- Foreword
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- June 23, 1892
- June 30, 1892
- July 7, 1892
- July 14, 1892
- July 21, 1892
- July 28, 1892
- August 4, 1892
- August 11, 1892
- September 1, 1892
- September 22, 1892
- September 29, 1892
- October 13, 1892
- October 20, 1892
- October 27, 1892
- November 10, 1892
- November 17, 1892
- December 8, 1892
- December 15, 1892
- December 22, 1892
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- January 5, 1893
- January 19, 1893
- February 2, 1893
- February 9, 1893
- March 2, 1893
- March 9, 1893
- March 23, 1893
- March 30, 1893
- May 4, 1893
- May 18, 1893
- May 25, 1893
- June 1, 1893
- June 8, 1893
- June 15, 1893
- June 22, 1893
- June 29, 1893
- July 13, 1893
- July 20, 1893
- July 27, 1893
- August 3, 1893
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- August 24, 1893
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- September 7, 1893
- September 14, 1893
- September 21, 1893
- November 9, 1893
- November 16, 1893
- November 23, 1893
- November 30, 1893
- December 7, 1893
- December 14, 1893
- December 21, 1893
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- January 4, 1894
- January 11, 1894
- January 18, 1894
- January 25, 1894
- February 1, 1894
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- March 1, 1894
- April 26, 1894
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- July 5, 1894
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- August 2, 1894
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- August 30, 1894
- September 6, 1894
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- September 20, 1894
- September 27, 1894
- October 11, 1894
- October 18, 1894
- October 25, 1894
- November 8, 1894
- November 22, 1894
- November 29, 1894
- December 6, 1894
- December 13, 1894
- December 20, 1894
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- January 3, 1895
- January 10, 1895
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- August 1, 1895
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- September 5, 1895
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- September 26, 1895
- October 10, 1895
- October 17, 1895
- October 24, 1895
- October 31, 1895
- November 7, 1895
- November 21, 1895
- November 28, 1895
- December 5, 1895
- December 12, 1895
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- January 2, 1896
- January 9, 1896
- January 16, 1896
- January 30, 1896
- February 6, 1896
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- March 12, 1896
- August 20, 1896
- August 27, 1896
- September 24, 1896
- October 8, 1896
- October 15, 1896
- October 22, 1896
- November 5, 1896
- November 5, 1896
- November 12, 1896
- November 26, 1896
- December 3, 1896
- December 24, 1896
- December 31, 1896
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- January 7, 1897
- January 21, 1897
- January 28, 1897
- February 4, 1897
- February 11, 1897
- February 25, 1897
- March 4, 1897
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- July 1, 1897
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- August 5, 1897
- August 5, 1897
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- August 26, 1897
- September 2, 1897
- September 9, 1897
- September 16, 1897
- September 23, 1897
- September 30, 1897
- October 7, 1897
- October 14, 1897
- October 21, 1897
- October 28, 1897
- November 4, 1897
- November 11, 1897
- November 18, 1897
- December 2, 1897
- December 9, 1897
- December 16, 1897
- December 23, 1897
- December 30, 1897
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- January 6, 1898
- January 13, 1898
- February 3, 1898
- February 10, 1898
- February 17, 1898
- March 24, 1898
- March 31, 1898
- April 7, 1898
- April 14, 1898
- April 21, 1898
- April 28, 1898
- May 5, 1898
- May 12, 1898
- May 19, 1898
- May 26, 1898
- June 2, 1898
- June 30, 1898
- July 7, 1898
- July 14, 1898
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- July 28, 1898
- August 4, 1898
- August 11, 1898
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- August 25, 1898
- September 1, 1898
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- October 13, 1898
- October 20, 1898
- October 27, 1898
- November 3, 1898
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- November 17, 1898
- November 24, 1898
- December 1, 1898
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- December 15, 1898
- December 22, 1898
- December 29, 1898
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- March 30, 1899
- April 6, 1899
- April 13, 1899
- April 20, 1899
- April 27, 1899
- May 4, 1899
- May 11, 1899
- May 18, 1899
- May 25, 1899
- June 8, 1899
- June 15, 1899
- June 22, 1899
- June 29, 1899
- July 13, 1899
- July 20, 1899
- July 27, 1899
- August 3, 1899
- August 10, 1899
- August 17, 1899
- August 24, 1899
- August 31, 1899
- September 14, 1899
- September 21, 1899
- September 28, 1899
- October 5, 1899
- October 12, 1899
- October 19, 1899
- October 26, 1899
- November 2, 1899
- November 9, 1899
- November 23, 1899
- November 30, 1899
- December 7, 1899
- December 21, 1899
- December 28, 1899
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- January 4, 1900
- January 11, 1900
- February 1, 1900
- February 8, 1900
- February 15, 1900
- February 22, 1900
- March 1, 1900
- March 8, 1900
- March 22, 1900
- March 29, 1900
- April 5, 1900
- April 12, 1900
- April 26, 1900
- May 3, 1900
- May 10, 1900
- May 17, 1900
- May 24, 1900
- May 31, 1900
- June 7, 1900
- June 14, 1900
- June 21, 1900
- June 28, 1900
- July 12, 1900
- July 19, 1900
- July 26, 1900
- August 2, 1900
- August 16, 1900
- September 6, 1900
- September 13, 1900
- September 20, 1900
- September 27, 1900
- October 4, 1900
- October 11, 1900
- October 18, 1900
- October 25, 1900
- November 1, 1900
- November 8, 1900
- November 15, 1900
- November 22, 1900
- December 6, 1900
- December 13, 1900
- December 20, 1900
- December 27, 1900
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- January 3, 1901
- January 10, 1901
- January 17, 1901
- January 24, 1901
- January 31, 1901
- February 7, 1901
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- February 28, 1901
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- May 2, 1901
- May 9, 1901
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- June 6, 1901
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- July 25, 1901
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- September 12, 1901
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- October 3, 1901
- November 21, 1901
- December 5, 1901
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- January 16, 1902
- January 23, 1902
- February 6, 1902
- February 13, 1902
- February 27, 1902
- March 6, 1902
- March 20, 1902
- April 17, 1902
- May 1, 1902
- June 5, 1902
- June 12, 1902
- June 26, 1902
- July 3, 1902
- July 10, 1902
- July 24, 1902
- July 31, 1902
- August 21, 1902
- September 11, 1902
- October 2, 1902
- October 9, 1902
- October 23, 1902
- November 6, 1902
- December 4, 1902
- December 11, 1902
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- January 1, 1903
- January 22, 1903
- January 29, 1903
- February 12, 1903
- February 19, 1903
- March 5, 1903
- March 19, 1903
- March 26, 1903
- April 9, 1903
- April 16, 1903
- April 23, 1903
- May 14, 1903
- May 21, 1903
- June 4, 1903
- June 25, 1903
- July 9, 1903
- July 16, 1903
- August 6, 1903
- August 20, 1903
- September 1, 1903
- September 8, 1903
- September 22, 1903
- September 29, 1903
- November 24, 1903
- December 1, 1903
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November 23, 1899
The Parable of the Talents
It is not alone to the minister that God entrusts his talents. His goods are lent to every man as verily, as they are lent to the most exalted angel in the courts of heaven. To every man God has appointed his work, and the talents are given in proportion to the capabilities of the receiver. Every soul, in taking his position as a member of Christ's body, pledges himself to act faithfully his part as a steward of God; to work with the same prudence and wisdom in behalf of his Master that he would use if he were himself to be enriched by all that is gained.YI November 23, 1899, par. 1
By the parable of the talents, Christ teaches us the relation that man sustains to God. “The kingdom of heaven,” he says, “is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; and to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.YI November 23, 1899, par. 2
“After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.” He sees the servant to whom he has entrusted five talents, and he asks him to give an account of his stewardship. The servant has been faithful; he has added five talents to the talents entrusted to him. He answers: “Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou 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.”YI November 23, 1899, par. 3
The servant entrusted with two talents has also added to the capital lent him. “He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, 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.”YI November 23, 1899, par. 4
Now the man to whom has been given the one talent is called to give an account. But he can only look with confusion upon the face of his lord; for he has followed the suggestions of the enemy. If he had been convinced that he could not use that one talent, he should have asked wisdom of God; but instead of this, he buried it in the earth. Now he comes to his lord with a falsehood on his lips. “I knew thee that thou art a hard man,” he says, “reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed; and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.”YI November 23, 1899, par. 5
No man whose heart is converted can say such a thing as this; for it is impossible for the Lord to gather where he has not strewed. Heaven and earth are his property, and we can not bring to him anything that is not already his own.YI November 23, 1899, par. 6
“His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed: thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath [improved his talents] shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”YI November 23, 1899, par. 7
The parable presents a truth which all should understand. God has not distributed his talents capriciously. To every man are given abilities which will fit him for the work he is called to do. To one are committed five talents; to another, two; to another, one: and each is accountable to God for his gifts. A time is coming when Christ will require his own with usury. He will say to each of his stewards, “Give an account of thy stewardship.” Those who have hid their Lord's money in the earth, in worldly investments, instead of putting it out to the exchangers, to increase by use; and those who have squandered his money by expending it for needless things, instead of investing it in his cause, will receive the condemnation of the Master. Not only will they lose the talent lent them by God, but they will lose eternal life. The command will be given: “Take therefore the talent from him, ... and cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The faithful servant, who invests his talent in the cause of God, who uses his money to the glory of God, will receive the commendation, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant; ... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” What will be this joy of the Lord?—It will be the joy of seeing souls saved in the kingdom of God. Those who are faithful stewards are partners with Christ, who, “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”YI November 23, 1899, par. 8