The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-02-26

The section before Us has . very
logical progression from the introduc-
tory request To the words Of jesus
which constitute the golden text.
Jesus 10 still in the midst of his
Perean ministry. This lesson 90
CURED but o few months before the
crucifixion.
I. The iessen w. 1915. Ono out
of the multituds" desired to bolster
his claim to q portion Of an inhsri-
lance. He was sure that his brother
needed admonition from Jesus, the
result of which would accrue to his
advantage. Jesus made sharp, quick
reply. He had been teaching about
the sin of covetousness. but by his
answer he intimates that his mission
was not to Judge men of that or any
other sin. His work as Q Judge vas
to come later, John b:1s-32. 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. Covetousness is q desire to
secure more and 1t is not confined
to the rich nor to the poor. There
fore Jesus sounds q warning. take
heed" ". 16) Q. &. beware. This Itch
ing IL 90 gradual and often begins
with q desire 70 possess things that
are good of themselves and frequent
ly good for him that has possessjon.
But a. 1t creeps In we dnd 1t boom
ing . great sin. A desire to build up
q church, or even to compass the sal
walton of q loved one. may be ami
mated by q selfish. covetous motive.
see l Cor. $50. IL: $40. and Dph.
$50, s. A mans life consists not OF
the things possessed and the desire
to oct should be lost In the desire to
bs for the glory of God.
Tighten othsr's Burdens.
~. The illustration, w. fe-2t. This
warning of Jesus against wrong sense
valuations and his suggestion - to
the true source Of life, are empha-
sized by his illustration from life. All
material values como from the eayth.
Mine, forest and field are the sources
Of all wealth. But In this illustration
the ground yielded "plentifully." 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 in the sight
OF men, but he left God out Of his cal
culations. and this Ia the common mis-
take worldly men are making, Jas,
4:1315. His anxiety, q Characters
tic of those who trust In riches, was
uncalled for, and the folly Of that
course was revealed In a fash when
he was called into the presence OF
God: The things which thou hast
prepared, whose shall they BET
Jesus reveals the worthlessness of
such motives. the uselessnese Of such
anxiety. and it, unworthiness In view
of what God 10 In himself. Wv. 20, II.
He who can array the lily and clothe
the grass of the field. The place TO-
lay up goods 10 not in barns. MARI.
1921; the right way to be merry
is to tighten the burden Of another,
and the way to satisfy the soul 10
not to pamper the body. Read John
ALB, Il: John 7:aT-ss; ]. Tim S:s;
Jas. SIS; Rev. 1877.
TIVE Way Of LIE.
~. The Application. w. 22-S4.
Jesus then proceeds to set before his
disciples the true way Of life from
the positive side. Just a. In the illus
tration he had set before them the
negative side. Those who are living
In right Relationships with Goa are
not to seek satiefaetion In the uinss
Of time and ssnsA those things OF
which their fAther knows they have
need. and which he viii supply. Phil.
4:1s. They are. however, to seek
his Kingdom and to rest In confidence
In the knowledge that II Ia his pleas
ure to give 10 them that Kingdom
". 32). The way to get In to give,
Prov. 1l:24, 2S. This 10 laying up
treasure IN heaven. Every man IL the
judge Of his own acts. II they be &C
cording TO divine standards. his de-
cision is wise. II not. the Bible char
acterizes that man ~ . fool. IL 10
our sense Of values which determines
our wisdom.
~. The tsaehIas- 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 10 expressed In the
words. "sell and givs aims" The pas
sion of this man was to possess. the
passion of Christ was 10 give. Matt.
2o;2s. In the mind Of Christ. life
does not consist Of the things pos
sessed, John 6:f7. Things have .
value only as life u strons.