Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court
Page 18
Today, greed and materialism cause many of the same consequences. The love of money can become an idol and replace God as a priority. Focusing on the accumulation of wealth and earthly treasures (stuff) will negatively affect our relationships with other people and especially with children. It is tempting to replace time and affection with material objects. This dangerous attitude is easily “caught” by children and can be passed on for generations. Families can be completely torn apart over attitudes about money and especially inheritances.
The arrival of the Knights of the Prince symbolizes Christians uniting in Christ in order to reach the lost and to stand against evil. We battle against evil not with worldly weapons but with the Word of God and the power of prayer in the authority of Jesus’ name. Personal and corporate prayer is one of the most powerful and effective weapons to use against Satan. Acts 2:42–47 is an excellent example of the power of prayer, fellowship, and unity in the cause to further God's kingdom.
The vices portrayed in Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court are greed (avarice) and fear, while the virtues are mercy and courage. Lord Kingsley Sir Avarick, and the Lucrums represent greed. The Ashen Knight, his Lucrums, and the Yagormoth represent fear. Sir Bentley and Lady Eirwyn represent both mercy and courage (Eirwyn, the Mercy Maiden, represents mercy more strongly, while Bentley more strongly represents courage). Kingsley already had a weakness toward greed, which Avarick then fed and grew into a stronghold. Sir Avarick trained his Vincero Knight, the Ashen Knight, to be a fierce and ghastly warrior, who in turn capitalized on the Lucrums’ lust for gain by training them to be greatly feared warriors, able to raid villages and paralyze the people with fear. Eirwyn's mercy was developed in opposition to her fathers greed, with the help of the gardener (who was actually the Prince). Bentley's courage was borne out of his quest for truth and developed both by Demus's example and by his being thrust into situations that required courage for success.
Answer based on personal experience.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
Unlike the Kingdom Series allegory, whose characters and events are based on people and events taken directly from Scripture, The Knights of Arrethtrae is a set of allegorical stories based on biblical principles. Each book attempts to teach about virtues and vices conveyed through the truth of God's Word. Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court teaches about the virtues of courage and mercy and warns against the vices of greed (avarice) and fear.
Today we are immersed in a culture of materialism. Never before have so many had so much. However, the love of money—avarice—is no respecter of persons, for it can become a stronghold in the hearts of the poor and the wealthy alike. It is a very dangerous stronghold that can easily seize youth unless they learn to carefully guard their hearts.
The antithesis of avarice is mercy, for the greedy think only of themselves, whereas the merciful put others before themselves. It is the power of the Holy Spirit alive in our hearts that helps us to put away our sinful—and greedy—desires and live victoriously in away that yields fruits of the Spirit and reveals the gifts of the Spirit, such as mercy.
The courage that spurred Sir Bentley to abandon the comforts of his life and seek the truth is one of the loftiest pursuits a man or woman can engage in. It is the essence of God's desire for each of us. He asks us to seek Him, and we shall find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). It is my hope that all who read this story will find the courage to do the same by exploring the unchangeable truth of God's Word.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
—1 TIMOTHY 6:10, KJV
SIR BENTLEY AND HOLBROOK COURT
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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version.
The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.
eISBN: 978-1-60142-262-0
Copyright © 2009 by Chuck Black
“Eirwyn” music and lyrics copyright © 2008 by Emily Elizabeth Black
Illustrations by Marcella Johnson
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Black, Chuck.
Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court / Chuck Black; [illustrations by Marcella
Johnson].—1st ed.
p. cm.—(The knights of Arrethtrae; bk. 2)
Summary: Newly knighted, young Sir Bentley embarks on a quest to give up the pleasures of men and follow the path of the Prince, finding kindred spirits along the way who help him restore hope to the people of Holbrook.
[1. Greed—Fiction. 2. Knights and knighthood—Fiction. 3. Christian life—Fiction.
4. Allegories.] I. Johnson, Marcella, ill. II. Title.
PZ7.B528676Si 2009
[Fic]—dc22
2008036022
v3.0