The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-12-23
LESSON FOR JANUARY 20
- y
TIE %RlCH MAN AND LAZARUS

III
TIE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS
LESSON TEXT-Luke 16:19-3.
GOLDEN TEXT-Charge them that are
| rich in this world. that they be not high
| minded. nor trust in uncertain riches but
in the living God, who giveth US richly
| all things to enjoy.-I Tim. 6:lI.
| REFERENCE MATER1AL-Psalm 1876
! 20; II Cor. S:1-s; Tim. 6:17-19.
| PRIMARY TOPIC-story Of Rich Man
and Begsar.
| JUNIOR ToPIC-The Poor Rich Man
| and the Rich Poor Man.
! INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
| penalties Of Selflshness.
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Right Use of Wealth. -"
J. In this lesson we are afforded
peep into two worlds where we see
disclosed extremes Of character and
conditions. No more graphic picture
| could be drawn showing the contrast
! of tyo lives. These lives were intend
ed to be representative. The rich
man descends from the highest pinna-
$..cle of worldly enjoyment to the
depths of endless misery. The poor
beggar ascends from utter wretched-
ness and misery to the loftiest heights
!of blessing.
|. contrasted Lives wv. 1929.
l. The Rich Man ". 19). He lived
in a mansion secluded from the copl-
mon people. He was clothed in cost
'ly raiment; his outer garments were
of purple and his inner garments of
fine linen. " He fed upon the richest
food that could be provided. His sin
was to; self1shl Indulge his appetites
without consideration for others.
2. The Beggara(vv. 20, Ply. He was;
laid at: the rich $man's gate with the
hope of. getting at least the crumbs
from his table The dogs Of the street
were more kind: to him than the, rich
man. Lazarus means "God is help
indicating :thatS%sa gOdly life shone
through Ills poverty. We learn from
these ycontrastef, lives that worldly
condition. is: nprsnre test Of mans
state In the slight of God. Rich men
are not all wicked or selfish, and not
all .poorss men are: godly.
4: ..e!entrass!ssd Deaths and Funerals
+ I, The, Beggar He was found dead
and Ills body hurried of to pau:
per'ssgrave: No notice was taken OF
| it BY sthe world. ::
!: 2.hghe Rich Man. He also died:
His gold could not bribe the messen-
ger of death. !. Doubtless costly
funeral was held, attended by those
who moved ine his class Of society:
Death il the common, end tdfWhich all
classes must come. th
i III. contrasted Destinies (v. 23).
: l: Ihea =Beggar. He was at once
carried; by the angels into Ahraham's
bosom. The souls Of believefs,are es-:
pecia'ly. cared for at the alf Ehour Of
death. g.. .i.S "a - u
.. Ihe Richa Man. Though he had
an elaborate funeral he lifted up his
eyes in hell, being in torment. When
the feils f4fntulity is lifted we see
that the positions of, these men are
reversed The poor man swas in the
company Just men made; perfect,
because OF Ills godly life while on
earth, and. the rich man Is stripped
of his purple and fine linen and cast
into hen With all wicked men, because
while on eafth he only lived for selfish
ends. ~ Ii sssss.5 -.>1 ~, ,
". The Rsality and Fixedness tof
Life Beyondsthe Grave (vv- 24-31).
l.. The Cry for Mercy ". 24). Dives
| which $is the Latin name for "rich
man.. wasaEnow willing to claim rela-
| ionship to- Abraham. He was keenly
conscious. and the appetites which
| controlled him while on earth were
still with him. Instead Of a means
of qualification they were now an in
strument of torture. Part of the tor
ment Of hell will be the cravings Of
| appetite and lust, with no means of
their qualification.
?. Abraham's Reply ". 25). This
reply cast the matter back upon the
member" The lashings of guilty
conscience will be most real in hell.
g. Their Fixedness ". 26). Human
destinies are fixed by the choices dur
ing tile life. When one passes out of
this life he enters into an unchange-
| able state and condition.
T. Gods Word and the All Sufficient
Lfgks wv. 27-31). Dives now request
| ed that Lazarus go on an errand of
mercy to his brethren. He regarded
the testimony of a spirit Of more
value than the Word of God. Many
today are more willing to trust the
rappings of ghost than the sure
| Word Of God. Abraham declared that
Gods Word is sufficient-that those
who reject Moses and the prophets
would not repenc though visited by
one who had rissa from the dead.
The greatest miracles will not affect
the hearts Of men who reject the
Bible.