Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-18

living. He would live on the well-rfed.
worid-accepted principle of Look out for
number one He thought OF the friendship
OF Jesus; but what was the friendship OF q
dying man, as compared with thirty pieces OF
silver, and what the silver could buy? He
would not lack friendship. IL he had the sil-
yer. 1t Is strange how the Look out for
number one theory will justify every selfish
impulse q man may have Every panderer
who lives on the weaknesses OF men-every
harry who preys on the welfare Of women
and chtldren-every gambler who tosses the
lives and happiness OF others into the game
hides back Of this theory of life.
Judas acted on his theory while he forgot
the price he paid. He haggled with the enc
mics OF Jesus over the price of his treachery.
No doubt ho was clever enough to get what
he considered q good price, and went out,
triumphant.
"But Judas had not reckoned with HIS own
soul. He went out alone, for selflshness al
ways sets men apart from their fellows.
Strangely, his mind dwelt more upon his lost
friendship with Jesus than upon the silver
now in his bag. BY all his selfish reasoning.
he could not keep his mind on what he had
gained. The solution of his problem by the
weli-reasoned logic OF selfshness did not sat-
isfy his own soul, and he despised himself,
as generations OF men have since despised
him. Judas was not clever enough to escape
the penalty Of remorse. 1t drove him to
despair.
with the information Judas had given
them. the priests plotted against the life Of
Jesus. and chuckled at the bargain they had
made. Suddenly there rushed out of the
shadows OF the great temple the dishevelled
figure OF Judas. In his despair he had rent
his garments and torn his hair. In frenzy he
dashed the thirty pieces OF silver on the mar
BILE floor, and cried out in a loud voice, Take
it back. for it is the price Of innocent blood!'
The answer was the heartless sneer OF all
those who barter In human life--'What is
that to us? See thou to that And Judas
went out and hanged himself. Judas theory
OF Look out for number one had come down
with crash.
1--WE can now follow Jesns who Is teaching
the world that it is better to give than to 70
ceive.' He was taken by His enemies, given
a false trial, and condemned to death on the
cross. He did not supernatural power to
save Himself, or to punish His enemies. He
gave His life for the world.
Money is hard to give only because 1t Is
symbol OF life. In the logic OF sel1shness, the
life of Jesus was wasted; but God put his
seal OF approval on the life OF Jesus, and the
grave could not hold Him. Today men
everywhere see the solution of the1r problems
in obedience to Him. AS the centuries go
by, His authority is to cover the entire earth.
In the woman who gave in accordance with
her measure; In Jesus, who gave His life:
and in Judas-we have the great issues of
life, Which school Of thinking Is right-ths
school OF Jesus, or the school of Judas?
which kind Of living wastes and which con-
serves life? Every man must answer md
his answer will determine the kind OF a mar
he is.
.May we not put back OF all Of our stnav
and plans for the promotion OF thrift the
high purpose OF our Lord, and, in the host
measure OF our ability, share with others Tia
rewards OF thrifty life?"