Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-21
COVETOUSNESS.
LUXE i2:13-2i.

As Jesus was earnestly engaged in
addressing the crowds who waited on
his teaching at CapeTnaum, one OF his
hearers interrupted him with a most
ill-timed and impertinent complaint
against his brother, whom he charged
with injustice or want of honesty in
question of the division of the family
property, in which he was dissatisfied
with what had been allotted to him as
his portion Of the estate. Family quar-
Tels about property were as common IN
those days as they are now, and as often
reused the strong seltishness of human
nature.
We know nothing about the history of
this case, or whether the man had or
had not any good reason for dissatlsiac.
tion with his relatives arbitration, but
we may be certain that Mt least his in.
terrupting the Saviour in his discourse
for such trivial and selfish personal
matter, was a gross impropriety, and so
far as it illustrated the mans character
as o worldly and grasping man, eagerly
intent only on money getting, and the
love of gain, gave abundant occasion for
our Lords endeavor to teach him better,
anu luNhaIhAt pun MIN thf bfNtA5 80 W
his higher interests. Alas! if we could
uncover the hearts Of many who fill our
places of religious teaching and appar.
emily listen to our sermons, how many
should we find among them whose
thoughts are dwelling upon iancied
wrongs, or rdisappointments of expected
gains, and would be glad if the preacher
or his Master would say or do something
which would advance their worldly in
terests, or give them some points,
which would guide them to some lucky
hit or profitable speculation. This man
was entirely respectful in his address TO
Jesus, but how utterly irrelevant and
selfish was his address to him. lie
was as much out of order in his appli.
cation to Christ under the circumstan-
ces as one of our hearers in our Sabbath
congregations would be, who. in the
midst of a faithful and earnest dis.
course, should interrupt the preacher
by an inquiry as to the condition of the
stock market, or an appeal for his in
te.ference in dispute between himself
and a customer. The range of topics
on which people do come to clergymeE
for their advice is indeed very wide.
and does sometimes embrace secular
things, even transactions in business
and purely temporal matters, but a
public appeal OF this sort from the
midst Of congregation assembled to
listen to a religious teacher would not
be considered as quite in good taste,
and would, as in this case, merit a de.
cided rebuke.
The fact was that Jesus was not in
Capernaum for any such purpose at all.
lie was preaching the Gospel and teach
ing the people the way of salvation,
and it was not his business to enter into
the secular affairs of the people before
him. These could be settled in other
ways and by the proper parties. But it
was a wise and pertinent lesson for the
man TO learn that there was a bad and
dangerous passion in his heart, which
ought TO be resisted aud overcome, or
it would become the bane OF his true
peace and prosperity, and the final
ruin of his soul, and that was coUcious.
ness.
TO illustrate and enforce this truth
our Lord delivered the parable OF the
rich man, who did not know what to
dO WIN MS buN hAA iAAAAf
no provision at all for the wants of his
soul.
The story is simple though solemn,
and is put in dramatic form to make it
more impressive, and teaches the i'm.
portant lesson that man makes an
awful mistake who values and seeks
earthly riches before the favor of God
and the interests OF his uudying soul,
and that the most splendid worldly sue
cess, If that be all, will prove in the end
to be the most ruinous of all bank
ruptcy The warning is not against
riches honestly sought or acquired, or
in condemnation of successful men, but
II is against placing an undue and idol.
atrous estimate upon them, which
tempts men to sacrifice to their acquisi
ton things of infinitely higher value.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
Perhaps the best use we could max g
of this lesson would be to let IL send us
to the Word Of God for a precept, n
prayer and a promise, which, woven to.
gether. may form the principle Of our
conduct in regard to the temporal con.
Germs Of daily life.
I. Precepts Labor not for the meat
which perishes, but for that meat which
endureth unto everlasting life" John
6:27).
.Having food and raiment, let us
be Herewith content (I. Tim. 5 81.
"If riches increase set not your heart
upon them (Ps. 62: l0l.
"Lay up Tor yourselves treasures in
heaven" Matt. 6 20).
Riches are nowhere condemned in
Gods Word the love of riches when
we have them, or inordinate desire for
them even when not having them, are
alike covetousness, and likely to lead US
astray.
9. Prayers :--"Give me neither power.
ty nor riches; feed me with food con.
venient for me prov. 30: 81.
"Give us this day our daily bread
Matt. 8: III.
We are 70 use means, as well Is u
pray to be diligent in business, but tc
be mindful of aur dependence upor
God before al effort, after all effort, anc
through all effort, for only thus can w