Pueblo chieftain., 1921-01-09
In the Religious World
AS JESUS SAW THE MONEY
QUESTION

AS JESUS SAW lnE WONEI
QUESTION
| The International Sunday school les
son for Jan. 16 is Our All For the
I Kingdom. Matt. 19:16-30.
(By William T. Ellis)
Fitting like a key and It's 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 Games to
Jesus. questioning after the Supreme
Good. Every reader of the familiar
old story finds his heart warming to
that noble youth. He had fine spirit,
to live life at its best. 1t required
no small degree of courage for that
son of privilege to be seen in confer
ence with the radical rabbi from Naz-
areth. With his courage went open
mindedness also. He may fairly be
said to represent the highest type of
modern university man Of inherited
fortune.
Before we strike the stride of the
| story, let ue stand apart for para
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 sin
cerity, he sought light upon his prob
lem, which he perceived was a spirit
ual problem, from every possible
source. That the unconventional Naz-
arene, upon whom members of the
young mans consecutive class had be-
gun 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
Small wonder the Master looked upon
him with yearping and admiration. So
He bade him do the one thing more
that was needful-sell his goods for
the benefit of the poor, and join the
discipleship. 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 pc
culiarly appropriate today.
What Money Has Done to Us
without passion or prejudice or
demagoguery. let us try to get the
Jesus viewpoint upon the money ques-
tion as 1t exists in our own world.
AS all who follow international af-
fairs closely are we'll aware. it is the
money side of the readjustment of the
world that has made most Of the pres
ent trouble. Commercial ambition and
antagonism was one of the melting
causes of the war. Lurking in the
background of all the decisions made
cial phases of territorial changes:
] big and disturbing book has been writ
ten upon the economic aspects Of the
peace treaty. Territories were desir-
able or undesirable according to the
money that the big powers saw in
4 hvN1 ka1 hi low Unr
than moral considerations. in some in
stances. Reparations hang like n
storm cloud on the horizon toward
| which we look for peace. The man.
ncr in which governments have lent
themselves to commercial projects and
| practices is assuredly serious factor
in creating discords between recent al
lies. In word. money is a present
international problem Of greater mag
nitude than any mere questions OF de-
probation of exchange. Peace has
been lamed 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 ono that will reek for long years
|
/ against the golden background OF the
| courage and chivalry and sacrifice of
| the greater company Of men and wom-
en-.
withal. we have to confess to being
part of moneymad world. We have
put tile pursuit OF gain. and indul-
gence in the luxurics 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 were sent to Jail for rob-
berry and betrayal OF trust; with no
other reason than that the craze for
money had usurpcd honor and dcccncy
and good sense. What Is the much
discussed crime wave" of the world
today but flouting OF law and civili-
xation for the sake OF easy money!"
Truly. this old world in which we dwell
has been sorely wounded by this ter
riblc fashion of eagerness for money.
When the Test Comes
In less Grass and vulgar fashion we
discern the workings of the same spirit
which kept the rich young man of old
from becoming friend and n follower
or Jesus-perhaps one Of the great fig
ures of the Apostolic church. Even
among mice" people 1t is common to
judge a person by his financial stand
ing. So-callcd good society," has "A
dollar mark for n portal. The stand
ard of success today is the money
standard. One could not hope TO be n
leading layman" except he were
wealthy. Individual churches and ma
tional religious organizations are fair
ly sycophantic towards persons of
wealth. The thing is too common to
create comment.
Saints and heroes, servants OF the
world and tochers OF humanity. are
looked upon rather pityingly by "suc-
ccssful' men. II they have not made
money James J. Hill, who himself
made more than money. once boldly
affirmed that the one test OF success
was the ability to make and hold
money. Whcrcupon n poet commented: