The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-20
rEzqBROKEYN II
NIEABERlNACLE
BIBLE, ,sTUDYtoN 80
Abraham Was Very Rich

II L GtD-Es , OGI ~0f N
Abraham Was Very Rich
Genesis 131-1s-February %.
'fhe blessing of Jehovah, it maketh
rich, and He addeth no sorrow there
with. Proverbs, x:2 r. V.
The Bible teaches that there are not
many rich, not many great, not many
wise, not many learned, who enjoy Gods
special favor, but chiefly the poor of this
world, rich in faith. But whoever con-
cludes from this that God is prejudced
against the rich, or that all the rich are
iniquitous and have gained their wealth
| through fraud, errs grievously His es-
heart. There. are both good and bad rich
men, just as there are both good and bad
poor.
Abraham, though the youngest son of
the family, at the death of his father,
doubtless inherited all that remained Of
| his possessions, including the share of
Sarah, Abraham's wife and half sister.
Some have erred in the study of the chro-
nology of the narrative. Abraham is
mentioned first amongst his brethren be-
| cause of his greater prominence, although
After Abraham had accepted the divine
call and become a sojourner in Canaan,
his fiocks and herds increased greatly,
under Gods blessing. Others OF God 5
servants in the past were greatly blessed
with riches; for instance, Job. But the
blessing of the Lord very rarely makes
wealthy His sanity people during this
gospel age.
1t may be asked Why this change in
Gods dealings? The reply of the Scrip
lures is that up to the time of Christ,
Gods blessings were to men as men. but
since the time of Christ Gods saints are
New Creatures in Christ" The terms of
diseipleship are that they sacrifice their
claims to all earthly riches and blessings,
to become heirs of God and joint heirs
with Jesus Christ to the heavenly inher-
itance.-Romans S:17.
God dealt with Abraham as a friend,
gave Him earthly blessing and promised
him earthly blessings in the future life.
Jesus and His followers, God accepts as
sens. His promises to these are heavenly
| spiritual privileges and hopes in the
present life, and spiritual glory and iri-
mortality in the life to come. Gods favor
to this house of sons, of whom Jesus is
| the head (Hebrews ii:6), Is manifested
often in trials. difficulties, chastisements,
earthly losses and earthly Affections
which they experience, all of which are
| designed to work out for them "a far
| more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory"
| The beauty and harmony of the Bible
| can be understood only by those who
rightly divide the word of truth" and
1 n raf4ff afs .aofx laA M
promises made to the ancient worthless
as distinct from those which appertain to
| the followers of Jesus. To the church
| is the promise made--"To him that over
cometh will | grant to sit with Me in My
| throne'-the kingdom which is to fulfil all
the gracious promises made to Abraham.
Abraham's Friends Not Joint Heirs
| Lot was a man of nearly Abrahams s
age, the son Of his brother Haran. God
did not call Lot, nor any other of Abra-
hams relatives, but merely himself. to
be the recipient of the promises. This did
not hinder Lot from being with his uncle,
but permitted him to share the blessings
of divine providence, which guided Aba
hams affairs
Similarly. the spiritual children of Abra-
ham alone are heirs to the Abrahamic
| ~-~~~~~~->~~~~~~~-~-~
| tend the marriage of Miss Mary Har-
rison and Mr.. j. f. Day.
Mrs. Alfred Dow of Boston. is the
guest of her son, MIR Julian Dow, at the
home of Judge Carmichael, on South
Twentieth street.
| Miss Dorothy johnson, who has been
| delightfully."- entertained during her visit
to Miss Freeman in Atlanta, returned
| home this week.
| Mr.. and Mrs. Luther Glaze of Athens,
Mr.. Benton Woodruff Of Mooresville, Mr..
| Rivers PEBBLES of Jasper and Mr. and
Mrs. j. T. Turrentine and Miss Florence
Turrentine of Athens, Ala, were among
the out of town guests yesterday for the
Coleman wedding
| Mrs. Parrot of Dalton, Ca, is visiting
Mrs. John Cartwright.
| Little Miss Katherine Lynch is at ST.
Nincent's hospital, where she is recov-
ering from an operation for appendicitis
1