Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-01-24
CA8ToRIA.
B..,s tho H1he Kind You Have Always Bought
Signature ss AaH2ZzzNx
WILL 1T PAY?
Or Lies Balance Sheet. at
the First Met odist Epis-
cOpal Church.

Text Gen. l3:l2-lS. The context gives US q
brief narrative of the business relations of Abra
text, the sign that hung at the door of their tent
was Abraham and Lot, growers of fine stock
But now the hour Of dis olntion, their herds
men no longer agree. Many mans success or
failure is the result of his employees. 1t makes
your business; they may aid, yes they will aid
to prosperity or adversely. The hour of new
business venture is frou.ht with grave RESPONSE
bility. Not only is the future of the person in
volved, but, az mo man liveth unto himself, and
20 man disth unto himself" mans business life
is bound up with the life of his family, his
friends, his community, and his postcrity.
At such an hour man ought to consult the
source of all wisdom. The person who make
On important move, and every business venture
is import, without Gods guidance does it at the
peril of himself and all involved in his action
With God, every life is q success. Without God
every life is a failure The future of Abraham
and Lot seems to have been determined by their
action at this point. If you would read mans
future in the light ofeternity, just find out from
what m"tive he selects his work, and for what
purpose he persues it, Lot chose for himself,
and for 5000 years his life has been fearful
commentary, on the folly of human wisdom.
Abraham asked God tn choose for him and his
life has been q revelation of infinite wisdom
and uumeasured blessing
Lots choice, like the choice of every selfish
and worldly minded person, whether church
member or not, was made entirely along covet-
Gus lines. he looked toward the plain of the
Jordon, Just like you look at given proposi-
ton and ask the all important question, How
much can get out of it, what is the per cent?
What visions must have filled the mind of Lot
as he moved off toward the Jordon. In fancy
he saw his focks and herds increa until he
was styled the cattle king" of the Jordon All
the devil has to do to lead some men to ruin is
na TN ah har1
there is nothing in the narrative to show that
Lot was a bad citizen, or that he was selfish
above Others. Nor ~ there anything to indicate
that there was anything wrong in the possession
of fertile fields or fst CATTLE or even more, that
there was anything wrong in Lot being rich
man, Not Q word agains. wealth in this book
10 the contrary, ire sluggaru, the gut
ton and drunkard are held up as ex-
amples of failure and wont. Some OF
the best men that ever lived were rich
men, Abraham, Job, Solomon, JAG
chaeus were all men of wealth. Lot
no doubt selected his home with the
view to worldly advantage. Off to
the Jordon he moves and the record
warrants US in believing he was ln-
dustrious and as the world goes, sue
cessfal, fully realizing his most san
gulne expectations. When he had
accumulated enough to give him rank
and financial standing in the regions
round about, he did just what many
another person has done since his day.
He moved to the city. Again, there is
nothing wrong in his conduct. He
had perfect right to move to town
The only question being that of mo-
tive. Perhaps he desired better social
and educational advantages, both COM
plimentary to any considerate father
Orspsrchance he saw there was good
opening for q man of push and money,
to engage IN certain lines of business
However we gather from the lesson
that still other considerations prompt.
led his removal to the city. He un-
lcQubtedly had political aspirations; by
tbs way, not bad disease to have,
provided you get cured of it right
away.
| But Lot, the "cattle king" is now
coming to town, all society is in 9
whirl; he must be given a royal well
come. His reception was one of the
grandest social functions in the histo-
~ of the city. 1t makes difference
sometimes, which way you are going.
Lot no doubt made favorable i'm
preston, and was soon elected alder
man, and after serving term or two
was elected mayor Of the city. All
his seems very interesting aud desir
able. And how about the outcome :
AS near as we can come at the results.
70 lost his property, his family, their
character, and he himself lost all tina,
was pure and profitable. Does it paw
0get the world and its applause at SO
great cost? Does it pay?