The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1910-02-10
Sfo4O+oto+o+o4o+o+ +o+ofO+ 90
FINANCES OF KINGDOM.
International Bible Lesson for Feb. "a.
'10.-(Matt. 6:t9-34).


own kingdom Ithaca. One of the dan
gers which the great warrior encount-
cred was the peril of sailing his ves-
sci between Scylla and Charybdis.
Scilla was snaky female monster
who dwelt In cave high up on q cliff.
from whence she was accustomed to
thrust forth her long necks, for she
had six heads, and in each of her
mouths to seize one of the crew of
every passing vessel On the other
side OF this narrow strait was another
monster, Charybdis. who was in real.
ity a whirlpool. which three times a
day drew the water into a frightful
ch1sm. from which not even Neptune
himself could protect and rescue any
illfated ship. So there was q fright.
fu peril on either side OF the narrow
passage to guard against. And the
poet says. that while Ulysses and his
men were keeping strict watch for
the whirlpool they forgot the six
headed monster Scylla. and were only
made aware of the danger on that
side. when six of the sailors were
snatched out of the boat and borne
away shrieking to her den. Thus we
get the proverbial expression. "IIe
runs on Scylla, wishing to avoid
Charybdis."
Money and Trust.
In the teachings of Christ. In tho
Sermon on the Mount, we meet with
statement concerning the finances
OF the kingdom. that this old story
seems vividly to Illustrate. The sub
jects of the kingdom of heaven are
nevertheless in this world, and they
cannot do without the things OF this
world, money, property, possessions.
houses, lands. real estate wages or
income, whatever form their acquis.
tions may take. They have to eat and
drink and wear clothing and pay
house rent and taxes and support
those dependent upon them. They
cannot cut themselves loose from the
use of money, from its possession and
its employment.
On the other hand real piety and
trust in a Heavenly Fathers care
cannot possibly have anything in com
mon with feverish anxiety. worry, PEI:
plexity, nervous prostration over the
bread question. or a wild and selfish
scramble after the Almighty Dollar.
The path between these two extremes
you observe, Is straight and danger
Gus. 1t is like the voyage of Ulysses.
On one side the whirlpool; on the
other side the rock. The yawning Jaws
Of Scylla are on this side, the engulf
ing waves of Charybdis are on that
side. In trying to escape this peril.
we must keep a sharp LOOK out for
that.
On the one side must be Stunned
the Scylla of greed on the other side
the Charybdis of care. The one is
the real danger of seeking TOO much,
the other the supposed danger Of hav.
ing too little of the good things OF
life. And this is not as some suppose
one caution for the rich and another
for the poor. For the rich may be
eaten up with care and anxiety and
worry in his desire to keep what he
has and to get little more; and the
poor may have his heart as anxiously
and sinfully set upon the increase OF
his dimes as the other man upon his
millions. 1t is not a question of classes
but of qualities of soul.
Commercialism Condemned
The warning on one side Is against
making money our treasure. TIVE
literal translation is, Treasure not
for yourselves treasures upon the
earth" It Is not prohibition OF
wealth but prohibition OF wealth ~
treasure, And this for the reason
that such treasures will perish they
will darken the spiritual vision and
they will destroy the heart; to set The
heart upon the world means to siyo up
the kingdom, for no man can 2c!ve
two masters. 1t Is true of many
man that riches possess the mon
rather than man tho riches. He Is Tie
bond slave of his pocke;book
Anxiety Reproved.
That Is one side of It. The other
side is. warning against anxiety
The words "Take no thought" in thet
day meant to everybody "Be not over
anxious" In other words. DO not
I'LL your life with worry. do not be
slave to anxious care. Look at the
Dirds. and the flowers in their free
dom from covetousness, and discon
tent. We cannot escape from trou
Die, but we can avoid crossing the
bridge until we come to 1t. A vas,
amount of trouble in this world is only
imaginary, we suffer because We per-
sist in bearing not only the troubles
we have now, but those we had yes
terday and those we are going to
nave tomorrow. Sufficient into the
day is the evil thereof. Don't trouble
trouble till trouble troubles you
II Is we'll to remember that the
eye that watches the sparrow will not
overlook us. In sailing along over
this sea of life keep one eye out for
scylla and the other for Charybdis.
Foresight.
Christ does not forbid foresight and