Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-05-03

DOSSESSSLU.
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, hum
ger and persecution Spoken primar1-
" 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
10y 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
deeds of mankind.
What 1t Is and Why.
The last half of the lesson is intend
ed to illustrate the teachings of the
drst. 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
be 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
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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 at
his gate now he is compelled to make
his cry afar of.
"a certain beggar named Lazarus"
It is better to be a beggar vainly
seeking a 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 a 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
patty. 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-
dainty 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 it 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 a
moment of time. The sarcasm Of
Jesus words is 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. 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-
bered 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
alternating touch of cold water, yet in
that cry there was no note Of repent
ance. He and his brethren had lived
for the tongue and had pampered 1t,
now it, the seat of taste, of bold words,
ETC., Is crying for cooling relief. But
would those behind repent even IL one
were to rise from the dead? No, ex-
cept that they might escape like tor
ment. The desires of their hearts
would be the same. Being out of
states prison is of itself no particular
honor. The message of Jesus strikes
deeper than outward forms and cere-
monies. It 10 the heart motive where
by we are to be judged. Dives sought
to excuse or to justify himself ". 500,
but Abraham tells him plainly that
both he and his brethren had had SUI
ficient light. If they will not listen to
Moses (the Pentateuch) and to the
prophets neither viii they repent even
though one came from the dead. That
being so how much greater condemns
ton must rest upon those who reject
him who Is greater than these? One
who is a greater witness to the mercy
and love of God.
The disciples were poor in both this
worlds goods and enc OF them, Mat
thew, adds that the happy ones are
these who are poor IN spirit also, They
knew the meaning Of hunger and OF
priyRttDn and were ready to iearn of
him. Jesus liz not SO much in this fl
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