Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-07-30
For Sunday Reading.
All Sorts Of Opinions.
Observation-Disclosures
Tho Poor Rich Fool.

Text-So is he that layeth up treas
ure for himself, and Is not rich toward
6iod.-Luke 1921.
The parable which closes with these
words can never be forgotten. To hear
1r read it once is to remember 1t al
Ways The story needs no explana-
ton; it's teaching is unmistakable. IT
is story OF Judgment. Christ had
such a man as He speaks of in view.
Perhaps some of those who heard Him
could remember the sudden death OF a
rich landowner whose unexpected end
had been the sensation of week. He
passes Judgment on his life. The man
who lived and planned thus was fool
The parable explains how it is that
"a mans life consistent not in the
abundance Of things which he possess
eth" It is a poor life whose posses
sions are outward and material. The
life on which judgment was passed was
moor and foolish, because 1t was not
rich toward God. What did it lack?
What qualities We're a-wanting? What
are the proofs OF this rich mans real
poverty?
1. The lack OF thanksgiving. He
was rich, and his ground brought forth
red by feeling Of gratitude. Never a
thought of God as the giver OF increase
comes to his mind. He thinks only of
my fruits" "my goods" my barns"
He speaks only of himself. II" is his
only counsellor. Most likely he attri-
buted his prosperity to his skill; his
sharpness at a bargain, his wise plan
ming, and anxious toll. Perhaps. like
many another, he boosted OF the little
he had when he started life, and spoke
of his present worth with pride. He
did not see that God had any part in
It, That Of itself Is proof OF poverty
"A grateful mind Is great mind. Z
Thankfulness of spirit is one of Gods
treasures. 1t "blesseth him that gives
and him that takes" Pride and pre-
sumption are children q unthankful-
ness. Not to be able to see Gods good
ness is greater lack than color blind
ness 1t misses all the glory OF life.
as color blindness misses all the glory
OF the world To be lacking in thank
fitness means that we are poor in our
selves
II. The lack of helpful service. The
man is embarrassed with his riches.
He has no room where to bestow his
fruits He takes counsel with himself
as to what he shall do. In flash the
answer is found. He will pull down his
barns and build greater, and there be-
stow all his fruits and all his goods.
1t is q resolve to "stow," not "bestow.'
He will carry on business as before.
but on larger lines. No other thought
comes to him. But this, too. is a proof
of his poverty. He has no idea OF CIV
ing. only Of getting; no idea of using.
G ally Of storing. He sees none of the
possibilities that are in his hand. He
has no higher conception of the use OF
prosperity than to store 1t in barn.
He saw not that all gifts are gifts for
men. to be used as such in the service
of God. He never dreamed of stew
ardship or service. The plenty which
came from his fields should have
taught him better The increase came
not from slowing, but from sowing.
Had he used his means as he used his
grain. putting them out to. service in
the help of man, true riches would have
come to him. He would have been rich
toward God and rich in himself.
III The lack of any worthy outlook
or interest. What are his thoughts for
the f,lturep What hopes and plans