The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-21
THE UNCERTAINTY OF RICHES.
Rev. David Walks Timely Discourse at
Central Christian Church.


Rev. David Walk, pastor of Central Christian
Church, yesterday morning preached to a large
congregation on the .Uncertainty Of Riches, .
and in the course of his sermon said:
There is nothing more uncertain than riches.
Men do not like to think 50, but still it is true.
Riches take to themselves wings and fly away.
A MAJ heaps up riches and knows not who will
enjoy them. The fine mansion, the beautiful
grounds, the rich furniture, the coveted pictures,
the royal ~library-these all pass into the
possession of another, in whose mind
they represent nothing but SO much
good fortune, All the associations of
love and tenderness that made them
unspeakably dear to their original owner per-
ished in their transfer to alien and unsympa-
thetic hands.
But / desire to improve local and current
events to teach spiritual and eternal truths.
The apostle speaks of men who suppose that
gain is godliness.p This is a great mistake.
Christ taught that a mans life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions. There is
something better than money. A good name is
to be chosen rather than great riches. Perhaps
you do not believe this. Perhaps you think that
money is everything. Look around you and see.
| was standing in a crowd of men on Washing
ton street two or three days since, and they
were, of course, discussing the alEabsorbing
theme OF the bank failures. Said one, II would
rather be - without a dollar than to be
- with his millions ! In each case the
Ap1hASG = 2 lOtDC was HulGHllO1tOg
and the response was general and emphatic,
You are right" The man who has only money
is the poorest man in the world. When his
money IS gone, as it may go, he has nothing
on which to lean. He gets neither
help from God nor sympathy from
man. No, gain is not godliness, but
goodness is always gain. Goodness with CON
tentment is great gain. A mans spiritual in
her7tance cannot be too great, nor in the acqui-
sition of such treasures does he rob anyone else,
The moro hn has the hntfnr If will In for avo1r.
body else.
Acquiring money, and holding it, and loving it
for itself alone is unwise and wicked. I'VE
brought nothing into this world, and it is GER
tain we can carry nothing out Seneca, a pagan
philosopher, saw and felt the force Of this truth.
lie said: Mature, in returning, shakes off all
membranes as in entering; thou canst not carry
back more than thou ~broughtest in Having
food and raiment, let us Herewith be content
All beyond this, not consecrated to God, is a sin.
They that will be rich fall into temptation and
a~snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts,
which drown men in destruction and perdition. /"
a man determines to be rich at all hazards. He
becomes a stock gambler. He deals in futures.
He puts up margins. What is the RESULT How
many ruined men there are in Indianapolis and
throughout the State to-day because they deter
minedt to be rich and to become rich by such means!
Money. home, reputation, honor, all gone. Then
follow despair, madness, suicide.
There is no just reason why we should have
hard times. There is plenty of money in the
country. The crops were never better. We
have all the conditions of happiness and pros
perity. What, then, is lacking2 Why, that
which money cannot buy-confidence. And
wherefore the wreck of confdence2 Because of
Legitimate methods of money getting. The
grain, stock and provision gamblers are at the
bottom of all our financial troubles.
They fall into temptation Beware Of the
man who can demonstrate in black and white,
before your very eyes, that you have a fortune
at your fingers ends, providing you will 60 into
this or that deal Beware of him. This is the
temptation. Fall into it, and you ara ruined.
1t is a perilous sea which you are tempted to sail.
The outcome will be shipwreck, leaving you to
drown in destruction and perdition. These be
dark waters.
They also fall into a snare. The allusion is to
a gin, or concealed trap, which shows no appear
ance of danger. The devil surely lays snares-
sets traps-for the feet of the man who will be
rich. From the spiked and harbed bottom of
this fathomless horror there is no escape.
And finally, they fall into many foolish and
hurtful lusts. Loving the creature more than
the Creator; lovers Of pleasure more than
lovers of God; the desire of the flesh, the desire
of the eyes, and the pride Of life. For the love
of none is a root of all kinds of evil.
Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where rust does not corrode, where moth doth
not corrupt, and where the thief does not steal
Here, in our souls, we treasure up the wealth
Fraud can not fitch nor waste destroy-the more
lis spent, the more we have-the sweet affections,