Middletown transcript., 1914-06-20

GOLDEN TEXT-'FYe cannot serve God
and mammon." Luke 1913. Read also
entire verse.l
The story Of this rich young ruler
is one out Of the ministry of our Lord
that has made an ffrdelible impression
throughout every succeeding genera
ton. This is so because It is 30 vital,
vibrant and vivid a revelation Of our
everyday experience The lesson nat
urally divides itself into two sections.
Read carefully the parallel accounts;
Matt. 19:16-S0 and Luke 1S:1S-SO.
Man Of Courage.
!. An Eager Young Man, w. 1922.
This man is an arresting figure. Much
may be said in his favor: ~ He was
young (Matt. 1929; (2) He was in
earnest. "came running" ". I'D; (S)
He was educated, "a lawyer" Luke
1878; "a He was rich, Mark 1922;
(5) He was loved by Jesus, Mark 10:
21. That he had lived a clean life is
revealed by the answers he made to
Jesus. Moreover he must have been
man Of some courage, belonging as
he did to the ruling class, the Phari-
sees, yet he came running into the
presence Of Jesus and cast himself at
his feet. We need but to recall that
this class was at this time definitely
hostile to Christ, yet this young man
dared to speak the conviction Of his
heart in this public way by calling
Jesus, good" We feel that he was an
honest seeker after life. His question
reveals the unrest of the human heart
It matters not what men may possess
of wealth or position, these things do
not bring heart rest. Great moral
courage, noble aspirations and benevo-
lence never will save nor fully satisfy
the human soul. Man does not obtain
life by doing, Gal. 2:16. Life is gift,
Rom. 6:23. We must not misunder-
stand the reply of Jesus ". 1S). Jesus
did not deny being good, John s:46;
1890; 1929, but he saw that this
young man was filed with the idea
Of his own goodness. To say that Jesus
was good was practically to say he
was God, and this the young man did
not mean. Jesus sought to reveal to
him his careless use of words. Jesus
undoubtedly here lays claim to deity
and subsequently he said, ". 21) "fol.
low me-" /. e., for this man to yield
his life actually to the control Of God.
Jesus began where the young man
lived, within the law, the spirit of
which is "do and thou shalt live" but
he quickly revealed to this self-conf-
dent one that though he professed "all
these things have I observed" yet he
was mistaken and tremendously self
deceived. So far as he went he made
a correct Interpretation of his own
need but the skilful teacher revealed
to him his one great lack. His life
was not really controlled by God and
at once Jesus created an opportunity
for him to yield himself to a life Of
wholehearted service. He touched the
vital spot, for the supreme test in the
way Of allowing God to rule was to set |
aside the rule of wealth, position, and
selfishness.
Last week we were taught to make
friends by means Of the mammon Of
that when It shall !
fail they may receive you into the eter-
nal tabernacles." This is exactly what |
Christ told this young man to do. |
"Sell give to the poor" By thus
using he would store up treasure in
heaven. That he could not stand the
test 4S evident from ". %. However,
beyond this simple record we can only
speculate. We trust, however, that his
sorrow may have been that which
~worketh repentance" II Cor. 7:1O.
This much is certain: Jesus presented
to him his greatest opportunity. Two
paths were opened before him, one
straight and narrow, and one broad
and easy to follow. Which did he
take? His one lack may have been
fatal.