Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-02-26

GOlyDEN fsh "hNt
Is, there will be your heart also."-Luk
1924.
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 his
Perean ministry. This lesson &C.
Cured but a few months before the
crucifxion.
l.. The lesson w. 1915. "One out
of the multitude" desired to bolster
his claim to a portion OF an inheri'
lance. He was sure that his brother
needed admonition from Jesus, the
result of which would accrue to MS
advantage. Jesus made a 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 mon Of that or any
other sin. His work rs a judge was
to come later, John 1882. There
are thousands who for the prospect OF
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. ~Coyetousness 10 q desire 70
secure more and 1T Is not connneo
to the rich nor to the poor. There
fore Jesus sounds a warning, take
heed" ". 15) e. g., beware. This itch
ing is 80 gradual and often begihs
with a desire to possess things that
are good of themselves and frequent
" 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 aver to compass he sal
walton of q loved one, may be AM
mated by a selfish, c~ovetous motive
see I Cor. $40, IL; 6:1o, and Eph'
5:s. S. A mans life consists not OF
the things possessed and the desire
to get should be lost IN the desire u
be for the glory of God.
LIahten others Burdens.
u. The Illustration, w.. 1921. n
warning of Jesus against wrong sense
!. valuations and his suggestion as &c
the true source of life, are empha
:. sized by his illustration from life. Al
material values come from the eartn
Mine. forest and field are the sources
of all wealth. But in this Illustrator
, the ground yielded "plentifully.' III
: took great counsel with himself. ii
these three verses are twelve persona
\ p~ronouns. Prosperity is heaped upol
prosperity, yet his enterprises Wer'
lawful and legitimate for there Is NJ
suggestion of wrong methods. IN
trouble was that in his self,centere'
pride he saw only the gratihcation o
his material %appetites. Any huma'
activity, even the highest. may d.
come grossly s~elf-centered. his pian
of enlargement were wise in the sign
of men, but he left God out OF his ca
culations and this is the common mls
take worldly men are making, Jas
4:13-15. His anxiety, a characters
tic of those who trust In riches, wa
uncalled for, and the folly or tina
II course was revealed IN a Hash whe
he was called into the presence
q. God: The things which thou nas
n. prepared. whose shall they be
Jesus reveals the worthlessness
such motives, the uselessness OF sue
6 anxiety, and its unworthiness IN We
= of what God is in himself, w. 70, z
. He who can array the lily and clotn
the grass of the field. The place l
lay up goods is not in barns, Nal
1921: the right way to be merl
~ Is to tighten the burden of anothe
u, and the way to satisfy the soul
not to pamper the body. Read Jon
:. Ala. IA: John 1879; /. Tim. o:t
Jas. SIS; Rev. 1877.
True Way Of Life.
III. The application, w. 22.s
ID Jesus then proceeds to set before n
an disciples the true way OF life tro
in the positive side, just as In the lllu
tration he had set before them u
he negative side. Those who are hvli
in right relationships with God a
at not to seek satisfaction In the thin
of time and ense, those things
IN which their father knows they ha'
need, and which he will supply, Ph
nd 4:19. They are, however, to SCI
his kingdom and to rest IN connden
in the knowledge that it Is his pie'
an ure to give to them that kingde
". 32). The way to get is to gi'
Prov. 11:24, rs. This is laying
as treasure in heaven. Every man Is
he udgeo of his own acts. II they be
on corning to divine standards. his
ng cision Is wise, If not, the Bible en-
or acterizes that man as a fool II
ice our sense of values which determiI
ter our wisdom.
he ~. The teaching. Jesus does
begin In his dealings with the s
to iects of his kingdom by making &C
pulsory division Of their possessio
len In this lesson we can e the IA
to and the true method by which
establish right social conditio
This mans idea was to divide
Christ's idea is expressed In
ia words. "sell and give aims" The ?
ord sion of this man was to possess,
sia passion of Christ was to give, MI
.tic 2O;2S In the mind Of Christ,
as does not consist of the things
sessed. John 6:27. Things have
de-. value only as life is strong enough
ced possess them. but the strongest
,ep. may not have any earthly possessie
Ida Where a mans heart is there is
i'm. treasure; where his treasure Is tn
will his heart be also. II the X
dom of God is of supreme importa
then the chief effort Of a life Will