The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-01-14
LESSON FOR JANUARY is
OUR ALL FoR THE KINGDOM.

OOH ALL FUN 7 he KINGDOM.
LESSON TExT-Matt 1s:16-3o
GOLDEN TEXT-Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself.-Matt. 1878
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Matt 6:l9-
n.ls. 4; i''-i'' MARX U''S-''' ! 1'm' ''s' No.
PRIMARY ToPIc-Jesus the children's
Friend.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Gaining by Giving.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Money, a Help or = Hindrance.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Money and the Kingdom.
Our lesson title Is likely to be mis-
understood and therefore the teaching
misapplied. Christ did not directly
nor by implication teach that eternal
life could be obtained by parting with
possessions.
!. The Young Man ". 18).
For a full view of the Characters
tics of this man see Mark 10:11-3O and
Luke 1S:1S-3O.
l. His virtues. t1) Courageous
(Mark 1O:1D. He was Of high stand
ing-a rich young ruler (Luke 8:18,
23). To come to Jesus at this time
meant ostracism from the Jewish COM
monwealth. (2) Earnest mark 10 :17).
He came and knelt before Jesus. (3)
High aspirations ". 16). He wanted
eternal life. Though much taken up
with the things of this present life,
he felt the need of preparing for a
life beyond. "a Pious and moral
". 20). From his youth up he pro-
fesses to have conformed to Gods holy
law. (5) Confidence in Christ ". 16).
He believed that Christ could inform
him of the good things" to be done
to inherit eternal life.
2. His errors. (1) About Christ
". 16). He esteemed Jesus to be good,
but did not apprehend Him as God.
(2) Concerning himself. He was self
righteous. He thought he was good
and could do something good. (3)
Concerning eternal life. He had de-
fective theology-he thought that
eternal life could be obtained by good
works. He did not know that the
only way to get eternal life was to
receive it as a gift from God (Rom.
6:23).
u. How the Lord Dealt With Him
(vv. 1922.
1. His Question-"Why callest thou
me good?" ". ~. His object in this
was to lead the young man to correct
apprehension as to who He was. Be
fore giving him a chance to answer.
He declared that only God was good.
as If to say. II am good and there
fore God" If He Is not God He is
not good; for II He was not what He
professed to be He was an arch i'm
postor, for He made himself to be
equal with God.
2 Jesus answer to the young mans
question ". 1920. "If thou wilt en-
ter into life. keep the command
ments." Christ met him here on his
own ground, namely, that of the law.
The law reveals sin-shuts the mouth
Of the self-righteous sinner (Rom. 10,
20). If one insists on getting life by
doing something, the law is what must
done. nor indeed can do, for the law
curses instead of saves (Gal. :10).
3. Christ's command wv. 21, 22). In
Christ's command to go and sell his
possessions and distribute to the poor,
He put His finger upon the weak spot.
His going away sorrowful proves that
he was covetous and did not love his
neighbor as himself. When he had
to make the supreme decision between
Jesus and his possessions he chose his
wealth and let Jesus 60.
III. The Relationship Of the Rich to
the Kingdom wv. 23-26).
l. 1t is difficult for the rich to enter
the kingdom wv. %, 24). This diff
Guilty lies not in the possession Of
riches, for a man may possess great
riches and be an heir Of the kingdom.
Many Of the most useful men in an
cient and modern times have been
men of wealth, but they like Abraham
chose to dwell in tents"-to believe
and obey God at any cost-looking to
city that hath foundations. The
difficulty lies in trusting in riches.
2. Entrance into the kingdom is pos
sible, though difficult (vv. 25, 26). (1)
1t is possible for the grace of God to
sanctify riches. The mighty hindering
influence may become a great influence
for good in the hands of regenerated
and consecrated soul. (2) 1t is possible
for the grace of God to open a mans
eyes that he may see his downward
course and repent. (3) 1t is possible
for the grace of God to change man
from self-seeking to self-sacrifice. (q
1t is possible for the grace of God to
make men humble.
~. Reward for Following Christ
(vv. 27-3O).
Those who turn their backs upon
their kindred and possessions for the
sake of Christ shall receive an hun
dredfold in this life and eternal life
In the world to come.