The citizen., 1900-09-14

IL. "One of the company said unto
Him" 1t was an innumerable multitude
of people who trod one upon another
(verse II to whom He had been speaking,
but they were probably like those de.
scribcd in Isa. xxx, 13; Eek. xxxiii, 81,
honoring Him with their lips, while their
hearts were far from Him; hearing His
words, but not doing them. This man,
at least. had not protited by the sermon,
for his heart was full of covetousness;
things seen and temporal were more to
him than things unseen and eternal. He
called our Lord Master" but saying
"Master" does not make a man q disci.
pie (Math. vii, 81. 22l.
II, 10. Take heed and beware of GOV.
etousness." 1t is written of our Lord
that though He was rich, vet for our
sakes He became poor" QI Cor. viii, 81,
and this lie did that we might forever
enjoy His riches. This covetous man
was the greatest possible contrast ia
Him who emptied Himself and made
Himself of no reputation for us phil. ii,
Z, X. W. He is our life, even life
abundant and apart from Him there is
no real life Il John V, -; Col. iii, 4;
John Y, 10). Solomon possessed an
abundance of all things that wealth could
obtain, but found only vanity and vexa.
ton Of spirit therein. and what can any
man do compared with such a kingi
Qlcel. ii, 1012.) Let us give heed tc
| Tim vi, S; Heb. xiii. ): Having food
and raiment, let us be Herewith con
tent
16, II. "What shall l do. because
have no room where to bestow my
fruits!" Our Lord takes advantage of
the covetous mans question to speak
parable to the people, for He turns ev-
erything to good account. The rich man
of the parable has q center in his life,
and that center is himself and his posses
sions; he has no thought of others or of
giving to them. He does not consider
who gave him his fruits, nor give any
evidence of gratitude to God, nor of any
recognition of Him.
Is, 10. "Soul. thou hast much goods
laid up for many years; take thine ease,
eat, drink and be merry Thus God
heard the rich man talking to himself,
for He knows all the things that come
into our minds (Ezek ri, D; Ps. cxxxix,
4. In this mans thoughts and words
(verses 17-19) there are six is and five
my's. 1t is my barns, my goods, my
fruits and my soul, as if the barn was
for his soul and his soul could live on
fruits and goods. The only life that he
knew was that of eating, drinking and
being merry; dumb brute beasts could en-
joy as much. In Gods sight he was as
one dead, for any one who lives in pleas.
ure is dead while he liveth Il Tim. V. g.;
dead i'll trespasses and sins (Eph ii, /. 4,
81. He knew nothing of the kingdom of
God, which Is not meat and drink, but
Righteousness and peace and joy in the
Holy Ghost (Rom. xiv, 10.
20. "Thou fool, this night thy soul
shall he required of thee Then whose
shall those things be?' Thus said God
to him, the God who gave him life and
breath and all things; but he did not con
slider it acts xvii, %; Dan. V, 23). He
did not know or consider that he was
entirely forgetful of the One who gave
him being, kept him alive and caused his
fields to produce as they did, How many
people live on from day to day enjoying
the gifts and constant care Of Him who
maketh His sun to rise on the evil and
on the good and sendeth rain on the just
and on the unjust (Math. V, 45) and ney-
er think of their Creator. much less of
their Redeemer. who His own self bore
their sins in His own body on the crossl
q Pet ii. 24.) Long does He put up
with such ingratitude, but the time al
ways comes when each one must for
himself meet God. and the word is al
ways a seasonable one. Prepare to meet
thy God" Amos iv, 12).
81 $50 is he that layeth up treasure
for himself and is not rich toward God"
1t is always, in all things, either ones
own self or God. Our Lord Jesus never
lived for Himself, never sought His own
will or glory, nor lived to please Himself
(John vi IS; viii, 80; Rom. XIV, 81. but
did always those things that pleased the
Father (John viii 29). How shall we OBJ
tain this treasure in the heavens thatE
faileth not and have our affections set on
things above, not on things on the earth?
Werses 80, 81; Col. iii, |, p His word to
Nicodemus is the answer We must be
born again or anew or from above; we
mus look to Him who died for us and
truly receive Him, putting all our trust
in His blood. which was shed for us (John
iii, 3, 3, I; i, u; Lev. xvii, II; Acts iv,
12) He is the gold tried in the fire. and
LID - Nht Nnllt ldlnltuN anu lilG eye
salve. We must lay our treasure in the
dust that the Almighty may become our
treasure (Rev. iii, IS; job xxi. "a, %.
r. W.
90, %. And He said unto His disci-
pies, Therefore | say unto you. take no
thought for your life what ye shall eat.
neither for the body what We shall put
on" This is now a special word for His
disciples, who, having received Him. are
rich toward God, being through His pow
erty made rich, and, having forsaken all
for Him, He assures them that God,
who is now their Father. will see that oil
their need is supplied. God, who cares
for ravens and feeds them. and for lilies
and clothes them, will much more feed
and clothe them (verses 24-32) who are
His children. How precious are the
promises of God in this connection! "He
who spared not His own Son. but deliv-
cred Him up for us all, how shall He not
with Him also freely give us all things?"
"No good thing will He withhold from
them that walk uprightly" Rom viii, 80:
Phil. iv, 10; Ps. lxxxiv, H. For a child
of God to be grasping or covetous. as IL
he might not have enough Of this worlds
goods, is very dishonoring to his Father
In heaven. The unselfish child in home
who seems to find his greatest joy in
giving his things to others that they may
be happy will no doubt be well cared for
and abundantly supplied with al N NN&
desire by his watchful and thoAMH
parents How much more will Our
enly Father care for His children
a special manner for all who in quiz
and confidence leave all to Himl
vii, IL: lisa. Xxx, 49, Our lack
quietness is because of our lack 81
mate acquaintance with our Fath6