The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-10

Psalms and here covetousness is spoken
of as "the sin that God abhors.' Go still
tulther back and here amid the thund-
ers OF Sinai "1hou shalt not covet.'
ARE ALL RATIONALISTS.
We are all rationa1ists in our treat
ment of the commands of the decaloguc.
We place our own estimate of value upon
them and distinguish between their rela-
tive Importance. Some of them we feel
cannot be violated without incurring the
severest penalty, while others may now
be violated with impuLity. James tells
us that any one of these may serve as a
test of our obedience, ana persistent Vi0-
latlOn of one point of the law is suf-
ficient to bring upon us Coos displeasure.
We have no right to regard the command
against coVetousness as one of the least
of the commandments.
COvetousness is sin that is peculiarly
displeasing TO God. once He showed His
hatred of murder by putting the brand
Of Cain upon the murderer's brow. Once
He directed that the full penalty should
be inflicted upon those who blasphemed
His name. once it is recorded that those
who violated the sanctity of the Sabbath
were put to death. But in almost every
book of the whole Eible there are denun-
Citations of the sin of covetOusness and
terrible examples of punishment for the
crime This may not be because God
looks with greater favor upon these other
sins but because lie realizes that this
is a sin into which men are especially
| liable to fall
Balaam, the prophet of jehovah covet-
ed the rewards of King Balak. He ac-
| Cepted the call to a larger field "but
was slain among the idolaters at Baal-
| peor. Achan coveted the spOls at Jer-
! icho, but his sir brought defeat to the
| armies of Israel and destruction to his
| own household. Sauls CovetousnesS cost
| him his throne. GehaziG brought upon
| him the leprosy of Naaman. Judas want
| ed more money than his position as treas
| urer of the Apostolic band gave him
| opportunity to steal. He sold his Master,
| but he forfeited his position of honor,
| and lost his soul. Ananias and Sapphira
| could not bear the thought of giving so
! much money to the church. They coveted
| both the proceeds of the sale of their
property and the reputation for generos-
| ity and conservation, they kept back
| part of the price while claiming To give
ALL but it cost them their lives.
ROOT OF MANY SINS.
| Coveteousness may he at the root Of
| almost every other sin. 1t drives men
! to murder, theft, adultery. lying, Sab
| bath breaking and idolatry. But Christ
| had none of these sins in mind when he
said to his disciples Take heed and be-
ware of CovctOusncss.' lie was think
ing of a certain wealthy land owner,
| who saw on his fields an unusually large
| harvest and began to consider how Ca
| dispose of it. 1t never entered his head
| that there was anything that he ought
! to do with his surplus or could do with 1t,
| but keep it for his own enjoyment. So
he determined to pull down his barns
and build greater.
And then with the prospect of future
enjoyment in his mind he said: Il will
say to my soul soul, thou hast much
! goods laid up Tor many years; tdkG thine
ease, eat drink and be merry" That
was Christ's conception of "A cOvetous
man, though we would never think OF
applying such d term to him. There IS ne
evidence that he dcfraudod anyone. lie
did not fiji his granaries by "corneTing
the wheat crop and taking money from
the pockets OF the poor to NIL his own
lie raised his crops on his own fields
and his prospect to enlarge his buildings
| would furnish employment for "a large
number of men and make good times
| That man cOVeteCus?
| Why, he is Just the sort of man o
which any community would be proud
We would call him progressive, enter
priSng and honor him with every othc,
within our gift. Yet Christ held him VI
as an awful example 10 enforce Iii,
warning against Coveteousness and repre-
scnted God as calling him a fool. II
what did his sin consist?
Not in extension, not in looking witt
longing upon another's possession, bu
simply giving himself up to a good time
regardless OF the claims which God ha'
upon his wealth. He was an idolater h
woIShipped self. 1t was my fields, m,
barns, my goods, my pleasure, with n
thought of Gods share no sympathy 70
his brothers need. Christ adds 80 /
, every one that Is rich toward this worl
but poor toward God"
, OUR BESETTING SIN.
, This form Of covetousness is one q
our besetting SINS. Our homes are in
7 creasing in luxury. We spend more 4"
/ ourselves every year, ana the amour
! ! devoted to the Lords work, IL not actual
r Is decreasing, Is not keeping pace wit
I | the Increase in our own expenditures
} | Compare the amount which your hand
p have placed in the Lords treasury wit
, the amount which has gone for you
own enjoyment and see If you can cor
F. | Ceye of any "Well done good and faith
l ful servant" waiting for you over yonde
Every church has a powerful minorlt
who contribute rothing regularly TO II
4 lCcal or benevolent work What does thI
mean? II means that there are man