truth Text: Worthy of God who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory. 1 Thess. 2:12. The Christian’s ideals are higher than those of other men: Mark 10: 42-45; 1 Peter 1:13-15; 2 Peter U~- 4-9. “Do good . . . . hoping for nothing again” : Luke 10:33-35; 14:12-14. Compare 2 Sam. 19:31-36 and 2 Kings 5:15, 16. Omitting the kindly act may be as an evil deed: Job 19:14-16; Psa. 38: 11; Isa. 58:7 (last cl.)-9; Matt. 26:41- 46; Luke IQ:31, 32. The motions of love and of hate: Contrast Gal. 6:14 with v. 15 and Lev. 19:13-18; contrast Ebed-melech help ing the persecuted prophet: Jer. 38:8- 13, with King Saul hounding David: 1 Sam. 18:8, 9; 19:1, 10, 11; 24:2; 26:2, (If time allows—other Scripture: Zech. 14:20, 21; 2 Cor. 7;1.) m What Christ Requires Of Us Luke 6:27-38. Golden Text: “Be ye therefore per fect, even as your Father which 1 b in heaven is perfect.” Matt. 5:48. Approach: We often hear this age spoken of as a selfish age, and rightly so in many respects. As our dear scholars fill such a big place in the world, they can do much to change this condition, but ELEMENTARY we are by nature Mabel L. Merrill selfish; therefore in our o w n strength we find, ourselves unequal to the task. The topic, “What Christ Re quires of Us,” reminds us of the first question in the Shorter Catechism— "What is man’s c h i e f end?” “To glorify God and to enjoy Him for ever.” How can we do this? Lesson: Christ requires o u r all, and when we truly know Him, the best we can give will seem all too small.' The only Christ many people
more essential that our hearts be fully yielded to Christ. If our lives are dominated by the indwelling Spirit we shall give natural expression to those ideals which animate our out ward walk. We need DEVOTIONAL to have a care lest in COMMENT setting up for our- Wm. A. Fisher selves standards of c o n d u c t we make the attainment of them by our own effort the end to be desired. This leads inevitably to a deplorable self-righte ousness, and is out of harmony with that declaration of Scripture which avers that right conduct is a proper expression of the regenerated life, and not possible of fullest attainment apart from the animating power of a heart indwelt by the resurrected Christ. If we “love one another with a pure heart fervently,” as is earnestly en joined upon us by the apostle, we will not need to have ever before us a multitudinous array of “thou shalts” and “thou shalt nots." This is clearly indicated by our Lord in summing up the requirements of the decalogue, where He makes love to God and love to man as concomitant cause and ef fect. A heart full to overflowing with the love of God will find spon taneous expression in acts of gracious benevolence and kindly deeds toward fellow beings whose hap it is to cross one’s path. A nd furthermore, the compelling influence of such a love will impel the possessor to seek out objects for the bestowment of loving favor. It would seem to be true that if our thinking were habitually in terms of service rather than of self, our lives would then truly accord with the ex ample of our Lod, “who came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his l i f e a ransom for many,” and who according to the in spired writer, desired for us that in this respect we should “follow His steps.” m A Vital Truth Illustration, Selected by Rev. Albert Mygatt A wife who had been converted and lived an exemplary Christian life, suf fered many things from her unsaved husband. At a tavern where he was spending the evening with jovial com panions, t h e t a l k turned to their wives; he said his wife was all that was excellent only for the fact she was a Methodist; but such was the command she had of her temper that he could take them all home at mid night and order her to rise and get them a supper, aqd she would be all submission a n d cheerfulness! They considered this an empty boast, and laid a considerable wager with him that it could not be done. Accord ingly he took them all home and told the maid, who had remained up, to tell her mistress he had brought some friends and that they wanted a supper. The good woman obeyed the un reasonable summons; dressed, came down and received the company with perfect civility; told them she hap pened ¡to have some chickens ready; and in due time not only served the supper but presided over it graciously. The guests could not refrain from ex
his Messiah, named his store “The Golden Rule” and built up a very large business. * It is satisfying. If men and nations would be governed by it we would have a millennium, but they will not. Every one would like to have other people work the Golden Rule, but it takes the grace of God to make it oper ative. (2) L O V E ’ S REWARD, vs. 35-38. “And your reward shall be great,” v. 35. God gives a reward in grace. We can never claim a reward for right do ing, for it is wrong not to do right, but God deals with us in grace. We have never deserved anything from Him but punishment, but here we are told we shall have a great reward. The wicked are to be rewarded (or recompensed) for their evil (Psa. 91:8): “ Only w ith th in e eyes ahalt th on b e h old and see th e rew a rd o f th e w ick e d .” (And Luke 23:41.) But God’s servants ar e to be re warded for their service (1 Cor. 3:8, 14): “ Now he th a t p lan teth and he that w atereth a re ones and e v e ry man sh all re ce iv e h is ow n rew a rd a cco rd in g to h is ow n la b or. “ I f an y m an’s w o rk sh a ll a b id e w h ich he hath b u ilt th ereu pon , he sh a ll re ce iv e a rew a rd .” The laborer is worthy of his reward (1 Tim. 5:18), and among the last re corded words of our Lord are these (Rev. 22:12): “ And beh old , I com e q u ic k ly i and m y rew a rd Is w ith m e, to g iv e e v e ry man a cco rd in g as h is w o rk sh all be.” This is consistent with God’s atti tude from the beginning. In grace He chose Abraham, and yet He said (Gen. 16:1): «T e a r n ot, A bram , I am th y shield» and th y e x ce e d in g g re a t rew a rd ." We can have, here and now, the ful ness of His great life—the peace, the joy, the satisfaction—and we can look forward in joyful anticipation to the coming glory with the consciousness that He will not be unmindful of our pilgrimage and will acknowledge be fore all saints our service for Him. PRACTICAL POINTS (1) Human nature has nothing but hatred for its enemies, but the new nature has nothing but love. (2) The Christian can be happy when cursed, and highly honored when slandered. (3) Many people do not get becalise they do not give. (4) The great giver is always a grac ious giver. (5) God bestows blessings upon men in order that they may give bles sings. (6) What we give to the Lord is gain. What we lay up on earth is loss. (7) If Heaven’s books record you as faithful, Heaven’s Paymaster will pay you in full. .414. m I Our standards of JChristian living are two-fold in their expression—God- ward and manward. Only as we seek to please God shall [we be able prop erly to live before men. It is essential that we have well .defined ideals of Christian conduct. But it is perhaps
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