Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-06-18

and m Luke 1918. (Read also
entire verse;
The story Of this rich young ruler
Is one out Of the ministry of our Lord
that has made an indelible impression
throughout every succeeding genera.
ton. This is so because It is so vital,
vibrant and vivid a revelation of our
everyday experience. The lesson nat.
nrally divides itself into two sections.
Read carefully the parallel accounts;
Matt. 1s:l6-S0 and Luke lS:lS-S0.
Man Of Courage.
I. An Eager Young Man, W.. t7-22.
This man is an ~arresting figure. Much
may be said in his favor: ~ He was
young Matt. 1922; (2) He was in
earnest came running" ". ~; ~
He was educated. "a lawyer" Luke
1918: az He was rich, Mark 10: %;
(5) He was loved by Jesus, Mark 10:
Fl. That he had lived a clean life is
revealed by the nswer 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.
1t 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 a gift.
Rom. 6:23. We must not misunder.
stand the reply OF Jesus ". lS). Jesus
did not deny being good, John SAG;
1870; S:29, 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-" l. 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-confi.
dent one that though he professed all
these things have I observed" yet he
was mistaken and tremendously self.
So far as he went he made
a correct Interpretation OF his own
need but the skilful teacher revealed
to him his n great lack. His life
was not really controlled by God and
at once Jesus created an opportunity
him to yield himself to a life OF
w~holehearted service. He touched the
vital spot. for the supreme test in the
way of allowing God to rule was 10 set
aside the rule OF wealth, position, and
Last week we were taught to make
trends by "a of the mammon OF
righteousness; that when il shall
all they may receive you into the eter.
lal tabernacles." This is exactly what
christ told this young man 10 do {
Sell give to the poor" By thus t
Ising he would store up treasure in
That he could not stand the
est is evident from v. %. However !
'eyond this simple record We can only I
peculate. We trust. however, that his I
orrow may have been that which
worketh repentance" II Cor. 7:10 G
his much is certain: Jesus presented
0 him his greatest opportunity. Two '
we're opened before him. one
and narrow, and one broad
easy to follow. Which did he a
His n lack may have been a
atal. b