The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-08-15
Sunday-schoo1.
THE RICH YOUNG RULER.
August g. 1906. MARI 17.a,
GOLDEN TEXT.
Mark X. 1871.

>6"S' ~ AoVo' Mark X. 1871.
GOLDEN TEXT.
III any man will come after me- let him denv him
self and take up his and follow me-
-Math. xvi. "a
DAILY HOME READINGS.
M.-Mark X 2-l6 Tb-Juke viii; 10 On
T-Mark X. l7-3I F-Proys WV 10
W-Math. XIX 1850 Sat- Tim vi GIG.
SUM- Cor. 49,
We have had several of the parallels of our Lord
for our lessons-The Prodigal Son, the Poor Widow
and the Pharisee and the Publican To-day we have
not a parable, but narrative, incident In the
life and ministry of the Lord Jesus 1t is the story
OF young man, whose position and character were
exceptionally good And it is evidently selected be-
cause it is rare case of earthly prosperity and of
approved moral character.
l. HaDing many things, get not happu vs. 1920
when He going FORTH" ''as He was going"
there came one running" He is called the 'young
ruler" He had youth, position riches (great pos
sessions) culture, morality oveableness sincerity
earnestness, benevolence and aspiration after the
his spirit generous his dealing with his fellows,
that it is said "Jesus loved him." That was the
claim of his excellence. He the affection of
Him who was "holy, harmless undefled and separate
from Sinners Yet he not happy. With a
combination almost without parallel among men, he
was not satisfied. He came running in his ardour,
and "kneeled' in his "Good Master,
what shall I do that may inherit eternal life?''
That eternal life obtained by something
edo" He did not know the gospel of grace
which teaches "that a man is not justified by the
works of the law but by the faith of Jesus Christi
Jesus began his instruction He at turned his
words back him, asking ''Why callest thou
good?" If you mean what you say you would know
chat there is good but Cod He awakened
in the heart of the young the great question
to the divine nature of Jesus. Then he sent him to
the law, repeating the commandments He spoke of
"dong.' The law is the way of "doing." What
does your conscience say to your obedience to the
law? The law sayeth these things to them under
the law, Romans iii. 49, chat every mouth may be
stopped and all the world may become guilty before
God" This is what the young man needed-to have
his mouth stopped of all his boasting and his self
righteousness. "Ail these things have observed"
he said. He was honest, but altogether mistaken
2. lacking thing, and therefore lacking ALL
VS.. 81, 22.-There much to admire, yet Jesus
was not satisfied. "Jesus' love for him did not pre-
vent his dealing faithfully with him. "One thing
thou Iackest." Many do not think it serious thing
to lack thing. Yet that lacking thing may
be fatal. He lacked faith in Jesus Christ and
love for Him that supreme He would do much
at the bidding of Jesus but not ALL Jesus deals with
him wisely and faithfully to open his eyes and
show him that there was something he held in high
est esteem, that between him and Christ. eco.
sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor" His
riches were his idol, and Jesus put his finger it.
He always asks those who would follow him to give
I'D something 'Deny myself and take up thy
crossl" He would say to the young man, ''Don't you
see that you love your wealth more than you do
me?" Can you surrender it all, and break this tie
that binds you to the world, "and and follow
mel" Love to Jesus makes it easy to give up any
thing for Him. '"The love of Christ constraneth
u.s."
g. The peril of riches VS.. 1881. Looking round
about Jesus teaches his disciples and all the world
to the end of time, the great and awful danger to
the soul which from earthly riches. "How
hardly shall they that have riches enter into the king
dom of Cod" Most willing to run the
risk And many men have lost their souls by run
ming this risk. Wealth and piety seldom go hand