The Raymer enterprise., 1912-05-02
INTERNATIONAL
SU|ql1lS(BDQL
LESSON
(By E. O. eELLERs. Director of Even
ing Depx1ment, The Moody Bible In
stitute Of 3chicago.)
LEssoNiFoR MAY 5.
POVERTY AND RICHES.

~
LESSON TEXT-Lk. s:ao-2s and 1s:ls-31.
GOLDEN TExT-"A mans life consis-
teth not in ths abundance Of the things
| he possessethf'-Luke l2:l5.
Last weeh we were studying the fun
damental principles Of this new king
dom Jesus eame to establish To-day
our study presents another Of his
seeming parado1es. 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
ling Of hunger and thirst, OF weeping
and mourning. and so contrasts the
Joy that shall be to these happy ones
with the "woe'f that shall come to
those who from out OF their Joy and
their abundance fail to respond to the
needs OF mankind.
Wndt u IL ana 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
rich man. Verse 25 tells US why he
was in anguish. His life had been that
OF a selfish seeker and he Mad had
his reward. Now conditions have
changed. Once clothed In purple and
faring sumptuously. now he is the
beggar. ignoring the cry OF need at
his gate now he Is compelled to make
his cry afar of.
"A certain beggar named Lazarus"
It is better TO be 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 beggar. but rather
because OF his character. Angels an.
nounced the coming OF the Son Of
Man, angels welcomed the returning
Of this son Of mankind. Which Of the
twain. Dives or Lazarus. really enjoyed
life? Eternity Is long time, 1t begins
where Imagination ends. The name
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. 1t Is always true that those
poor as poverty are most ready to re-
spond to the cry Of need. and out Of
their penury will give the most abun.
dantly TO relieve distress.
Leaves All Behind.
"The rich man died also" Thus
ended his life OF ease and luxury for
shrouds have no pockets. How much
did he leave? He left 1t all" All OF
his loved ones, all Of his hopes were
left behind. There is something ap-
pallingly sad in the death OF rich
man who trusts only to his wealth,
having no faith in God. Millions for q
moment OF time. The sarcasm OF
Jesus words is quite apparent. "and
he was buried" Only clod OF earth,
no longer useful. OF the earth. earthly.
bury him, get him out OF sight. But
did this end all? BY no means
for when he reached the other side
he did not lose consciousness nor
reason. No soul sleeping there. He
saw. he observed, he felt. he remem'
red, he reasoned. Back upon earth
had brothers who were following
ame mode OF life. Here he was
ng. crying for mercy" for an
ng touch OF cold water, yet In
here was no note Of repent
md his brethren had lived
'ue and had pampered IT.
at OF taste, OF bold words
FOR cooling relief. Blu,
Ind repent even II one
the dead? No, ex
ht escape like tor
Of their hearts
e.. Being out o.
self no particular
OF Jesus strikes
forms and cere
t motive where
Dives sought
'lmself ". 30)
plainly thai
had had suf
not listen t
nd to thu
repent ever
dead. Tha
condemna
who rejec
ese? On,
the mere,
both thii
I'm, Mat