The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-09-12
TIE. SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER is.

Subject: The Rich Fool, Luke Kill, 13.
%3 - Golden Text: Mark viii.. 80 -
Memory Verses, 1921 - Commentary
on the Days Lssson.
10. "One of the company" Probably a
stranger in the crowd, who had been lis
ttenlnlg to the address Jesus had been de-
ilvering to His disciples. Speak to NV
41rother. This was evidently a family
dispute about the property that was to be
divided. We are not told any of the par
tlcularS, but Jesus proceeds immediately.
by parable, to show the result of crafty.
Ing covetous spirit.
Il. Man" Apparently in reproof. "a
Judge or a divider.' In matters of this
nature Christ would not assume either
legislative power to alter the settled rule
termine controversies. This shows that
Chrlst's kingdom is spiritual and not of
this world. 1t does not interfere with civil
powers, or encourage our expectations of
worldly advantages.
Is. Take heed" Covetousness ia a sin
which we have need constantly to watch
against, and therefore frequently to be
warned against. "Of covetousness." All
lnordinate desires. Such disposition of;
mind is never satisfied; for as soon as one.
object is gained, the heart goes out after
another. Mans life consisteth mot, etc.,
Our happiness and comfort do not depend
upon our having great deal of this world.
l. The life, of the soul doth not depend
upon 1t, and the soul is the man. 2. The
life and happiness of the body doth not
things. +tlf,
l6. "a parable" To teach. l. How
short and transitory life isi 2. That
riches re are Of no avail for Prolonging it: 8:
poor, is to be rich toward God. The para
first shows the folly and the second the
sin and danger Of caring for what is be-
yond our present need, which is the char
aGteristie Of covetousness. Brought forth
plentifully." He did not acquire his
wealth dishonesty, but it was given him
by his Creator. What good he might have
accomplished had he used it in a proper
manner insteac: of boarding it up.
II: ,".He thought within himself" The
worldly ricl are often miserable. They
have. !. Discomfort. 2. Anxieties and
losing their possessions. What shall /
do" That his increased prosperity offers
him opportunity to do something for bis
poor brethren, does not even enter his
mind, selishness strikes the keynote. "Be-
cause have no room" The poorest beg
gar in the country, who did not know
where to obtain the next meal, could not
have been more anxious. The more men
have the more perplexity they have with
it, and yet the more anxious they are to
obtain more. ''To bestow my fruits" A
be can set justly, use soberly, distribute
cheerfully, and leave contentedly. One OF
the greatest evils to-day is the spirit Of
greed which has taken possession of so
many. ~.
Is. "This will do" Man proposes. l.
How boastful! He says my fruits, my
barns, my goods and my soul. 2. How
shortsighted! He speaks of many years as
a certainty. 3. How selfish! There is, no
provision made for others. 4. How i'm.
worthy! His idea Of life is low one. in
dolent ease; eating. drinking g. and merry
making Build IgrssateE:n This l;,.S was the the
room for his earthly goods. He was plan
ming to hoard them "alp' up.
l9 II will say to my soul" The soul,
considered as an immortal spirit, was no
way interested in barn full of corn, or a
bag full of gold The soul has exigencies
and desires which these things will in no
way satisfy. "Take thine ease, ETC." This
was exactly the creed of the ancient athe-
lists. What wretched portion for an i'm
mortal spirit! and yet those who know
not God have no other and many of them
not even this. Eat, drink, and be merry"
The ambition of many worldlings seems to
gods of this world. Their chief desire is
to crafty the flesh. What shall we eat?
or, what shall we drink? or, wherewithal
shall we be clothed?" is their principal
creed Paul shows the outcome of such
o life in Phil. 8: l8, 10. .
20, "But God said" Sooner or later
God will sneak, and our worldly plans will
be 'interfered with. "Thou fool" His
folly is fourfold. l.. He forgets God. 2.
He appropriates all he receives to himself.
3. He counts these things soul-food. 4.
He thinks not of death. l. Looking at
this man simply in the light of this world.
He is, (a' Wise, (b) 1ndustfious;, (el
l(gJ Influential. ?. Looking at him in the
light of eternity this wise and successful
man turns out to be fool. He shows his
folly, (a) In his total Misrepresentation of
the true end of life. (b) In his
of the nature and
the necessities of the soul. '(c) In
his mistaken notion of the right use of
wealth. (d) In the proposals which he
makes to himself in respect to time: This
night" Immediately, with no time, for
PpssatHR fbsyt thy soul So thoS osqub5sa sbst be- be-
called upon to leave this world and meet
thy God. He has lost all. He comes be:
fore his Judge with lost name-God
says, "Thou fool" lost soul; a lost world
his possessions must be left behind: and
a lost heaven. "Whose shall those things
be-" It will not matter to him into whose
hands they pass. This is only an emphatic
way of saying that they will not be his. :.
81. $50 Is he" Here is personal appl-
cation Of the truths taught to his hearers
and also to us. This is not an individual
case. All who make this life their portion
and are destitute of the salvation OF God,
same way. "For himself" For himself
only. A covetous man gains riches to
please and crafty himself, with no thought
If the GOOD he ought to do with his wealth.
"Ji not rich toward Cod" Does not lay
m treasure in heaven. We can be rich to-
ward God by turning what we possess
over to God. Prov. 10: II. How thankful.
we ought to be that God has granted
US the privilege OF entering with HIM IN
the work OF saving men from sim. >, ~
o. "Be not anxious for your NE. -. Il.
W Do not allow the things OF this llfe TO
ca;ise undue anxiety and unrest. Prudent
care is not forbidden. but only anxious.
distractinc care. We should be diligent IN
business and vet trust God for all things:
2S. .sThe life is more than meat" The
God who has given the greater thinss-the
lie and the body, will surely give the
smalIer-food and raiment. The God who
nrovides for the ravens, the lilies and the
grass Tvs. 24-2sl will surely provide for
His disciples. The farmer who feeds his
chickens will certainly feed his children.
20 We of little faith, "your Father know
eth that We have need Of these things"
SPAIN TO COUNT TIME. | TO "a.