The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-07-09
be true. He judged that this must be the
truth because it was about the worst thing
L.. hrothnr could do

be true. He judged that this must be tho
truth because it was about the worst tning
his brother could do.
In this world of ours we are compelled
to make assumptions, to choose between
views either OF which may be correct.
So far as the great mass OF things IS con-
cerned. there is no way OF getting absolute
proof beforehand. We must assume and
see. Now. concerning men and things,
good assumptions and bad assumptions are
possible; but as a matter OF general attl-
tude OF mind and heart toward things only
one way is safe. That is, to put the very.
best possible construction on the lives OF
men and the working OF things. This. y
a word, is Christian faith. Christian
faith does not start by proving things.
1t assumes the best. If 4 man Is actually
manhood which is. in almost every. case,
a possibility. Jesus called Judas FRIEND.
and accepted his kiss even on the night
of his betrayal. Christian faith looks ont
upon the working of the entire universe
and assumes that they are righteous. In
that trust is found peace.
Suppose one were to assume IN dealing
with men that all men are liars: 1t can
not be proved beforehand that all men are
not liars or even that any one man Is
absolutely truthful; but how hopeiessiy
lost in his dealings with men would be
the one who should start with the assump-
ton that all men are liars! The safe
path IN the long run is the assumption
that there is good in all men and that tire
good can be reached and made better.
In particular cases this may fail. but it IS
in general the only Christian view. He
who, like the elder brother, holds to the
idea that the returning prodigal is hope.
lessiy and ir-etrievabiy lost, is himself
wandering in the wilderness far from
safety.
Lastly, the l~ostuess OF the stay-at-home
appears from his thought of reward.
Thou never gavest me a kid" The elder
brother seems to have been serving with
the thought OF material pay. He was
doing the work for what he could get out
OF it. His thought of reward moves along
a low plane. Jesus condemned Pharisalsm
because of its low view of reward. The
taskmaster was to pay at the close OF the
day. Similarly some of us seem at times
to think of heaven as a place OF material.
and rather earthly prizes. And again: to
elder brother was lost in placing emphasis
upon an extraordinary forgiveness and
welcome as of more than the favor o. the
fathers continued and ever present affec-
ton. 1t is sometimes suggested that one
of the important lessons of this parable
is it's rebuke of the Christian who COM
plains because the contrition of the return
ing p~enitent sometimes is rewarded by
more Of e~cstatic blessing than is his own
long continued service of God. However
this may be as a matter Of strict exegesis. it
is perfectly clear that the thought which
rates the exceptional manifestation of in,
terest as of more value than the continued
favor of the fathers presence, wanders far
astray. "Son, thou are ever with me, and
all that is mine is thire." This is the great
reward, the favor of companionship and
partnership with the Father spiritual
benefit and blessing, beside which all ma
terial things fall into nothineess. The prin-
c;pal reward is spiritual. We are not to
think of paw but OF companionship with
the blessed God! Any thought of reward
lower than this is lost. There is s sense
in which the stav-at-home was as prodigal
as his brother. With his niggardiy thought
of lower reward, he recklessly overlooked
and wasted the companionshiD and love
which were poured out around him. There
were two prodigals in the family. 1t would
be rather a difficult task to decide which
was the worse.