Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-01-08
SATURDAY NIGHT
SERMONS 5
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UNNECESSARY BAGGAGE.

|
Text Regard not your stuff."-ten
xiv, 20.
| Stuff has come to mean the value
less, the hardly worth while. Il won,
accept such stulf," says the housewife
to her storekeeper. Il won't eat such
stuff" snlks the spoiled child. "You
! can't tell me such stuff" says the
knowing one. The mother emptying
her boys pockets Of string. bits OF
glass, horse chestnuts. nails. ETC.. says,
"Why. Tommy. such stuff" When
you go to move you start bonfire in
the yard Or call in the rag man. YOU'RE
not going to move ail that stuff! 10.
seph is down in Egypt. rich. powerful.
prime minister. sits next to. Pharaoh
on the throne. He Is going to send up
to Canaan for his father to come live
at Goshen. the rich country Of Egypt.
The king Is interested and sends a
special message: Come down here
and live. Bring all that Is worth while,
but don't bother with unnecessary
things: regard not your stuff; all the
good Of the land OF Egypt is yours
Think Of the load Of stuff Jacob would
accumulate in his long life-wornou:
leather water bottles. old tents. thread.
bare blankets. rickety wagons. house.
bold equipment. broken down camels
and such things. Gods In heaven
Full Of mercy, he sends his conveyances
and our elder brother to bring us to
the rich lands of heaven-and, oh, the
stuff we would take along!
Heavens Values.
Here comes an earth pilgrim putting
up the celestial road 10 the gate Of
heaven. In his pack be has farm,
two corner lots, some gilt edge stock,
a fine bundle of mortgages and bonds
and some other valuables. what
stuff's that?" says the angel at the
gate. Stuff" gasps the astonished
pilgrim. THAT'S my property-what
was worth when l died down yonder.
l spent fifty years accommodating all
that; many's the sacrifice l made to
do it too" II don't doubt that" re-
plies the gateman. but it doesn't pass
current here. That isn't the coin Of
this realm. Here's another mortal I'm
afraid has made the same error" A
second pilgrim has pumped down his
pack with an air Of confident assur-
ance. what have you there, friend"
asks he of the shining robe. Its some
baggage l thought would need-my
good intentions, my excuses for sins,
my prejudices. my theology. my big
otry and my righteousness. ] thank
goodness am not as other men are
this worldly fellow, for instance. with
his vulgar material possessions" my
good friend" replies the heavenly por'
ter you've Numbered. like the Phari'
sees of old. Your error is as great as
your neighbours here. He brought ma
terial things instead of spiritual. and
you have brought only the shadow OF
spiritual things-rather. an imitation OF
them. That catechism under your arm
and that church letter sticking from
your pocket are good things, Of course.
but only as they stand for something
real possessed. just as your dollar
mark stands for a dollar, but isn't
dollar. You've carried up husks-
stuff"
Excess Baggage.
The railroad company puts on your
ticket the amount Of baggage you may
carry; beyond that is ''excess baggage"
Ever watch travelling salesman
netting" his trunks? We humans are
great baggage carriers. We're leaving
Sodom. Of course, but loaded down with
trinkets, like Lots wife and daughters.
Heaven knows we must carry burdens
enough with our responsibilities to the
state, to society. to our families. The
tasks of everyday life are large too.
When you add sickness and misfor-
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