The Holt County sentinel., 1912-05-03

Last week We we're studying the fun
damentai principles Of this new king
dom Jesus came 10 establish. Todas1
our study presents another Of his1
seeming paradoxes, VIZ, the bleeoedi
ness or the happiness Of poverty. hun
ger and persecution. Spoken primari-
ly to the twelve. Jesus intended thss,
words for all the people-prssent and,
prospective. Jesus 10 distinctly the
poor mans friend lie knew the meane
ing Of hunger and thirst. Of weeping
and mourning, and so contrasts THO
Joy that shall be TO these happy onesS
with the woe that shall come 10
those who from out Of their Joy and
their abundance fail to respond 10 the
needs Of mankind. .,
What Il 10 and Why.
The last half Of the lesson Ia intend-
| ed 10 illustrate the teachings Of ths
| first. Let us look at the Illustration.
"A certain rich man" He was not
Of sufY,cient importance even to men
ton his name. How few rich men ever
succeed In really perpetuating their
names. Not one succeeds In any meas.
| ure at all except a. In some manner
he emula'es the life and teachings OF
| Jesus. How few monuments really
| perpetuate names. Character alone In
| what lives. This rich man. however.
did not lose out simply because he was
a rich man. Verse ~ tells us why he.
was IN anguish. His life had been that
| Of a selfish seeker and he had had
his reward. Now conditions have
changed. Once clothed In purple and
faring sumptuorsly. now he Ia the
bcggar. Ignoring the cry Of need u,
his gate now he 10 compelled to make
his cry afar on.
"a certain besgar named lazarus"
II IL better TO be n beggar va'nly
seeking few crumbs and to rest In
| Abraham's bosom than 10 live In lux.
urious ease, ignoring the cry Of the
needy and to live In hell hereafter
Lazarus did not gain glory hereafter
because he was a beggar. but rather
because Of his character. Angels an.
nounccd the coming OF the Son OF
Man. angels welcomed the returning
Of this son Of mankind. Which Of tho
/
life? Eternity ia long time. II begins
where Imagination ends. The nant
Lazarus really means "God.helps" and
God always does help the poor.
Lazarus had some friends for We
read that the dogs showed their sym.
pathy. II IL always true that those
poor rs poverty are most ready to re-
spond TO the cry Of need. and out OF
their penury will give the most abun.
dainty TO relieve distress.
Leaves Al Behind. ]
"The rich man died also" Thus
ended his life Of esse and luxury for
shrouds have NO pockets. How much
did he leave? He left Il ALL" All Of
his loved ones. all Of his hopes were
left behind. There IL something AZ
pallingly sad In the death Of q rich
man who trusts only to his wealth.
having no faith In God. Millions for u
moment Of time. The sarcasm OF
Jesus words 10 quite apparent. "and
he was buried" Only a clod Of earth.
no longer useful. Of the earth. earthly.
bury him, get him out OF sight. Hut
did this end all? by no meanf
for when he reached the other side
he did not lose consciousness nor
reason. No soul sleeping there. de
saw, he observed, he felt, he remem
bsred. he reasoned. Back upon earth
he had brothers who were following
his same mode Of life. Here he was
suffering. crying for mercy" for an
alleviaiing touch Of cold water. yet IN
that cry there was no note OF repent.
ance. lie and his brethren had lived
for the tongue and had pampered Il,
now Ii. the seat Of taste. OF bold words.
etc, In crying for cooling relief. But
would those behind repent even II one
were 10 rise from the dead? No, en-
cept that they might escape like tor.
ment. The desires Of their hearts
would be the same. Being out OF
states prison 10 Of itself no particular
honor, The message Of Jesus strikes
deeper than outward forms and cere.
monies. 1t Ia the heart motive where
by We are to be judged. Dives sought
to excuse or to Justify himself ". 3O',
but Abraham tells him plainly that
both he and his brethren had had sui
fcient light. II they will not listen TO
Moses 1.-THE Pentateuch) and to tho
prophets neither will they repent even
though one came from the dead. That
being SO how much greater cOndemna-
ton must rest upon those who reject
him who Ia greater than these? One
who IL q greater witness to the mercy
and love OF God.
The disciples were poor In both this