The Red Cloud chief., 1912-05-02


'he possesseth. .'-Iuke l2:15.
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 tho
poor mans friend. lie 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 II 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 perpctuating 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 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 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 a
moment of time. The sarcasm of
Jesus words Is quite apparent, land
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-
bered, he reasoned. Back upon earth
he had brothers who we're following
his same mode of life. Here he was
suffering. crying for mercy" for an
alleviating 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 It,.
now 1t, the seat Of taste. OF bold words.
ETC., is crying for cooling relief. But
would those behind repent even II 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. 1t is the heart motive where
by we are to be judged. Dives sought
to excuse or to Justify himself ". 80).
but Abraham tells him plainly that
both he and his brethren had had suf-
ficient light. II they will not listen to
| Moses (the Pentateuch) and to the
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 Is greater than these? One
who IL a greater witness to the mercy
and love OF God. .
The disciples were poor In both this
worlds goods and one Of them. Mat
thew, adds that the happy ones are
those who are poor In spirit also. They
knew the meaning Of hunger and OF
privation and were ready to learn OF
him. Jesus is not so much In this IL
lustration trying to give US picture
Of the hereafter. Of the future life as
he is to show the results of our living
|