Middletown transcript., 1914-02-28


tory request to the words Of Jesui
which constitute the golden text
Jesus Is still in the midst Of his
Perean ministry. This lesson oc
CURED but a few months before the
crucifxion.
I. The lesson w. 1918. zone 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 his
advantage. Jesus made a 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 judge was
to come later, John 5:19-S2. 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 a desire to
secure more and 1t is not confined
to the rich nor to the poor. There
fore Jesus sounds a warning, take
heed" ". 15) 9. G., beware. This itch
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 1t creeps in we find it becom-
ing a great sin. A desire to build up
a church, or even to compass the sal
vation of a loved one, may be anil
mated by a selfish, covetous motive,
see 1 Cor. $40, IL; $40, and Eph.
5:S, 8. A mans life consists not Of
the things possessed and the desire
to get should be lost in the desire to
be for the glory of God.
Tighten Others Burdens,
-. The Illustration, w. 1921. 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 cof11t7 from from the earth
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 is the common mis-
take worldly men are making, Jas.
4:13-15. His anxiety, a Characters
tic Of those who trust In riches, was
uncalled for, and the folly Of that
course was revealed in a 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, 81.
He who can array the lily and clothe
the grass Of the field. The place to
lay up goods is not in barns, Mark
1921; 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
Alb, IA; John 1879; L Tim. 5:6;
Jas. 5:5; Rev. 1877.
True Way Of Life.
llI. 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 t at kingdom
". 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 a fool. It is
our sense Of values which determines
our wisdom.
~. The teaching. Jeus does not
begin in his dealings with the sub
Iects 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
right social conditions.
This mans idea was to divide;
Christ's idea is expressed In the
words, "seI and give aims" The pas
zion of this man was to possess, the
passion Of Christ was to give, Matt.
20:28. In the mind Of Christ, life
loes not consist Of the things pos
sessed, John 6:27. Things have a
value only as life is strong enough to
possess them, but the strongest life
nay not have any earthly possessions.
Where a mans heart is there Is his
Teasure; where his treasure is there
will his heart be also. II the king
ION of God is of supreme importance
hen the chief effort Of life win be
o establish that kingdom. The man
Who is governed by such a motive win
lot be charged with withholding his
Irother's portion Of an. inheritance.
md he is the man who is ever eager
o invest his all for the ultimate estab-
Of that kingdom This man