Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-07-18
CHRISTIAN ENDEAyOR.



Tonc--The needy at doOr.-Luke xvi. 1871
The parable of the rich man and
IA1arus Is the most striking and sol
emn parable of Christ and the one
where most of all caution must be ex-
ercised In its study and Interpretation.
II deals with the future life. of course,
In ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, and the task or
Distinguishing between figure and real
ity Is a very delicate one. Yet some
great truths. relieved of all of the dress
Of the parable, stand out clearly and
prominently. The preceding language
Of Christ proves conclusiyely that this
parable is warning against the serv-
Ice of Mammon and intended to show
that we cannot serve both God and
Mammon. The rich man was not con-
demned because he was rich, but be-
cause he placed his riches In the place
of God He served Mammon rather
than God: he served his money rather
than using It in the service OF his God.
He evidently was an unheliever In a
future. He had not repented. He Nv
ed a selfish. worldly life, as Is proved
by his neglect even of poor. needy
beggar at his very door. Christ's ref
erences to the future. relieved Of all
figures, teach plainly three tremendous
truths:
1. The conscious existence of both
saved and unsaved. There Is no an
Inhalation in this parable even Of the
wicked. .. The punishment OF the lost
is positive and severe. 8. Future pun
ishment is of eternal duration. These
may be hard and unpleasant truths
Int they are here and taught by one
who knew and by the most tender and
compassionate Of all human beings.
Instead of trying TO explain them away
or Of ignoring them because they are
unpleasant let US profit by them and
by trust In God through Christ escape
from the wrath to come.
Besides dealing with such great and
tremendous truths this parable has
some suggestive lessons on the treat
nent of the needy at our door. The
first question to he solved is, Are those
at our doors needy? Every beggar who
appears at our doors Is net Lazarus.
Indiscriminate charity usually does
more harm than good. This topic and
this Illustration are not TO be taken so
literally as to demand OF Us a response
from every pretended needy one who
appears before us. The vast majority
OF the beggars at our doors today are
frauds aud impostors. They ask for
money to buy bread, but they intend to
buy beer. They tell piteous stories of
woe and suffering which would melt
heart OF stone if they We're true, but
they are not true. But the truly needy,
whether their needs be temporal or
spiritual, have peculiar demands upon
us Neglect of these Is an index of
character that Is not Christian. Neg
lect Of these will result In our arraign-
ment before God. God will hold us re-
sponsible for the opportunities TO do
good which He places before us. As
the walls of Jerusalem were built by
each one doing the work opposite his
door, so may we satisfy the temporal
and spiritual wants of the needy at
our doors.
THE PRAYER MEETING.
Have the pastor read and expound
this important parable. Then have a
free and voluntary discussion Of the
phase of it suggested by the topic.
BIBLE READINGS.
Ps. xxxiv. G; XII. 1-3: Eccl tx, 10: lisa
XII, 1920; Math. Y. Al. A.; XIV. 3l-46:
Luke x, 25-37; | Cor. Nv, SIS; Gal. vi,
8, 10; Heb. KILL 1-3.
.ss' ------
Dignity In the Pulpit