Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-02-13

The Great Teacher taught no ex-
travagance. He was energetic in the
Fathers business and taught his fol-
lowers to be mot slothful in business,
but fervent in spirit, serving the
Lord Nevertheless his teaching in
this lesson is that our energies are
not to take the selfish form of laying
up earthly treasures: We are to lay
up heavenly treasures instead Not
withstanding the reference to moth
and rust and thieves despoiling earth
ly treasures, we understand his teach
ing rather on a higher plane, though
the principle is a broad one. All VIII
admit that it would be folly to lay up
clothing or food far in advance Of
need, except under very peculiar cir
cumstances. But gold might be treas
ured, or money in the bank, or bonds,
or stocks, or farm added to farm, and
house to house, and the same princi-
pie would be involved.
Although no moth could touch the
bank account, nor rust injure the
gold, and no thieves could steal the
title to the property, the principle is
the same. Treasures of every kind
may lose their value-do lose their
value to US, when we die, if not be-
fore. Death, corruption, touches ev-
erything earthly under present condi-
tons, no matter how Careful or
thoughtful the provision. Naked
came we in the world, and naked
must we leave it," Dob 1:21) Intel
lgent people are generally agreed
that God has provided future life
beyond the tomb attainable in the
resurrection morning. And the Scrip
lures teach that the degree of our
blessing then viii stand related to
our use of the present life. 1t is this
point that the Great Teacher empha-
SEED in the study of today All in
| telligent minds assent to the reason
ableness of this.
Let US not take the extreme view
entertained by some; let us not sup
/ pose that the Master taught that the
people might not make REASONABLE
provision for their own comfort, a
that they might not be dependent upS
on charity in old age. Let us not sup
pose that he meant that parents should
be neglected. of their duties toward
dependent members of their family
The Bible Distinctly teaches that "he
who provides not for his own is worse
than an unbeliever." The proper
thought, then, is that it is right to
/ economic and, as st. Paul expresses
it, LAY by in store" for our own future
needs or that we may have to lend to
others, in need. Gods people are to
be frugal, to avoid debts, to be fore
handed" and with some reserve Of
capital
But earthly things are not to be the
treasures of their souls, but merely
their servants, conveniences always
ready for use, for every emergency,
freely, intellectually He who fol-
lows this course will rarely have any
earthly wealth. Only by making
wealth a treasure and setting upon it
inordinate desire can one become
miserly or very rich. Setting the af-
fections on things above would signi-
fy so loose a handling of worldly rich
es as would hinder the accumulation
or preservation Of great wealth.
The Masters words is, that who
ever sets his affections upon earthly
treasures will become sordid, selfish,
earthly; while he who sets his affec-
tons upon the things above will be-
come correspondingly heavenly, spir-
itual, blessed, generous. We have
two eyes, and if they be not properly
adjusted with relationship to each
other our vision of things will be dis
torted Hence we seek to correct
such a difficulty, that we may get the
true view Of matters So it is with
I the eye of our understanding. It has
/ both present and a future outlook.
/ an earthly and a heavenly view. 1t is
important that we get these rightly
adjusted, so that we may see matters
in their true l.ght-see the great val
ne Of the future life in comparison