The Green Forest tribune., 1912-05-03

| Last week we were studying the fun daAmental principles of this new King doYm Jesus came to establish. Today ou,r study presents another of his | see eeeming paradoXes, viz, the blessed- neaBs or the happiness of poverty, un- ger and persecution. Spoken primari- | ly tto the twelve, Jesus intended these worlds for all the people-present and pros5pective. Jesus is distinctly the pooit mans friend. He knew the mean ing gof 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 thosa who from out of their joy and their Abundance fail to respond to the needs of mankind
 What 1t Is and Why.
 Thel last half of the lesson is intend ed to Illustrate the teachings of the fl st. Let us look at the illustration. "A dertain rich man" He was not of sufficient importance even to men tion hia name. How few rich men, ever succeed in really perpetuating their names. Not one succeeds in any meals 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
 
 changed. Once clothed in purple andI farfng sumptuously, now he is thel beggar. Ignoring the cry of need att his gate now he is compelled to make his cry afar off.
 "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 hereaft0r because he was a beggar, but rather because of his character. Angels an- nounce6 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, it 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. It 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 ethnd, IoN -f
 "The rich manG 1isd also" M z ended his life.-3f ease and luxury
 shrouds have1lo pockets How mNcf 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 tn the death of rich man who trusts only to his wealth, having no faith in God. Mllioas for 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 raached the other side he did not To Ise- 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 followingl his same mode oF life. Here he was suffering, crying flor mercy" for an alleviating touch Pf cold water, vet in H that cry there wa6 no note of rebeI.1 ance. He and hisv brethren had lived for the tongue aIl had pampered 1t, now it, the seat of taste, of bold words, etc., is crying for lcooling relief. But would those behind repent even if one were to rise from the dead? No, ex- cept that they mighlt escape like tor ment. The desirets of their hearts would be the sanle. Being out of states prison is of itself no particular honor. The messagle of Jesus strikes deeper than outwara forms and cere- monies. It is the hdart nc i've where by we are to be judged. Dives sought | to excuse or to justify himself (v. 30), but Abraham tells him plainly that both he and his brethren had had suf- | ficient light. If theN will not listen to Moses (the Pentatelch) and to tha prophets neither will they repent event ] though one care from the dead.
 The disciples wereI poor in both th x, worlds goods and one of them, Maj T 1 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 a picture of the hereafter, of the future life as ne is to show the results of our living in this present life He shows us over there and that these states are the result of our conduct in the life we now live. Riches are temptation. a temptation to gain by fraudulent means and to spend foolishly. Many young man Is cursed by great riches, all honor to those who overcome that handicap. The temptation for men is to trust to the arm that secures the riches and not to the strong arm of | God. Corporate wealth Is the su- preme peril of America;" so spoke q judge of the Supreme court of the United States. Why is this SO? Be- cause 1t tends to selfishness; 1t tends to the abandonment of faith in God: to the breaking down of any attempt to live the golden rule. The strength 0f America iS mt reprocoptod hr .L.