The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-16
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Making Friends with Mammon
%BIpEE- STUDY ON e.

Making Friends With MammOn
'Be We kind one to another, tender
hearted, forgiving each other, even as
God also in Christ forgave you. "-Ephe
slams, 4:32. r. V.
In a previous lesson we saw that Jacob
willingly, gladly, gave up all of the
earthly riches of Abraham and Isaac,
and left them in Esau's possession, claim
ing only the great promise made to Abra-
ham, and confirmed to Isaac and him
self. That promise was in respect to the
future; it was purely of faith. We do
rot find that, after Esau got possession
of the earthly inheritance, he ever gave
a thought to the covenant, which reads,
I'm thy seed shall all the families of the
earth be blessed
But all the while, that covenant was
the one thing before the mind of Jacob.
His course In life was governed by this
great promise. If the seed of blessing
was to come through him, then he must
have children hence he married and
reared a goodly family. regarding them
all as identified with himself in the orig.
inal promise. His accumulation of flocks
and herds was along the same line.
About 20 years after Jacob had left
home, he returned. under the Lords
guidance, with the focks, herds and
servants which he had accumulated. I'm
der divine direction, he was going back
to the land of his father. Naturally hs
felt timidity respecting Esau and pray
ed to the Lord upon the subject, re-
minding Him of His promise. Then he
sent word to Esau that he was coming.
Next he prepared a gift of considerable
value for those times. How large a pro-
represented we know not, hut these
earthly things cost Jacob long years of
toll.
He could give this goodly portion Of
earthly mammon to purchase Esaus fa-
vor, however. although Esau was in
debted to him. Jacob had purchased the
firstborn's portion, which included the
major share OF Isaac's worldly riches.
These he had left in Esaus hands. The
latter might naturally enough suppose
that Jacob was now coming to claim
his riches-to take possession of the
estate. Had he laid no claim to II.
E<Sdu MOdiu navy JuQScu tllfIl according
to his own standards. and mistrusted
that at an opportune time Jacob would
make an attack. Thus a feud would
have been established between the two
families.
The Wisdom of Jacobs Course
Jacob insisted upon Esau's accepting
the present. 1t would stand as a pledge
of good faith between them. Esau would
be all the more willing to see the pros
perity of Jacob; for he realized that he
| had gotten the better of his brother,
! first by getting the patrimony, and sec.
ondly by getting so rich a present Evil
IDENTIFY Jacobs course was wise. He still
had plenty, and God could give him
more. His chief concern would be the
promotion of the great Abrahamic prom.
Use, the fulfillment OF which lay beyon6
the present life.
The Lesson of Generosity
One lesson which Christians may draw
from Jacobs course Is that of generosity
and benevolence toward those who hav,
no interest in the heavenly promise A.
Jacob willingly set aside all earthly right.
and privileges In favor of the Abrahamit
promise, SO the spiritual heirs should dt
likewise. Jacobs standing with God wa.
very different from ours, however: fol
our Inheritance is different from his. The
Abrahamic promise is to have double
fulfiment. The earthly fulfilment IS tc
come to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and ali
the faithful of the Jewish age; while the
heavenly fulflmen. is to come to Christ
and the church of this gospel age.
| Nevertheless, the general principle holds
good with both classes-that faith in the
promise makes secondary everything else
In life. Hence. as Jacob willingly set
aside earthly rights and privileges in IA
vor of the promise, so should We As he
forsook his fathers house, leaving all to
his brother without contention, trusting
only to the heavenly promise, SO must
spiritual israelites forsake all earthly
hopes and aims in order to obtain joint
heirship with Christ in the Kingdom
As Jacob gladly gave presents to Esau
for the sake Of peace, in carrying out
Gods arrangements. so should we Chris
tiGns willingly give our partners in life.
our brethren, friends. etc. the larger
share Of earth's good things, If thereby
we may forward the Lords cause The
things OF the present NE are the worlds
prize. Mankind knows nothing higher.
We, on the contrary. appreciate the heav-
enly Things. csteeming all earthly things
as unworthy Of comparison. Like ST.