The copper era and Morenci leader., 1922-12-22
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 24
A LESSON IN TRUST AND PRE-
 PAREDNESS

LESSON TEXT-Luke I2:I3-4o
 GOLDEN TEXT-The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment- Luke 1928.
 PRIMARY TOPIC-The Story of Foolish Rich Man
 JUNIOR TOPIC-A Foolish Rich Man.
 INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC Rich Toward God.
 YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC True Riches
 Since on October 8 We had a lesson on the birth and childhood of Jesus, many will doubtless prefer to have this new lesson instead of the Christ mas lesson
 |. A Warning Against covetousness (vv. 13-2D.
 l. The Occasion (vv. 13-15). One of the company requested Jesus to be umpire in a disputed estate Two brothers were in trouble over an in heritance. Christ refused to enter the sphere of the civil law and warned against the spirit of avarice. Christ's mission was preeminently spiritual
 ?. Enforcement of the Warning (yv- 16-2D. The parable Of the rich man shows clearly that to be concerned with earthly riches while neglectinx God Is the height of folly. The Lords warning is of great importance today. for many are seeking gold and forget ting God. Note (1) his increase in goods (v. 16). His riches were rightly obtained, for the ground brought forth plentifully. This shows that man may be rich because of the Lord's blessing upon him. (2) His perplexity (v- ID. His land was producing more than his barns would hold. He did not want 1t to go to waste. If he had pos sessed the right views of life and a sense of stewardship before God. he would have seen that his barns at least had enough for his personal needs and that he could have distributed his sur plus to the needy and for benevolent purposes. (3) The fatal choice (vv. IS. 19). He chose to enlarge his barns and give up his life to ease and luxury. It ought to be a delightful task for men whom God has made rich to devote their time and energy to the distribution of their possessions to benevolent purposes. (4) The aw- full indictment (vv 20, 2D. God calls him q fool 'r--- --- -
 n. The Certain Cure for Anxiety (vv. 32-34).
 Having shown the folly of the rich man who gained gold but lost God, He now urged the disciples to trust God and dismiss all anxious care. He as sured them that they need not be anx- ious even for the necessities of life Note:
 l. The Argument-(vv. p, 23). This is summed up in one brief sentence: "The life is more than food. and the body is more than raiment." The God who gave the life and made the body should be trusted to provide food and clothing.
 2. The Illustrations (vv. 24-2S). CD Gods care for the fowls (vv. 24-26). The ravens do not SOW nor reap-thsx have not storehouse or barn, yet theS live, for God feeds them. If God does Tot forget the fowls, certainly He would do more for His children. CD Gods care for the flowers of the field (vv. 27, 2S). If God is SO careful of those flowers which appear but for a
 
 His children!
 3. The ExhortatiOns (vv. 29-34). CD Make not the getting of food and clothes your chief concern. Trust God to provide them. (2) Seek the king dom of God (v. 3D. Those who make Gods kingdom first shall have all their needs supplied (Phil. 4:19). (3) Be not afraid (v. 32). Gods good pleas ure is upon His own, and all good things will He give them. (4) Prac- tice self-denial ill order to be able to give gifts to those in need (vv. B. SD. The doing of such deeds will tend to lift the thoughts upward to GOd-tO trust Him.
 III. Be Ready for the Coming Of the Lord (vv. 35-40).
 Having warned the disciples against the acquisition of worldly goods while forgetting God, and shown them the needlessness of anxiety for food and clothes, He shows them the blessed ness of being in state of readiness when the Lord shall come COnvic- ton as to the certainty of the Lords coming is the sure cure for worldliness and anxious care. This attitude or heart He made clear by two parableS- that of the returning of the Lord an's that of the thief. The Lord will be S' pleased with those who are waiting for Him that He will take delight in sitting at the banquet with them, ant even serve them. The parable of tho thief shows that the time of the Lords coming Is not known.
 PnliIfe Wirh