Sunday talks with boys and girls

Front matter

PJass !AS7

Book

Copyright^

II

" And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me." — St. Matt. 25 : 40.

I HOPE, dear children, that you have all read this passage very carefully, for it contains our Saviour's own words, and they are full of a most solemn meaning.

Our Lord describes His second coming — in great glory, surrounded by His angels, and sitting on the throne from which He shall judge the world. Every creature that has ever lived, men and women, boys and girls, the rich and poor, the wise and simple, shall all stand before Him and receive their reward for the deeds which they have done or left undone during their lives.

You have read of the division which the Lord will make, and, I hope children, that you will notice particularly what the deeds are that He will commend in those whom He shall have placed on His right hand : Feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, being kind to the stranger, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, and giving sympathy and help in time of trouble.

And to whom does the great Judge say that these things will have been done ?

To Himself.

He identifies Himself with all that are in need or lonely or poor, or ill or in any trouble, and whatever is done for them He counts as being done to Himself.

This proves to us that service to man is acceptable as worship to God.

These things that will find favor with our Lord at the last day are not difficult to do ; they are merely the simple duties that come into every one's life. Not a day passes but we have opportunity to do at least one kindly deed for a fellow creature, and in that way show our love for Christ. Having that love in our hearts is what will enable us to see our opportunities, and give us the inclination and ability to make good use of them. Under the influence of this love whatever we may accomplish will fall so short of what we feel we ought to do, that we shall take no count of our kindly deeds or ever realize that we are doing them.

This love of Christ is " a great thing, yea, a great and thorough good; it makes everything that is heavy, light ; and it bears evenly all that is uneven. . . . Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of trouble, attempts what is above its strength, pleads no excuse of impossibility . . .

and makes everything that is bitter, sweet." It is this love that will help us to see Christ in every one that needs our help, and to give that help as unto Him, and it is lack of this love that will make us harden our hearts to the sorrow or needs of our fellow creatures.

Try to do at least one act of kindness every day. If it does not come in your way, or you are so situated that you can't give food and drink and clothes to any one, or take any one into your home, there are other things that I know you can do, and some of them may lie close at hand. Perhaps it may be giving up an hour of play now and then to sit with a friend or schoolmate, who is confined to the house. Or it may be in taking the part of and being kind to some boy or girl you know, who is poor or dull or not a favorite with the other boys and girls. Perhaps it may be in giving of your time and money to make a little joy for some one less well off than you are, or in putting yourself out to comfort and sympathize with some one who may be in trouble.

These opportunities and many more may be easy to find, and then again you may have to look carefully for them. In either case, dear boys and girls, do your best to make good use of each one, remembering Who it is that notes the doing or leaving undone of these kindnesses.

A sweet old legend, which I like to think of, 8 runs that, if we repent of any sin we have committed before the day is finished, and offer an act of love done for Christ's sake, the Recording Angel is allowed to wipe out the evil and put the good deed in its place. This story is only a beautiful fancy, but it seems to me it teaches a truth — that we should show our love for Christ in brave, kindly deeds, not empty words, and that now, while life lasts, is the time to do the things which please Him.

We know that our Lord will come a second time ; that He will come suddenly ; that He expects us to work until He appears ; and we know also the kind of work He expects us to do. If we watch earnestly and work faithfully our Judge will be our loving Friend, and the Day of Judgment will have no terror for us.

Ill

"After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them." — St. Matt. 25 : 19.

LAST Sunday's lesson impressed upon us the urgent necessity for watchfulness lest the Bridegroom coming suddenly — as He will — should find us unprepared. And the parable of the talents which I hope you have all just read teaches us that our Lord expects us to work as well as watch. And that we shall be held accountable for the amount that we have done or left undone in our lifetime.

Some of you may say : " We are only little children, we have no talents, and no opportunities like grown people, so why should we be held accountable ? "

You will be held accountable, dear boys and girls, because you have, each one of you, talents, or at least a talent, and it is quite possible for you to make good use of it, and increase it if you only realize your responsibility.

You know the story — how a certain master gave his servants each a portion of his goods or property to take care of and increase while he was absent. You will notice, children, that he did not give the same amount to each servant ; he knew the capacity and opportunity of each one of them, and gave accordingly. You have read of the different ways in which they fulfilled the trust. How the servant with the five talents traded with his money — bought and sold, perhaps cloth, or spices, or silk, and sold them again at a good profit, then bought and sold again until he had doubled his master's money. How the one with the two talents also used his so well that he, too, doubled the sum which had been entrusted to him. And that the one to whom the smallest amount had been given dug a hole in the ground and buried it ! You know of the day of reckoning which came with the master's return, his praise and generous reward to those who had made good use of his property and his reproof and punishment of the lazy, unfaithful servant.

Now we are all God's servants, and to each one He has given talents or talent to be used for His benefit and for which we shall have to render an account at the last day.

Some have five talents like our dear Longfellow and Lowell, and the great English poet Tennyson and others. These men worked well with their Master's property — they used it to elevate and ennoble their fellow creatures, without measure and without stint, and their reward will be that of " good and faithful servants."

George Washington used his talents well — so did single-hearted, upright Abraham Lincoln and our own "honorable Curtis." So did Raphael, and Michael Angelo, and William Shakespeare, and hosts of other great ones who realized that God had given them five talents and that they must double, aye, and if need be, treble the amount before the reckoning was required at their hands.

We can't all be five or even two talent people. Our Lord knows just how much we are able to use, and the smallness of our talent is no good reason for our not making use of it, and increasing it. What would you think of a boy who refused to run at all simply because he couldn't be the fastest runner in his set ? How you would all laugh at him !

It is our duty to use and make the most of every talent that God has given us ; constant, conscientious use will increase its value. You know, children, your right hand or any limb would become useless if you never used it, and you also know, how exercise — use — increases both strength and usefulness. If you are specially good in music, or history or geography, or languages, that is your talent, and see that you study well and improve it. God wants no idlers, no lazy ones doing His work. He wants your very best service.

Perhaps you are not clever at your books, but you have a way of keeping peace at home or at school, of pleasantly settling some dispute that might otherwise come to an open quarrel ; cultivate that, dear boy or girl, it is a blessed talent. I fancy it will be counted equal to ten talents at the last day. Perhaps another's talent may be in being able to run errands carefully and cheerfully for mother, or even in keeping baby quiet when every one else is busy.

Don't fancy, like the lazy servant in the parable, that a small talent is not worth cultivating. The smallest is of as much importance in our Lord's sight as the largest, and the reward is just as sure, the praise just as warm. You will remember that the man who had doubled his five talents received no higher reward than the one who had increased his two to four. From him that hath much, much shall be expected.

Above all things, dear children, let us remember that these talents of ours, be they five or two or one, are only lent us to make good use of, and that we shall surely have to give an account at the last day of the way in which we have used them. Let us use them, in whatever proportion they may have been given us, as a preoious trust from our Lord, by which we may render more and more loyal and loving service unto Him and to our fellow creatures.

And then, when the struggle and warfare of life are over, and we stand face to face with our Judge, may ours be the blessed reward :

" Well done, good and faithful servant ; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things ; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

IV

11 Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." — St. Matt. 25 : 13.

IF you look it up, dear boys and girls, you will find that this verse is from our Lord's parable of the ten virgins who went out to meet the bridegroom.

The most important part of the marriage ceremony in the East was when the bridegroom escorted the bride from her home to his own. Attended by his friends and " groomsmen " he went to the house of the bride, where she awaited him, dressed, as was the custom, in white, gold embroidered robes, adorned with jewels, and surrounded by her female friends and her bridesmaids. At a certain hour of the evening (in the East marriages always take place at night) a procession was formed, composed of all the company, to escort the bride to her new home, and they started on their way with music, and lights, and every sign of rejoicing. Invited guests, generally in parties of ten, provided with torches, or lamps, waited and watched for the procession at certain stations, falling into their places as it appeared, without a moment's delay.

Time was most valuable on such occasions, and those who were not ready on the minute, provided with the wedding light, lost their places and the cavalcade moved on without them.

The lamps referred to in the parable were probably small lamps fastened to the end of a stick ; flasks of oil were taken along in case there should be need for replenishing, and a little instrument with which to " trim " the wick — all preparations being made before the wedding party came along, as it would wait for no one.

Now you will understand the serious situation in which the five foolish virgins spoken of in the parable found themselves. They had not provided themselves with an extra supply of oil, and just at the most important moment, when the expected bridegroom was actually coming, their lamps went out, and they were in great distress.

Notice in verse eight their appeal to the wise five who had taken care to guard against just such an emergency, and their answer in the next verse. That shows of what little help the goodness of others will be to us at the last great moment. And while the foolish virgins were absent seeking what they should have provided themselves with at first, the bridegroom came and passed by, and their opportunity was lost !

Children, do you see the solemn meaning there 16 is for us in this story ? You will remember that last Sunday our lesson was about the certainty of our Lord's second coming, and this parable teaches us that not only will He come but that He will come suddenly.

The wise and foolish virgins are the good and bad people in the world — or rather the foolish virgins are those who once cared for the Lord and professed to love Him, but whose faith and love were not strong enough to last through trials, and to endure unto the end. The bridegroom is the Lord Jesus, who will come suddenly at the last day and find them unprepared to receive Him.

Now to which of these two sets of people do my boys and girls belong ? You know they both went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Are you really and truly trying to live in such a way that the Lord will find you prepared for Him, no matter when He shall come ?

You know, dears, it is the heart our Lord looks at, not the action. We see merely each other's action, but He reads the heart and knows just how much is real love and how much outward show, and it is by His standard that we shall be judged when He comes at the last day.

He sees and understands and appreciates all that His followers do for love of Him, and He knows, too, all the trials and temptations that meet us on every side. Oh, children, it is part of the mighty love of God towards us that He has " committed all judgment unto the Son." For He has been tempted like as we are, and though He never sinned, His knowledge of our weaknesses will make Him very tender with His erring ones. Let us pray together, dear little ones, for strength to live as nearly after the example of Christ as in us lies, so that whether He appear in personal presence, or we are called to Him by death, we may be found watching and ready.

"And, lo! the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them ; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not : for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."— St. Luke 2: 9,10.

ONE night, more than eighteen hundred years ago, a group of shepherds were watching their flocks in a field in faraway Palestine. And as they watched in the beauty and quiet of the Eastern starlight, there came an angel messenger to them. St. Luke tells us that he was " the angel of the Lord," — probably clad in white and glistening robes — and with his appearing came also a glorious light that shone over the fields and hills which lie outside the city of Bethlehem.

When the shepherds saw the heavenly messenger and the glory which accompanied him they were filled with fear. But the angel reassured them, " Fear not," he said, " for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Then he told them the " good tidings."

You remember the words of the Christmas message, do you not, children ? " For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

Then the angel gave the shepherds a " sign " by which they should be able to find " the newborn King." They were not told to look for Him in a palace, surrounded by luxury — no ; this is what the angel said, "Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

A manger seems a queer kind of cradle for a king, does it not ? Yet He was " King of kings, and Lord of lords " — the only Son of the living God. He left His glorious home in heaven, and came of His own free will, to be born on earth in this humble way that He might help " all people," the poor as well as the rich, the ignorant as well as the wise, and the bad as well as the good. He came to help all — remember the words the angel used, " I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

And suddenly, as the heavenly messenger spoke, a host of shining angels appeared and strains of wondrous sweetness filled the air. " The heavenly host " were praising God for His mercy and loving-kindness to mankind in sending His only Son to live among them. They knew what a blessing had come to the earth and this is what they sang :

" Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good-will towards men." 20

You can imagine, children, with what eagerness and awe the shepherds listened to this burst of glorious music, " the first and last melody of heaven ever heard by mortal ears."

When their song was ended the angels returned to heaven. And as the last note of the seraphic music died away and the last beam of the wondrous light faded the shepherds set out in haste for Bethlehem to find the infant King. St. Luke tells us that they found Mary and Joseph, and, just as the angel had told them, " the Babe lying in a manger.''

A manger, as I presume most of you know, is a trough or box where fodder is put, and out of which horses or cattle eat. In one of these troughs lay the Christ-Child, and near by may have stood an ox or an ass, the animals for whom the stable was intended. And this was the first Christmas Day !

" On this wise was ye Sonne of Gode borne," says an old writer. " He gave up grete thinges for us men and for our salvation. . . . Shall not we that love Him in like manner, give up somethinge for His sake ? " And that is the lesson I want you to take home to your hearts, dear boys and girls, in this happy Christmas-tide. Take that blessedness of giving which every one knows at this season with you through the new year that is so close at hand. The "good tidings of great joy " are for " all people " you know — try your best to make those you come in contact with realize this, by giving them some of your Christmas " good- will." If every one would only " give " more and think less of " getting " what a Christlike world this would be !

Give freely, dear children, all that you can, even as your Lord has given you. And do it not only to those who are near and dear to you but to " all people " — that is, to any one that comes in your way ; nay, do more, go out of your way to do a kindness to those who may need it. Let the necessity for the kindness be inducement enough. Give love, sympathy, cheerfulness, kind words, at home and abroad, " and it shall be given unto you ; good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over."

A little girl once said to her mother on her birthday, " Mamma, dear, I'm so poor this year I haven't a single thing to give you, but I'll dust the sitting-room every morning through the year for your birthday present, if you'll take that as a gift ; and because I love you so dearly and it's all I have to give you, I won't skip a single table leg or chair rung." Nor did she. And as she sang merrily over her labor of love morning after morning the mother's heart swelled with joy — it was the sweetest gift her little daughter could have given her, because it proved the sincerity of her love.

Can't some of my boys and girls make a birthday gift to the Christ-Child that will last all through the year ?

Try it, dear children, — begin it now, asking God's blessing on your work, and perhaps by this time next year, if your lives are spared, you may have been able to carry to some one the " good tidings of great joy," which came to "all people " when Jesus Christ was born.

VI

"But as many as received Hiin, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." — St. John 1 : 12.

CHILDREN, did you ever stop to consider how much depends upon yourselves in this life ?

Suppose you were set down in a great library full of interesting and instructive books, what benefit would they be to you unless you opened and read them. If you spent day after day in an artist's studio, gazing at him, admiring his work, longing to be able to make as beautiful pictures as he did, and never put a pencil to paper, or a brush to canvas, could you ever expect to accomplish your wish ? Or take music : If you had the finest teacher in the world, and never practiced you could not become a fine musician. Even eating — if the most delicious food were set before you, and you never put any of it into your mouths, how could it nourish you ?

Just notice, boys and girls, and you will find that you have to take a share in everything that comes into your life.

The boy that rides a bicycle has to make good 24 use of his feet and legs to keep it going. The girl who skips the rope or plays tennis must do her share, and a vigorous share, too, or it is no kind of a game. So it is with love for Christ — you must open your heart to receive Him, or He will not come in to you.

Boys and girls may be made to say their prayers, to read their Bible, to go to church and Sunday-school, but all that will not make them Christians unless they, of their own free will, open their hearts to "receive Christ." It is a splendid thing, children, to know that we are perfectly free in this matter; that the love we offer our Lord is our own free and individual gift, given because we want to do it, not because we are forced to. Freedom is something to be valued — freedom of thought, of word, and of action, and particularly freedom from sin.

Mr. James Russell Lowell says that " Freedom is that state in which a man (or a boy or girl) does his best." And for this reason even the smallest or poorest child who loves Christ can think noble thoughts, speak kindly words and do brave deeds, because Christianity — the religion of Christ, is a state of freedom, and no one who loves Him need be a slave to sin.

When boys or girls open their hearts and " receive " the dear Lord what a difference can soon be noticed in them. They learn to " believe" on

Jesus, that is, they learn to have faith in Him, and when boys or girls "believe" in anybody they are very apt to imitate that one. And it is through this very belief — faith, that you shall " become the sons " or children " of God." " And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ." All those who " receive " Christ and love Him and believe on His Name are the sons and daughters of a King than whom there is no greater. Kemember this, dear children, and let your behavior show that you appreciate the honor that has come to you.

You must cultivate royal virtues — you must be truthful and upright, it would be most unbecoming the sons and daughters of such a King to be untruthful and unjust. You must be brave and noble ; you must be generous and forgiving, and courteous and kind and loving to those about you. And above all things you must love and honor and obey your Father, and your King and Saviour Jesus Christ. Be faithful and

"In life's small things be resolute and great To keep thy muscles strong ; knowest thou when God Thy measure takes? Or when He'll say to thee, ' I find thee worthy, do this deed for Me ' ? ,J

VII

"Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." — St. Matt. 5 : 8.

TAKE notice, children, that our Lord does not say the great, or the famous, or the clever, or the strong shall be the ones to "see God," but those who are pure in heart. Therefore to be " pure in heart " is something for which we should all earnestly strive.

You, each of you, know that your soul is clothed in a body and that that body is to be cared for and honored. The Son of God made the human body forever sacred when He came on earth to live among men in the form of a man ; and St. Paul tells us that our bodies are the temple of God and that God dwells in us. It is, therefore, our duty to take care of ourselves, and do all that we can to have sound, strong bodies.

But with all this we must not forget to care for the souls which dwell in these bodies. Much better have a puny body and a great soul than a great body and a puny soul. And it is by cultivating our souls rather than our bodies that we shall become " pure in heart."

Eating, drinking, and dress and some recrea- 27 tion, are necessary to life, but they are only necessary in moderation, and it should be the duty of each Christian to guard against an inordinate love of the things of the world. Worldliness and purity of heart do not go together — you remember our Lord said it was impossible to serve God and mammon.

Intemperance in eating is gluttony — gluttony and pure-heartedness cannot live in the same heart. Intemperance in drink becomes drunkenness and, as many a sad record has proved, the deeds of drunkenness are not pure deeds. Intemperance in dress is vanity, and vanity is not a " pure-hearted " quality.

There are some other things we must avoid, too, dear children, if we desire to " see God," and be with Him hereafter. We must keep ourselves pure in thought and word and deed, and to be this we must guard our eyes and ears and lips.

We must not look at pictures that do us harm, and which we would be ashamed to have any one for whom we have respect know we had seen. We must not read foolish or impure stories that fill our minds and hearts with vain and wicked thoughts and wishes. We must be brave enough to refuse to listen to jokes that are not nice, no matter who tells them. And we must pray for strength to keep our thoughts pure and to guard well "the door of our lips" that no naughty thoughts be encouraged, and no words spoken that may influence some one else to do evil.

A pure-hearted boy or girl will never dress or act immodestly, nor be happy or contented in the company of bad people.

To be pure in heart is to be holy, and to be holy is to strive with heart and soul and strength to do only those things that are pleasing unto God.