The Washington herald., 1914-02-28

cubit to his stature. Finally He taught
that such anxiety is unworthy, in view
of what God is in Himself, as revealed
in His arraying Of the lilies, and clothing
OF the grass of the field
He then set forth the true way of life
both negatively and positively. Those
who are living in right relationship with
God are not TO seek satisfaction in ma
terial things, which the. Father knows
they need, and which He will supply.
They are. on the other hand. to seek His
kingdom, and the way OF seeking is first
that OF perfect confidence in the fact that
it is the good pleasure Of God to give the
kingdom to those who constitute His
flock. The way of seeking, secondly, is
that Of selling in order to give, and 50
laying up treasure in heaven.
The Teaching.
It must be clearly understood that
Christs refusal to act as judge and d.
wider did not mean that in the kingdom
over which He rules injustice will be per-
mitted. 1t simply meant that He never
begins by compulsory equalization of pos
sessions. If we bring together certain
words from the request of this man and
certain words from the final instruction
of Christ. VIC shall see at once the false
and the true method of establishing true
social conditions. The mans idea was eX-
pressed in the words. Divide with me-"
Christ's ideal is revealed in the command.
Sell and give aims" The passion OF tbs
man was that OF possessing something
for himself. which another had. but which
he felt to be his right. The passion of
Christ is that Of giving up that which Is
His right, that some one else may be en-
riChed in grace.
This conception and attitude Is built
upon Christ's estimate of what life really
Is. II does not consist in things pos
sesed This is patiently true on the
simplest level of experience. Things pos
sessed are only Of value as life Is strong
to possess them: and life may be exceed
ingIy strong even though II possesses
nothing. Nevertheless the profoundest
secret Of life is that which 1t conceives
to be of value. that which il looks upon
as treasure. Where a mans treasure Is,
his heart will be: that Is to say, whatever
is held as of value becomes the inspira-
ton of activity, and creates the charac-
ter II material possession is looked upon
as supreme. the constant endeavor Of life
will be to obtain 1t, and life itself will be-
come materialized. II. on the other hand,
the kingdom of God is counted as of chief
Importance. then the effort of life will be
put forth for its establishment. and the
life itself will be conformed to its pattern.
When the kingdom Of God Is the CHIEF
concern. no one will be able to charge US
with keeping an inheritance which We
ought to divide. for we shall be eager to
invest everything for the ultimate estao-
iishment of that kingdom
The Golden Text.
As we have seen, the Golden Text 10
the last word OF Jesus in this connection.
II Is the central word of the teaching.
The mans treasure was that of his pos
session The mans heart was set upon
It, The mans strength was employed
in increasing Il. We may superiativeiy
illustrate by saying that Christs treas
ure was the kingdom of God. Christs
heart was set upon its establishment, ana
Christ was ever seeking that end