Lesson 4 · June 16, 1900
The Christian's Treasure-House and Provider
(.)
- 1.Where does Jesus warn us not to place our treasures? . Side texts: .
- 2.Where is a safe place of deposit? .
- 3.What is the result of the deposit of our treasures in any place? .
- 4.What is the light of the body? What is the effect of having the attention undividedly and clearly centered upon God? Verse 22. See note 1.
- 5.What is the result of an evil or perverted vision? If that which alone can bring us light is perverted, what will follow? Verse 23.
- 6.How is this principle further illustrated? How many different masters can we serve? Verse 24. Side texts: .
- 7.What practical conclusion does Jesus draw from this? What is the most important? Verse 25. See note 2.
- 8.What illustration does He give of trust and confidence? How are we regarded as compared with the fowls? Verse 26. Side texts: ; .
- 9.How much will our thoughts add to our stature or change our age? .
- 10.For what else are we not to be anxious? What example of trust and beauty is given here? . See note 3.
- 11.What may we conclude from these lessons of God's care for us? .
- 12.What, then, should not be anxious questions in our lives? .
- 13.Of whom are such questions characteristic? What great Provider knows all our temporal needs? . See note 4.
- 14.What is our first duty? What is our Father's promise? . See note 5. Side texts: .
- 15.What, then, is our duty as regards future evil? What evil is always sufficient? Verse 34. See note 6.
Notes
1. The body, with its passions, is naturally dark; its light comes alone through the eye. The single, clear eye gives correct ideas. The perverted eye distorts all outward things to the dark body. So if our spiritual vision is single (seeking only God's glory), clear (trusting Him as He declares Himself to be), His light will flood the soul and enlighten the dark body. But if this vision is perverted by sin and selfishness, it will further pervert the naturally base passions and make blacker the natural darkness within.
2. The word "therefore" shows this verse to be a conclusion from verses previous. Jesus anticipated that souls would be tempted to believe that we can not get clothing or food unless we serve the world or ourselves. His effort in all this instruction is to lead men to the higher service alone, that of God. Whatever we do, do it as unto God, and leave results with Him. "Take no thought," is better expressed in the Revised Version, "Be not anxious." The word means anxious, troubled, worried thought. So also in .
3. "Consider the lilies;" they teach many lessons. Growing in the soil or decay of earth, they turn their faces to the light, and God through them transmutes the base soil of earth into glorious beauty. So let God's will be the first, and our character will adorn whatever physical clothes God may in His providence give us.
4. It is the Gentiles, nations of the world, who seek such things, whose hopes are only temporal, earthly. The children of God should have higher objects.
5. This lesson does not in any way indorse laziness. The Christian will be diligent and industrious. ; ; .
6. Borrow no evil of the future. God gives us to-day strength for to-day's duties, trials, sorrows, evils. We can borrow no grace for future troubles. How foolish it is, then, to borrow a trouble which we can not meet! The day brings sufficient evil and care, but there is always grace for the day. God is a present help in trouble.
Bible texts in this lesson
Matthew 6:19-34 · Matthew 6:19 · 1 Timothy 6:17-19 · 1 Timothy 6:20 · 1 Timothy 6:21 · James 4:4 · James 1:8 · James 4:8 · Job 38:41 · Psalms 104:27 · Psalms 104:28 · Psalms 104:29 · Psalms 104:30 · Psalms 104:31 · Psalms 104:32 · Psalms 104:33 · 1 Kings 3:11-13 · Matthew 6:27 · Matthew 6:28 · Matthew 6:31 · Matthew 6:34 · Romans 12:11 · 1 Thessalonians 4:11 · 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
Your notes
Kept in this browser. Sign in to keep them on every device.