THE K I N G ’ S B US I NE S S
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WEDNESDAY, May 5. 1 Sam. 4:5-18. Eli and His Sons. Eli was in a measure responsible for the wickedness of his sons and for their untimely end. He was a good man but a weak, indulgent if not indifferent father. “ His sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not.” 1 Sam. 3:13. The margin says “ he frowned not upon them.” In spite of modern popular preachments to keep smiling, there are times when a frown is more appropriate especially in the household. There is a -time to smile and a time to frown. Someone has said that there is as much family government in the world as there ever was, only today it is in the hands of the children. The lack of home training is one of the causes why children go astray. . If a child does not learn the lessons of obedience, submis sion and self-control in the home that fit him for service and usefulness in church and state, when and where shall he ever learn them? THURSDAY, May 6. Prov. 22:1-12. Value of a Good Name. Samuel was well spoken of in Israel. His manner of life from childhood cre ated a prepossession in his favor. His words weighted with righteousness and wisdom sunk deep into the hearts of the people. While it is true that char acter and reputation are not always identical, nevertheless public opinion and popular estimates are seldom in the long run at fault. A good name is a business asset of appreciable value. It has saved many a firm from bankruptcy and failure in times of panic. It has helped a man to hold fast fo integrity in time of temptation. It is difficult if not impossible to rehabilitate a tar nished name. FRIDAY, May 7. Prov. 10:1-16. A Wise Son, Wisdom and folly in Scripture are synonymous for righteousness and wickedness. A wise man is a good man.
A fool is not only one whose head is weak but whose heart is bad. He is a blockhead and a scoundrel combined. Every father hopes that his children will surpass him in obtaining the honors and prizes of life. Parental pride is humbled, parental plans are brought to •nought, parental hope turns to bitter disappointment because of wayward, un- filial and disobedient children. There is no blessing greater than godly parent age and pious upbringing. Such a heri tage is deserving of remembrance and recompense while life shall last. SATURDAY, May 8. Gal. 6:6-18. Sowing and Reaping. One of the ruling ideas of the scien tific world is the law of cause and ef fect. This law is universal, inexorable, unescapable. Seed growth illustrates its operation. Whatsoever we sow, we reap. If we sow wheat, we reap wheat. If we sow acorns, we reap acorns. If we sow thistles, we reap thistles. If -we sow little; wb reap little. If we sow much, wè reap much. There is noth ing harsh, arbitrary or unreasonable about the working of this law. Science affirms its supremacy in the material world. Scripture declares that it runs through the spiritual création. If we sow to the flesh, we shall of the flesh reap corruption. If we sow to the spir it, we shall of the spirit reap life ever lasting. SUNDAY, May' 9. Prov. 23:29-85. Evils of Intemperance. The creation and indulgence of arti ficial appetites is a serious menace to physical well-being, an impairment of mental efficiency and a deadly foe to spiritual prosperity. God intended his Holy Spirit to be the original and all- sufficient stimulant of humanity,' perfect because Divine. Satan offers alcohol to man as a substitute. Moreover he steals the nomenclature of Heaven to label the infernal counterfeit. Brandy in French is eau de vie. The water of
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