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having the ■ same love, being of one ac cord, of one mind . . . but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than him self." He follows this statement with an exhortation to the brethren to have the same mind which Christ had, namely, that of humbleness and condescension, calling their attention to the fact that Christ, who existed in the form of God and who was equal with God, did not hesitate to lay aside the glory which He had with the Father (not His essential nature), but humbled Himself by taking the form of a servant to accomplish re demption for the human family. Because of this condescension God has highly ex alted Him, for it is unto Him that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Thé way to greatness is by way of humbleness and service to others. V. Paul’s Idea of a Christian Master’s Duty to and Service for Others. Col. 3:12; 4:1. To the Colossian Church Paul gave the general exhortation that, having “put off the old man with his doings,” they “put on therefore, as God’s elect, holy and be loved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering." To masters he gave special instruction in re gard to their attitude and conduct toward their servants. Slavery existed in the days of Paul. Though that institution, thank God, has been blotted from the shores of America, the same principle is applicable to the employer in his relationship to the employee. The reciprocal relationship be tween labor and capital is set forth in the Colossian epistle by Paul. If each, whether employer or employee, is ac tuated by the principles herein set forth, all differences vanish and peace reigns. VI. James’ Idea of a Christian’s Duty to and Service for the Poor. Jas. 2 : 14-17. The Hebrew Christians, to whom the epistle of James was addressed, drew the wrong conclusion from the New Testa ment teaching concerning justification by faith. They misconstrued the liberty of the Gospel as license permitting them to lay aside restraints and to neglect deeds of charity. It became, therefore, neces sary for James to call their attention to the fact that faith which is a saving faith, is one that manifests itself in deeds of kindness and help toward the poor and the unfortunate. P ith and P oint “The mouth is not sweetened by saying, ‘Honey, honey,’ ” says the Arab proverb. “The distant fire one cannot warm at,’’ is a Malagasy proverb. “Life is seen by action ; true faith is seen by its works.” “He that does a good work in this world, in the world to come his good work goes before him.” “God placed the poor on earth in or der to save rich, men from hell” (Ex positor’s Greek Testament). “To live for self is to perish.” “The first step of the Christian life is self-denial.” “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” “Christ was a model of unselfishness.”
October 13, 1929 Keeping Fit For the Sake of Others Scripture References: Dan. 1:8-20; 1 Cor. 9:19-27; 1 Tim. 4:7-12; 2 Tim. 2: 1-5. Lesson Text: Dan. 1:8-20. Golden Text: “Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye■are not your own; for ye were bought with a price : glorify God there fore in your body” (1 Cor. 6:19, 20). Devotional Reading: Psa. 66:1-4, 16-20. L esson in O utline Introduction: Historical Setting. Beginning the Lesson. I. Daniel’s Keeping Fit for Service and Testimony. Dan. 1:8-20. II. Paul’s Keeping Fit for Soul Win ning. 1 Cor. 9:19-27. III. Timothy’s Keeping Fit for the Min istry. 1 Tim. 4:7-12 ; 2 Tim. 2:1-5. —o— Introduction: Historical Setting. 'T'HE book of Daniel was written by Daniel the prophet who was carried as a captive into Babylonian exile in the third year of Jehoiakim, king of Judah. is taken from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. Paul was at Ephesus when he wrote it, either in the year 56 or 57 A. D. Paul’s first letter to Timothy was prob ably written after his first imprisonment at Rome and before his second arrest. Timothy was at Ephesus where Paul left him to carry on the work which he had established. Beginning the Lesson: In order that one may be prepared in every way to do the most efficient work in God’s cause he should be careful about his diet. In the Jewish sections of cities, on the windows of restaurants and grocery . stores appears the word Kosher, either in English or in Hebrew. This Word signifies that the food sold meets with the requirements of the law which may be seen in such passages as Deut. 12:23, 24 and Lev. 11:4-20. Daniel, being a true Hebrew and desiring to do the will of God, was very careful with reference to his diet. Frequently the statement is made that one is “digging his grave with his teeth.” Another proverbial expression is “eats himself to death.” According to a cor respondent of the London Times, as quoted in Tarbell’s Teachers’ Guide, the eating of sweets actually has a deleterious effect on character in that yielding to the desire for such things forms habits which grip the child and to which he learns to yield. These habits soon become master of the person and lead to self-indulgence in many things. There can be no reasonable d o u b t c o n c e r n i n g the Scriptural s t a t e - ment that Daniel wrote the book. The second pas sage for considera tion in this lesson
FRED S. SHEPARD ’S BLACKBOARD OUTLINE C o n v ic t io n o n t r o l O N Q U E S T So run that ye may obtain.— 1 Cor. 9:24. I. Daniel’s Keeping Fit for Service and Testimony. Dan. 1:8-20. The word “Daniel” means “Go d judges.” Daniel, as did few others, real ized the truthfulness of the meaning of his name; thus he committed everything to the Lord for decision. When Daniel and some of his com rades had been taken captive to Babylon they were placed in the hands of.Ash- penaz, the master of the eunuchs, who was held responsible for their education and their physical welfare. Speaking in modern terms, one would say that these Hebrew ■youths, together with others, were placed in the university or theolog ical school for training to prepare them for governmental and religious duties. In Babylon, as in all pagan territories, religion was inseparably bound up with the government ; in fact religion was the fundamental basis of all empires. Upon entering this course of studies and training, Daniel, with his Hebrew comrades, sensed at once the delicate situation in which they had been placed. They, having been thoroughly grounded in the fundamental principles of the Jew ish law and being well acquainted es pecially with the dietary laws given Is rael, doubtless realized that these foods had not been prepared according to the principle of dietetics, and therefore were not wholesome; and that in taking the king’s daintier, which in one way or an other had been defiled or polluted on account of idolatrous practices in the preparation of the same, they would de file themselves. “Therefore Daniel pur posed in his heart that he would not de file himself with the king’s dainties, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself." Nothing worth while has been accomplished in any sphere except where there was a definite purpose actuating and dominating the entire life.. The Lord had specially given Daniel favor in the eyes of his master, who finally granted his request. | At the expiration of the time of proba tion, when all of the students were sub jected to an examination, it was learned, to the amazement of Ashpenaz, that Dan iel and his comrades were in better phys ical condition, and mental likewise, than were those who submitted to the regular daily routine of affairs. Therefore Daniel, having been true to his God and to his conscientious convic tions, was superior to his colleagues and was providentially prenared to fulfill the duties of the high offices to which God intended to call him. If one today will purpose in his heart to live apart from the world and to dedicate his entire life to the service of God, the Lord will provi dentially open the way into the place where He can use him in the fullest way possible.
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