The Brinkley argus., 1914-02-27
LESSON FOR MARCH 1
TRUSTING IN RICHES AND TRUST
 ING IN GOD.


 LESSON TExT-Luke 2:13-A.
 HOLDEN TEXT-"Where your treasure is. there will be your heart also' '-LuAe l2:A
 The section before us has a very logical progression from the introduc- tory request to the words of Jesus which constitute the golden text. Jesus is still in the midst of ms Perean ministry. This lesson oc- cured but a few months before the crucifxion.
 1. The Iesson w. 1915. "One out of the multitude" desired to bolster his claim to a portion of an inheri- tance. He was sure that his brother needed admonition from Jesus, the result of which would accrue to ms advantage. Jesus made sharp, quick reply. He had been teaching about the sin of covetousness, but by ms answer he intimates that his mission was not to judge men of that or any other sin. His work as judge was to come later, John 5:19-32. There are thousands who for the prospect or personal gain would strictly enforce the ethical principles of the gospel though at the same time they are not willing themselves to abide there under. Covetousness Is a desire to secure moro and it is not confined to the rich nor to the poor. There fore Jesus sounds warning, take heed" (v. 15) e. g., beware. This 1tcn- ing is so gradual and often begins with a desire to possess things that are good of themselves and frequent ly good for him that has possession. But as it creeps in we find 1t becom- ing a great sin. A desire to build up a church, or even to compass the sal vation of loved one, may be anl- mated by a selfish, covetous motive see Cor. 5:1O, II; 6:10, and Eph. 5:3, 5. A mans life consists not or the things possessed ard the desire to get should be lost in the desire to be for the glory of God.
 Tighten Others Burdens.
 u. The illustration, w. 16-21. This warning of Jesus against wrong sense valuations and his suggestion as to the true source of life, are empha- sized by his illustration from life. All material values come from the earth. Mine, forest and field are the sources of all wealth But in this illustration the ground yielded "p:a,4ifully." He took great counsel with himself. In these three verses are twelve personal pronouns. Prosperity is heaped upon prosperity, yet his enterprises were lawful and legitimate for there is no suggestion of wrong methods. The trouble was that in his self-centered pride he saw only the qualification of his material appetites. Any human activity, even the highest, may be- come grossly self-centered. His plans of enlargement were wise ill the sight of men, but he left God out of his cal culations, and this is the common mis- take worldly men are making, Jas 4:13-15. His anxiety, characteris- tic of those who trust in riches, was uncalled for, and the folly of that course was revealed in flash when he was called into the presence of God: "The things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?' Jesus reveals the worthlessness of such motives, the uselessness of such anxiety, and its unworthiness in view of what God is in himself, w. 20, 2l. He who can array the lily and clothe the grass of the field. The place to lay up goods is not in barns, Mark 10:21; the right way to be merry is to tighten the burden of another, and the way to satisfy the soul is not to pamper the body. Read John 4:13, IA; John 7:37-39; I. Tim. 5:6; Jas. 5:5; Rev. 18:7.
 True Way of Life.
 III. The application, w. 22-34. Jesus then proceeds to set before his disciples the true way of life from the positive side. just as in the illus tration he had set before them the negative side. Those who are living in right relationships with God are not to seek satisfaction in the things of time and sense, those things of which their father knows they have need. and which he will supply Phil. 4:19. They are, however, to seek his kingdom and to rest in confidence in the knowledge that it is his pleas ure to give to them that kingdom (v. 32). The way to get is to give, Prov. 11:24 25. This is laying up treasure in heaven. Every man is the judge of his own acts. If they be ac- cording to divine standards, his de cision is wise, if not, the Bible char acterizes that man as fool. It is our sense of values which determines our wisdom.
 w. The teaching. Jesus does not begin in his dealings with the sub jects of his Kingdom by making com pulsory division of their possessions. In this lesson we can see the false and the true method by which to establish right social conditions. This mans idea was to divide; Christ's idea is expressed in the words. "sell and give aims" The pas sion of this man was to possess, the passion of Christ was to give, Matt. 20:28. In the mind of Christ. life