SUNDAY SCHOOL continued from which farmers can profit. Surely there are spiritual lessons to be learned for all Christians. For instance, we need times of rest when we do nothing but contem plate what God has already done. W e need to remember that Christ is our rest (Matt. 11:28-30). He is able to provide all our need without any effort on our part. Will a Man Rob God? Mol. 3:7-10 The passage before us shows how prone man is to be unfair with God. In spite of His goodness yet those who have professed to be His followers are often guilty turn ing away from His “ ordinances” (v. 7). They often are found out of His will. Then, too, in money matters how often God’s children are niggardly and selfish in relation to the support of God’s work. God shows that it is possible to rob Him in failing to give for the support of His work. In the dispensation of the law, and long before, the tithe was used to care for the things of God (cf. Gen. 28:22). It thus cannot be looked upon as an exclusive Mosaic institution. Many Christians have found it an excellent basis for giving in this dispensation. Surely we should not want to give less in this day of grace than they gave in Old Testament times when privileges were meager compared to the day in which we live. It is the writer’s conviction that the tithe belongs to the Lord and not to give Him the tenth is to be guilty of robbing God (v. 8). A bless ing is promised the children of Israel if they would bring the tithes “ into the storehouse” for God’s use (v. 10). And it is true today that a giving people will experience a real blessing in their lives. A Divine Principle in Giving 1 Cor. 16:2 God wants His people to hallow His day by giving an offering for His work. The offering ought to be in accordance to the individual’s ability. The Lord Jesus was in the temple one day watching those who claimed to love God bring their gifts of money to Him. Rich men put large sums of money into the treasury. A poor widow put about (4 of a penny (two mites) into the treasury, but these two mites were all that she had! The Saviour said to His disciples: “ This poor widow hath cast in more than they all: for all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God; but she of her penury [poverty] hath cast in all the living that she had” (Luke 21:3, 4). Each gift that God has given to us was given that it might be used for His work in the world. God has given to some of His children more gifts than to others, but each Christian has some gift that he should use in a special way for his Lord. To some God has given money, to some extra time to serve Him, to some musical ability, to some perfect health, to some ar tistic talents. Christians honor their Lord only when they use whatever gifts He has given to honor Him by serving in fhe Helps for the Children The Best Use of God's Gifts Psa. 24:1; Luke 21:1-4 Memory Verse: ", . . all things come of thee and of thine own have we given thee" (1 Chron. 29:14b).
church, in the home, in the school, etc. Remember, “all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” Nov. 22, 1953 Christian Compassion For a Needy World Matt. 9:35, 36; Mark l:32-34a; 8:1-9 Pointers on the Lesson The thought connected with this week’s lesson presents one of the great needs of humanity, the need for sympathy, love, pity, compassion. The word compassion is composed of two Latin words which taken together mean to bear with, to have pity for, to have a fellow-feeling for, or to suffer with. Christ's Attitude Toward the Crowd Matt. 9:35, 36 The scene is connected with the Sav iour’s third tour of all Galilee. It is appar ent from verse 35 that He was exceedingly busy. Since He was the King it was perti nent that He should speak concerning “ the gospel of the kingdom” . His healing min istry was a conclusive sign of His identity. The gospel He was now preaching was not the same as the gospel of the grace of God which could only be proclaimed after His death and resurrection. Christ's Love and Power Demonstrated Mark 1:32-34a The fame of Jesus had spread far and wide. He could scarcely be alone now. So after a busy day of healing ministry, as He was at the home of Peter and Andrew, the crowds came to Him bringing their diseased . and demon possessed. Again Christ’s compassion shows itself in healing the diseased and delivering the demon pos sessed. It is most interesting and satisfying to note that our Lord has control over the demonic world. On the occasion before us, when Jesus bade the demons depart from those whom they had afflicted, they had to depart forthwith. Moreover, in the latter part of verse 34 we see that the demons were forbidden to speak by our Lord and so they uttered not a word. W e have a splendid illustration of Jesus’ power over demons in the account of the man of Gadara (Mk. 5:1-20). No man could tame the man who was under demonic control but Jesus who could and did. The picture presented in Jesus’ ministry to a needy multitude may well be considered as a picture of the whole world in its need and the omnipotent Christ who is able to fully minister to that need. Christ's Attitude Toward the Hungry Mark 8:1-9 The interest of the multitude is to be noted here. They had followed Christ for three days (v. 2) and now their food sup ply was exhausted. Would that more such interest could be observed today in the things of Christ! It seems that our Lord seeks to draw out His disciples into some statement of faith in verse 3 but apparent ly they have forgotten all about what had happened in connection with a similar lack on a former occasion (6:32ff.). He then asked them, “How many loaves have ye?” (v. 5). These were the extent of the provisions the disciples had among them. But the Lord took their insignificant con tribution and multiplied its usefulness so
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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