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August 1928
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
the Holy Spirit. Regard for the con science of another should never lead us so far as to go against what we know to be the truth. It is a solemn thought that when we wound the conscience o f another we “sin against Christ” (v. 11), and may cause the weaker person to " perish” (v. 11). Is it possible that I, by some act o f mine, may prevent the death o f Christ from availing for another? If so, my every act, though seemingly unimportant, may pro duce everlasting consequences. « If Christ died for his sake we ought to be willing to sacrifice a few “harmless” pleasures for his sake. What father would not banish tobacco if his boy was in danger ? What mother would not give up card games if she saw that her son might be made a gambler? What Sunday- school teacher would not quit the movies if she saw her pupils pleading her ex ample as an excuse to attend? . What Christian woman would not dress more modestly for the sake of her influence fipon young girls about her? What girl would not give up the dance if she knew it was a temptation to her friend? “ Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend,” says Paul, “I will eat no flesh while the world standeth” (v. 13). He does not lay down a law for others but proclaims his own determination as to hów such issues, should be settled. He Sets a high standard for every Christian. Shall we be bound by the scruples and prejudices o f other people, you ask? Paul—scholar and apostle—says, “ I give up anything for the sake o f weaker ones even though to me it is absolutely harm less.” This is the high-level Christian life. —o— P ith and P oint A conceited knowledge tends to no good in ourselves and to the hurt of others (v. 1 ). There is no evidence o f ignorance more common than a conceit of knowl edge (v, 2 ). .. He who imagines himself a wise man has reason to suspect that he knows nothing aright (v. 2 ). Much may be known when nothing is known, to any good purpose. The charitable man is most likely to have God’s favor (v. 3). The unity o f the Godhead is a fund amental principle o f Christianity (v. 4). Woe to the Christian who knowingly does that which may occasion weak Christians to defile their consciences (v. 7), Distinction of food can make no distinction of men in God’s account (v. 8 ). He has very little o f the spirit o f Christ who would rather see his brother go wrong than curb his own liberty (v. 11 ). A Christian should not rigorously claim or use his own right when his influence upon anotheris involved (v. 13).
control of his w ill; but he must remember there are others who are having a hard fight to let it alone, and just to see or smell it may lead them to take a drink and not be able to stop. W e who have baby brothers: or sisters understand what Paul was trying to ex plain. You boys and girls can eat things which would make baby sick or even cause death. How often mother will ask us not to do something because baby will want to do ít algo, and it would not be good for the baby to do it. Now Paul says it would not harm them to eat meat offered to idols, but they are Christians and should love their brothers and sisters in Christ enough to help them and not eat the meat offered to idols. We all need to learn this lesson o f not doing that which would harm' others, even though it would not harm us. It is a sin to do anything that would harm others or cause them to do wrong. If we are true friends of Jesus and have His love in our hearts, we will keep far away from the very first things that will lead us into sin, and shall love only that which is good and pure. Now let us see what Paul says about doing things that harm others, for you know we often for get this very important lesson. He says if we sin against our brother or sister in Christ, we have sinned against Christ. That should make us stop and think, and you know I am afraid that we all forget this. I am sure there ■ is not one who loves the Lord Jesus, who wishes to sin against Him. Let us remember this week, and when we want to have our own way, let us stop and think if-it is. going to hurt someone else, for if we sin against some one else, we are''sinning against Christ. (Teach M. V .) God’s Word is good, and when we obey it, we áre pleasing God. (Prayer.) ÜÍ S eptember 30, 1928 Review P aul the M issionary Lesson 1, July 1, The Early Life of Saul. Deut. 6:4-9; Phil. 3 :4-6; Acts 22 :3, 27, 28. Lesson II, July 8 , Saul and Stephen. Acts 7:54-8:3; 22:3, 4, 19, 20; 26:4, 5, 9-11; Gal. 1 :13, 14. Lesson III, July 15, The Conversion of Saul. Acts 9 :l-19a; 22:6-16; 1 Cor. 15:8. Lesson IV, July 22, Saul’s Early Min istry. Acts 9 :19b-30; 11:19-30; 12:25; Gal. 1:15-18. Lesson V, July 29, The First Foreign Missionaries. Acts 13 :l-52. Lesson VI, August 5, Paul in a Pagan Country. Acts 14:1-28. Lesson VII, August 12, The Council at Jerusalem. Acts 15 :l-35; Gal. 5 :1-15. Lesson VIII, August 19, Paul Carries the Gospel Into Europe. Acts 15:36-16:15. Lesson IX , August 26, Paul in a Roman Prison. Acts 16:16-40. Lesson X, September 2, Paul in Thessa- lonica. Acts 17:1-15; Rom. 15:18-20; 1 Thess. 5:12-23. Lesson XI, September 9, Paul in Ath ens and Corinth. Acts 17:1.6-18:17; 1 Cor. 2:1-16; 1 Tim. 2:3-7.
U nregenerate 1. D e a d ................................ .... Heb. 9 :14. 2. D e file d ................ . . . . ; Tit." 1 :15. 3. D e lu d e d ............................. 1 Tim. 4:2. —o— G olden T ext I llustration Let noman seek his own, but each his neighbor’s good (1 Cor. 10:24). A young man in prison wrote to his Sunday-school superintendent:’ “The first time in my life I went to the theater I was conscience-smitten, for I had joined the church and felt it was inconsistent with my profession. I reached for my hat to leave when I caught sight o f your face and I was emboldened to remain. I be came infatuated with the theater and was led away from the church. I am in a criminal’s cell today because o f it.” Here is a case where a Christian leader may have thought the theater an innocent amusement, harmless to himself; but as a Sunday-school superintendent, he should have known that the theater has led hun dreds, o f young people into sinful paths. Was he thinking of his own, or another’s good in attending shows? Helping Others to Keep God’s Law 1 Cor. 8 :1-13. Memory. VerseffiA' We know that the law is good.” 1 Tim. 1:8a. Approach— -The younger children need to learn the lesson of consideration for those that are weaker—their younger brothers and sisters, their schoolmates, Lesson Story:p^f Review, emphasizing the spirit of cooperation, and a spirit o f forgiveness, ever remembering Christ is our Saviour if we have taken Him.) T o day we are to have another part of the letter Paul wrote to the Christians at Corinth, a principal city o f Greece. It was a place of great trade and wealth, and a center o f idol worship. It seems won derful that Paul could have started a church among such wicked, money-loving people. But we remember the Lord told him when he first went there that many would believe on the Lord Jesus, and for him not to’ be afraid o f men. This letter sounds like the pleading words o f a loving father, and shows us that we ought to do without things for the sake o f others. Many ,o f these people knew there was nothing-to an idol; only a piece o f wood, stone or some metal, and they knew also that a piece of meat offered to one of these idols was perfectly good to eat, for offering it to an idol had not changed the meat in the least. That is why they were eating the meat offered to idols, but they were forgetting that some of their num ber were weaker and did not understand, and it was causing them to stumble. It is just like a man who is strong, saying it will not harm him to drink a glass of liquor once in a while, because he has the children who are awkward and back ward in social gath erings, p o o r chil dren, t h e children of immigrants. Em phasize a l s o f o r them the lesson of total abstinence for the .sake o f others, —Peloubefs Notes.
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A , S tudy on C onscience ' C hristian
1. Divinely directed . . . . Rom. 9:1. 2. Delicate . . . . . . . . Acts 26:14. 3. Discerning ........................1 Tim. 1 :19. 4. Dependable ........................Heb. 13:18. 5. Devout . ......................... 2 Cor. 1 :12.
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