Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-10-03
CHRISTIAN EtDEAvOB.

Topic For the Week ezisninx Oct
7.-Comment by Rev. 8. II. Doyle.
IoyIc.-Ricn toward God.-Luke Kill 1921
TUB PARABLE.
Christ had been speaking to she null
titude concerning hypocrisy, the inn
portanee OF dangers that threatened the
soul and Gods proyidential care of His
people In the midst of such a dis
course He was interrupted by one
who had t-ca thinking OF worldly
things while Christ had been speak
ing of spiritual things. The interrupter
asked Christ to make his brother divide
an Inheritance with him, but He re
fused. This was a legal question and
belong - - counts - justice for
settlement, but back OF this aspect of
the case a moral question was involv-
ed. The question was inspired by COW
etousness, aud therefore Christ warn
ed the questioner against this sin and
enforced His warning by the parable of
the foolish rich man. \ rich mans
ground brought forth plentfully. He
decided to Increase his barns to hold
his enlarged products. He exulted in
his riches and decided 10 live a selfish
and sensual life upon them. But God
said: Thou fool: this night shall thy
soul be required of thee Then whose
shall these things be which thou hast
provided? CO IS he that laveth up
treasure for himself and is not rich to-
ward Cod
THE INTERPRETATION
The rich fool in this parable repre-
sents the man who sees in riches the
chief end and aim OF life and not a
means to the end of serving God and
his fellow men. He lives for himself
and desires to be rich for purely selfish
purposes. He places earthly wealth
above heavenly treasure. This man
was not a fool because be was rich
nor because he enlarged his barns
when his crops greatly increased He
WAS a fool because he looked upon his
riches as his and not Gods because
he thought he could feed his soul upon
material substances and because he
took no account of the fact that be
had no indefinite base upon life. So u
every one who, like this man. lays up
treasure for himself and is not rich
toward God.
THE APPLICATION.
This parable sets forth what 1t Is not
to be rich toward God rather than
what 1t Is to be rich toward God. Rich
ness toward God does not consist in
material wealth. "A mans life con-
sisteth not In the abundance OF the
things which he possesseth." man
may be wealthy and at the same time
rich toward God. but mere worldly
riches do not insure spiritual wealth,
but are often a barrier to 1t. Rich
ness toward God is spiritual wealth.
To be rich toward God we must be
erich IN faith" rich IN good works"
rich in the spiritual favors and bless
ings of our God. This is the true
wealth. 1t is net taken from US at
death. but is an eternal possession.
Let US seek to be rich toward God. to
lay up treasures IN heaven. rather than
to lay up treasures for ourselves. our
own selfish aims and purposes. Earth
ly treasures may vanish in a night. but
heavenly treasures endure forever.
THE PRAYER MEETING.
Have the parable explained, followed
by an open voluntary service.
BIBLE READINGS.
Chron. xxx, IA, 10; Job XXI, 24-2S;
Ps. Xxx, Z. s; ILL., 10; Prov. xiii. 4, 5;
Math. vi, 1921; Mark <. 1926; l Tim.
vi. 1919; Jas. ii, so.
We kunvv Ahnnt Heaven