The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-03
For May is Jesus Sets New Stand
ards of Living 10:1727.
The Quest of the Best

For May D is Jesus Sets New stand
ards of Living. MARK 10:1727.
The Quest OF the Best.
THE Problem of Poverty has be-
come petrified phrase; for cen-
turtles the world has been familiar
with it. Just now, however, we are
hearing strangely little about it. The
problem of today. by curious anom-
ally is the problem of the rich. So
ciety is not half SO greatly concerned
with how to feed and educate the
poor. as with the bigger question of
what to do with the extremely rich,
Russian radicaiism has suddenly pre-
cipitated the subject upon the world
In terms of extreme action. 1t has
proceeded on the assumption that the
wealthy and privileged classes have
forfeited all rights to consideration.
and even to justice itself. A terrible
whirlwind is being harvested from au-
tocracy's long sowing of the wind. OF
sudden, this class issue has come
to be the war looming above the con-
flict in Europe.
This is the topic that gives most
scare-heads to the current issues of
the newspaper The corporations and
their far-ramifying influence are
merely an expression of the problem
OF the rich man. The power of the
plutocrat is a fertile theme for au-
thors of innumerable books and for
magazine writer's who trace most of
the Ills that affects politics, commerce
and society directly to the door of the
man of vast wealth. 1t is undoubtedly
the arrogance and extravaganza of
the very rich that is responsible for
the tide of Socialism that is sweeping
over America. Likewise the formal
entrance of labor unionism into ma
tional politics, thus necessitating an
ominous class cleavage, is due to the
part that corporate wealth and power
have played in legislation.
Looking Up Big Question.
whoever wants to inform himself
upon this great and increasing iAsue
ls bound to look up all available re-
liable authorities on the subject. No
different to it. OF course, it at once
becomes necessary to learn the opin-
ion of the worlds greatest Teacher
of morals and social relationship up
on this question. Which means
rich young ruler is of current inter
est; that it is the present Sunday
school lesson is a timely coincidence.
Jesus, on His way thru the country
east of the Jordan, during the month
preceding His crucifixion, had been
| talking about the Kingdom of heaven.
His words had been very impressive
and alluring, and a certain wealthy
| young man of fine arts, a prominent
| citizen, was so attracted that he came
running to the Teacher, and kneeling
an extraordinary mark of Difference
inquired: Good Master, what shall
I do that I may inherit eternal life ~
Money had not atrophied this
young mans finer qualities. Indeed
rightly used, money is the greatest
means to true culture. On the other
hand. there are men in Wall street
today who VIGOROUSLY have metal
hearts; close and constant contact
with gold has deadened their spiritual
| natures They are now little more
than animated moneybags; mere mis-
ers. Somehow, money has this quail
finest sensibilities. There is scarcely
any fate more to be dreaded by a
young person of noble qualities thar
that of becoming immersed in money
getting and money boarding.
Fortunately this danger had been
| escaped by the rich young ruler
Like the young man who is heir te
Americas largest fortune, he pos.
sessed good impulses and a sense OF
the value of spiritual things. He
wanted more than he had; he was
ambitious for real life, and he had
| learned that possessions do not con-
stitute life.
"'Tis life whereof our nerves are scant.
| 'Tis life, not death, for which we pant
| More life and fuller that we want
Goods and Goodness.
Both goods and goodness were this
| fortunate young mans possession. In
answer to the question of Jesus, he
declared that he had kept the COM
mandmen.s from his youth up. He
must have spoken modestly, and as
truly as he knew how, for Jesus was
drawn to him Ain affection; he was
the type of man whom the Master
70 hoH djSnlnta and
companion.
| So to test the depth of the seekers
desire, Jesus babe him sell what ne
| had and give to the poor, and ther
to Join the band of disciples who fol-
lowed Jesus. This was a severe re-
orirement: it touched the man in his
most sensitive spot. Not until we
come to lay a finger upon the finan-
cial nerve do we prove the 1nnermoS'
character of a person. Plenty OF per
sons are converted-an except thell
pocketbooks AS the phrase has 1t
This Young mans eager devotion was
Lot a "purse-and- all-consecratlon.
Jesus applied the money test, not fol
| the sake of the money, but for thf
sake of the young man. God still asks
for our gifts because He wants US. i
was proof of allegiance to the utter
most that the Master sought.
An underlying principle of rellSicr
is God will not be king at all unles:
He can be king over ALL" Anything
that stands in the way of a free ant
harmonious relation of a human
spirit with its Maker (and oftenest
one might venture to say, this barrier
is money!, must be sacrificed. Goo
is "a jealous Cod" He demands frs
place in the hearts of all disciples
It is vain to hope for the rewards O.
religion here or hereafter so long a!
Cod is denied complete sovereignt,
over our life. This attractive seeke
after truth had a noble pulse; so fal
GOOD: Su. he had not what is equal!
essential the courage to follow tn
truth he found. He wanted life, bu
ne also wanted goods. and in the test
irg. he choso the latter-only to hav'
his property ravaged by the Romans
a few years later
With absolute conviction, it may b
! stated. that the one sufficient remed
! for societys present ills arising from
the greed or heedlessness of tn