The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-14
International
SundaySchoolLesson
By WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

For jan. 16 Is "Our All for the
Kingdom. 19:16-30.
As Jesus Saw the Money Question.
Fitting like a key and its lock to our
own existing world conditions is one
of the tersely-told tragedies of the New
Testament The tale is that of the
rich young man who came to Jesus
questing after the Supreme Good
Every--reader of the familiar old story
finds his heart warming to that noble
youth He had a fine spirit, and rare
polish, and a real eagerness to live life
at its best. 1t required no small de-
gree of courage for that son of privi-
lege to be seen in conference with the
radical Rabbi from Nazareth. With
his courage went open-mindedness,
also. He may fairly be said to repre-
sent the highest type of modern uni
versity man of inherited fortune.
Before we strike the stride of the
story. let US stand apart for a para
graph to contemplate that young man.
So many homiletical stones have been
cast at him for ages that we may
lose sight of his real worth. For he
was a fine young man. His wealth
and privileges had not shut the doors
of his inquiring mind. He wanted to
be bigger than his fortune. In real
sincerity, he sought light upon his
problem. which he perceived was a
spiritual problem, from every possible
source That the unconventional MAJ
arene, upon whom members of the
young mans conservative class had
begun to frown, had the word of light
and leading. he had become assured.
Therefore he sought his wisdom.
Searched by the question of Jesus. the
young man proved to be both moral
and religious, a keeper of the Law.
Small wonder the Master looked upon
him with yearning and admiration So
He babe him do the one thing more
that was needful-sen his goods for
discfp4eship. That final test the
young man could not meet: for he was
very rich.
Upon that incident Jesus based
some remarks about money which are
peculiarly appropriate today.
What Money Has Done to U.s.
Without passion or prejudice or
demagoguery, let us try to get the
Jesus viewpoint upon the money ques-
ton as it exists in our own world
AS all who follow international at
fairs closely are we'll aware. it is the
money-side of the readjustment or the
world that has made most of the pres
ent trouble. Commercial ambition ana
antagonism was one of the melting
causes of the war. Lurking in the
background of all the decisions made
at the peace conference were the
financial phases of territorial changes:
a. big and disturbing book has
been written upon the economic
aspects of the peace treaty. Terri
tories were desirable or undesira BILE
according to the monev that the big
powers saw in. them. Mineral wealth
bulked bigger than moral considera-
tions, in some instances. Preparations
1I1 I1aI h rirnl
toward which we look for peace. The
manner in which governments have
lent themselves to commercial prof.
ects and practices is assuredlyr "a seri-
Gus factor in creating discordS between
recent allies. In a word, money is q
magnitude than any mere questions
of depreciation of exchange. Peace
has been famed by the blow of gold.
All this is commonplace. We know
that love of money has marred the
honor of the nations in the past two
years. Even more familiar is the
fashion in which greed of gold be-
fouled the high idealism of the peo-
pies at war. With shame we confess
the sordid story of the munitioneers
and other war profiteers- That scan
dal is one that will reek for long years
to come: for its blackness appeared
against the golden background of the
courage and chivalry and sacrifice of
the greater company of men and wo-
men.
part of a mo4ey-mad world. We have
put the pursuit of gain, and indul-
gence in the luxuries it would buy,
above the old integrities of character.
A first cause of the relaxed moral
fiber of our time is undoubtedly this
vogue of money madness. Last week
two eminent citizens of an American
community We're sent to Jail for rob-
berry and betrayal of trust; with no
other reason than that the craze for
money had usurped honor and decency
and good sense What is the much
discussed Crime wave" of the world
today but a flouting of law and civ
ilization for the sake of "easy money!"
Truly. this old world in which we
dwell, has been sorely wounded by this
terrible fashion of eagerness for
money.
When the Test Comes.
In less Grass and vulgar fashion we
discern the workings of the same spir-
it which kept the rich young man of
old from becoming a friend and a fol-
lower of Jesus-perhaps one of the
great figures of the Apostolic church
Even -among the mice" people it is
common to judge a person by his
financial standing. So-called good
society" has dollar mark for a por-
tai. The standard of success today is
the money StanQard. one could not
hope to be a Heading 1ayman" except
he were wealthy! Individual churches
and national religious organizations
are fairly sycophantic towards per-
sons of wealth. The thing is too COM
, mon to create comment.
Saints and heroes, servants of the
world and teachers of humanity. are
looked upon rather pityingly by 'suc-
cessful' men, if they have not made
money. James ]. Hill. who himself
made more than money. once boldly
affirmed that the one test of success
was the ability to make and hold
money. Whereupon poet COM
mented:
80 Homer, poet-genius--
What a woeful failure. thou
AS thou beggedst in town and city
Sustenance for life enow.
What tho thru the endless ages
Laurel wreaths are on thy brow,