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T h e K i n g ’ s B u s i n e s s
September 1932
the might; thus the actions o f life will be controlled. God begins with the inner life and works toward the outer and the visible. Man’s philosophy takes the opposite course, striving to control the actions. This is the fatal error in all human philosophy. 3. His Word (vs. 6-9). It is the W ord o f God which is to influ ence the heart and turn it to the love of God (v. 6). It is to be remembered al ways and taught diligently to the children (v. 7). This means something more than the fifteen minutes a week, which is the average length of time given to any lesson in the Sunday-schools of our country. Verse 7 also requires that the W ord of God be the subject o f conversation when walk ing, when visiting in the home, and at all times. This is required because the Word o f God alone has the power to influence the motives, the desires, and the actions of life. The peculiar directions of verses 8 and 9 reveal several things: The Word of God was to control the industrial relationships — it was to be bound upon the hand; it was to control the intellectual life—it was to be bound upon the forehead; it was to con trol the domestic relationships—it was to be upon the posts of the houses; and it was to control the social relationships—it was to be upon the gates. Thus all business af fairs, all mental activities, all home life, and all associations would be under the control o f the W ord of God. T h e E x t e n t o f t h e T r a in in g i n t h e H o m e (M k . 10:13-16). The greatest thing in the world is a child. The universe is vast, but the child is great—great because o f its possibilities. The scholar in the Sunday-school class may become either a Judas or a John, a Jezebel or a Mary. The possibilities in each child are beyond calculation. This makes the importance o f correct training impera tive. The philosophies o f men have failed, the world’s learning has proven insuffi cient, all that man can provide has proven powerless to stem the tide o f influences pulling the race downward. Now is the time, if ever, to give to the rising genera tion that which alone can maintain it in the storm : the W ord o f God. The Lord says concerning the children, “o f such is the kingdom of God” ; that is, “of such” condition and disposition. The condition is that of helplessness and the disposition is that o f trustfulness. These are the two vital factors that admit one to that ■kingdom. Children are not ajways obedient, unselfish, and truthful, but they are always helpless and trustful. O f such is the kingdom. Christianity is a religion o f the child with the Father; therefore the Lord says, “ Suffer the little children to come unto me.” The only things ever said to be in the arms o f Jesus were trustful, helpless children. W e must see to it, if the coming genera tion is to receive and carry on true Chris tianity, that the present generation is trained in the truths of the Scriptures. Lesson Questions Gen. 18:17-19. What was the ultimate purpose in the call of Abraham? Has it yet been achieved? In what way did the fulfillment o f the promise hinge upon the training o f the children in the home? Deut. 6:4-9. What were the children to be taught regarding the unity, the su premacy, and the W ord of God? What place were these to have in conversation, in social contacts, and in industrial relations ? Does the same rule apply today ?
the priests and the teachers were telling the people, so even when He was a boy, He be gan to study the doctrines of the church. For thirty years, He was a happy member of His family, helping Joseph and Mary and studying so that He would be ready to go out into the world and do His work.
and to talk with the wise men there, and to ask them questions. He was only a boy working in His father’s carpenter shop, but He was getting ready to do His Heavenly Father’s business. He had to get ready to teach the people and to preach to them God’s plan. First, He must find out what
OCTOBER 16, 1932 THE HOME AND THE COMING GENERATION G en . 18:17-19; D eut . 6:4-9; 1 S am . 1:24-28; M k . 10:13-16; 2 T im . 1:3-6 Lesson Text: Gen. 18:17-19; Deut. 6:4- 9 ; Mk. 10:13-16.
T h e P u r p o se o f C h r is t ia n T r a in in g ( G e n . 18:17-19). God’s purpose was to make the descen dants of Abraham a great and mighty na tion. In choosing Abraham, God acted in sovereign grace, because of the state into which the race had fallen. From Abraham, He purposed to bring forth a nation which would be great, not merely in numbers or wealth or temporal power, but in its influ ence upon other nations. God’s gifts and blessings to Israel were never intended to find their terminus in Israel, but that na tion was to be a channel through which blessing would flow to all peoples. God has never departed from this purpose, and the nations of the earth are still waiting for the time when Israel shall be restored to her own place and greatness, and shall be come the channel of God’s blessings the world around. Verse 19 contains the heart of the pas sage. The Revised Version gives the sense a little clearer than the Authorized. God had known Abraham, that is, had chosen him and given him blessing and training to the end that he should train his children after him in the ways o f God. And these children were to be so trained that the Lord might fulfill His purpose through them. Thus the importance o f home training was seen even in those early days. II. T h e F o u n d a t io n for t h e H o m e a n d t h e C o m in g G e n e r a t io n ( D e u t . 6:4-9). The children o f Israel were about to en ter the promised land. Before entering, they Were gathered in Moab and were there given special directions concerning their life in the land. They were to be a pecu liar people, because they had a peculiar God, and they were now instructed con cerning that peculiar God. 1. His unity (v. 4). God is one God, not many, as the heathen believed. He is the true God, not false imaginations such as the heathen held to. And He is the living God, not an unreality such as the heathen worshiped. This unity o f Israel’s God is revealed in the use of a plural word, of singular number, applying to three Persons in the one God. Joshua made use of this passage when, in recalling Israel to her true God, he said, “ Choose ye this day whom ye will serve,” either the many gods o f the heathen, or the one God o f revelation. 2. His supremacy (v. S). God is to be loved with all the heart, all the soul, and all the might. Here the per sonality o f God is declared, because it is impossible to love anything without per sonality. There may be deep sentiment for a thing or a place or an' animal, but there can be no love without personality. God is to be loved with all the heart; thus the motives and purposes o f life will be puri fied and controlled. He is to be loved with all the soul; thus the desires o f life will be purified. And He is to be loved with all
Golden Text: “ Train up a child in the way he should g o ; and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). An Oriental Home E o u r o f u s were walking from Jeru salem to Shechem to' see the Sa maritan Passover. At sunset, when we were about five miles from our destina tion, we came to a small native village. One of our party suggested that we stop in that village for the night, rather than go
on to the city and stay in a hotel. W e wanted to stay with a native family for the night, so we turn ed aside and entered the village. W e knew only a few words o f Arabic which we had gleaned f r o m o u r Baedeker, and we soon
discovered that the inhabitants o f the vil lage did not know a word of English. However, they understood what we want ed, so they pointed us to a comparatively clean looking house near the center o f the village. As we approached, the owner of the house came out and greeted us with, “Saida [peace].” He beckoned for Us to enter, and immediately set about to pre pare us something to eat and drink, After we had been refreshed with food, coffee, and tea, he brought in some pads and laid them down upon the floor for us to sleep upon. In the meantime, we had examined the house. It was built of stone, and consisted o f one principle room. As it was built upon the hillside, there was space beneath this one room for other members of the family and the animals. In the center of the room was an open hearth upon which our coffee and tea were prepared. The smoke from the fire arose and found its way out through a hole in the dome shaped roof. There was one door and one window, both o f which were closed tightly when we were ready to go to sleep. The walls were plastered and whitewashed, and a grass mat covered the floor. It was much cleaner than the average Palestine home, but otherwise it was a good exam ple o f the houses in which the Arabs live. Outline and Exposition Humanly speaking, the continued ex istence o f Christianity depends entirely upon the type of training received by each succeeding generation. I f the training is truly Christian, the generation will be Christian; but if not, Christianity will fall into decay and will disappear from the earth. Since the training must be given largely in the home, the importance o f the home can hardly be overestimated.
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