THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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erently, before our Lord entered on His public ministry He discharged faith fully the duties of a Jewish son and of a village carpenter, and was rewarded by His Father. “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17). Christian Endeavorer, Sunday School teacher, or whatever you now are, faithfulness in discharging your present- responsibilities will qualify you for filling the larger place. This is just as true in the business world. Being the son of some prominent man may give a young fellow an added opportu nity , but if that turns out to be his only qualification, he will soon be dis.- charged. 3. A share in his master’s joy. The joy of accomplishment. Every boy or girl won for Jesus helps on His cause, hastens the accomplishment of that for which He died on the cross and rose again. The joy of fellowship in a great undertaking, and His undertaking, and ours, is the greatest undertaking in all the world—the bringing in of God’s kingdom— “Thy kingdom come,” with all that it means. The joy that comes from seeing the loved One honored. IV. The Christian’s Retribution. Not the true Christian of course, for the true Christian is the faithful Chris tian; but the professing Christian, in whose heart is no personal love to the Master. Entrusted with one talent, the very largest amount he could have handled successfully, he chose to treat it as being not worth any attention, as though it were nothing. This, in the master’s absence led to worse in the master’s presence. He treated his mas ter impudently, speaking as no bond- servant had a right to speak, even if what he charged had been true, which it was not. “O man who art thou that repliest against God?” (Rom. 9:20). He treated his master ungratefully, for he made no acknowledgment of his generosity. He treated his master pre sumptuously, for had he really believed that what he charged was true, he
would not have dared to say them; he presumed upon his master’s good nature in charging him with being bad natured. His punishment was two-fold, depriva tion and banishment. Nothing where with to serve, and no opportunity of service. So they told the King, who com manded the two Shining Ones that con ducted Christian and Hopeful to the City, to go out and take Ignorance, and bind him hand and foot, and have him away. Then they took him up, and carried him through the air, to the door that I saw in the side of the hill, and put him in there. Then I saw that there was a way to Hell, even from the Gates of Heaven, as well as from the City of Destruction.”—The Pilgrim’s Progrfess. The two passages of Scripture given for this lesson should be transposed and taken in the Scriptural order,— first, the Beatitudes which are the founda- t i o n principles HEART OF THE for a righteous LESSON AND life; second, the PRACTICAL POINTS u s e o f t h e s e principles f o r which we shall come into judgment. Contrast the two mountains: Sinai upon which God stood and gave His commandments, and this mountain upon which Christ stood and gave His sermon. The first is a fiery mountain. There is smoke and lightning, fiery warning and tablets of stone, a death penalty for coming nigh. On the other there is the Man of Galilee with words of beseeching and hands of blessing. There is no conflict between these two manifestations. Sinai reveals the holiness of God and His righteous demands and the impossible for man. This mountain reveals the God who hath fulfilled all righteousness and made possible for men the laws of His kingdom. Here is a king proclaiming the laws which shall characterize His kingdom,
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