The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-05-02

GOLDEN TEXT-"A mans life consis-
teth not in the abundance of the things
he possesseth. Lake 12:l5
Last week we were studying the fun
damental principles of this new king
dom Jesus came to establish. Today
our study presents another of his
seeming paradoxes. viz, the blessed
ness or the happiness of poverty, hun
ger and persecution. Spoken primari-
ly to the twelve, Jesus intended these
words for all the people-present and
prospective. Jesus is distinctly the
poor mans friend. He knew the mean
ing of hunger and thirst, of weeping
and mourning, and so contrasts the
Joy that shall be to these "happy ones"
with the "woe" that shall come to
those who from out of their joy and
their abundance fail to respond to the
needs of mankind.
What It Is and Why.
The last half of the lesson is intend
ed to illustrate the teachings of the
first. Let us look at the illustration.
"a certain rich man" He was not
of sufficient 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 as in some manner
he emulates the life and teachings of
Jesus. How few monuments really
perpetuate names. Character alone Is
what lives. This rich man, however,
did not lose out simply because he was
a rich man. Verse 25 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 sumptuously, now he is the
beggar. Ignoring the cry of need al
his gate now he Is compelled to make
his cry afar off.
"a certain beggar named Lazarus
II Is better TO be a beggar vainly
seeking few crumbs and to rest In
Abraham's bosom than to 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
nounced the coming of the Son o
Man, angels welcomed the returning
of this son of mankind. Which of tn,
twain Dives or Lazarus, really enjoyed
life? Eternity Is long time, II begins
where imagination ends. The nam'
Lazarus really means "God.helps" ant
God always does help the poor.
Lazarus had some friends for W,
read that the dogs showed their sym
pathy. 1t is always true that thos
poor as poverty are most ready to re
spond to the cry of need, and out o
their penury will give the most abun
dainty to relieve distress.
Leaves All Behind,
"The rich man died also" Thu
ended his life of ease and luxury 70
shrouds have no pockets. How mucl
did he leave? He left 1t ALL" All O
his loved ones, all of his hopes wer
left behind. There is something al
pallingly sad in the death of ric
man who trusts only to his wealth
having no, faith in God. Millions for
moment of time. The sarcasm @
Jesus words is quite apparent, ian
he was buried" Only a clod of eartf
no longer useful, of the earth, earthly
by him, set him out of sight. Blu
e. o. end all? BY no means
for Wien ne reached the other sid
no d,d not lose consciousness nc
rea ol 40 soul sleeping there. II
ilv, he ctserved, he felt, he remen
Dcl a. Ls re-s0.ed Back upon cart
10 AID b-c,Aa.s who were followin
Is "a wC'c of lie. Here he wa
cu..r4g. yrs for mercy" for a
all Waiting tCuch of cold water, yet /
L" cry there was no note of repen
H-Ce. He and his brethren had live
i1y the tongue and had pampered /
now it. tie seat of taste, of bold words
etc, Is crying for cooling relief. Bu
woIld tl'oce behind repent even II on
were TO rise from the dead? No, e.
cert that they might escape a like to-
ment. The desires of their heart
would be the same. Being out {
states prison is of Itself no particula
honor. The message of Jesus strike
deeper than outward forms and GER
monies. 1t is the heart motive wher,
by we are to be judged. Dives sougf
to excuse or to justify himself ". 80
but Abraham tells him plainly thf
both he and his brethren had had su
ficient light. If they will not listen
Moses (the Pentateuch) and to th
prophets neither will they repent eve
though one came from the dead Thf
being so how much greater condemns
tion must rest upon those who rejet
him who is greater than these? On
who is greater witness to the mere
and love of God.
The disciples were poor in both tn
worlds goods and one of them, Ma
thew, adds that the happy ones al
those who are poor in spirit also The
knew the meaning Of hunger and {
privation and were ready to learn {
him. Jesus Is not SO much In this
lustration trying to give us a pictuI