Montgomery County sentinel., 1938-05-12

INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC,
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Marks Of Discipleship.
"The almighty dollar"-how tri.
umphantly it rules in the affairs Of
nations and Of the men who make
up nations. The worlds measure
OF success Is how much one can
"make," and mo questions asked"
as to how one made it, if he but
avoid the legal pitfalls that may
land him in jail. Even that is no
longer disgrace, for men who
have defrauded others serve term
in jail to "pay their debt to society,""
and then return without shame to
enjoy the use of their ill-gotten
gains. Skill in the arts and sciences
is rated according to its financial
value. Brains and beauty are COM
modities Of the market place. Liq-
uor is permitted to destroy our peo-
pie because it provides a profit.
The minds Of men and women Of
decency and intelligence revolt at
the whole situation. Let us encour-
age them as we improve the oppor-
tunity today to present Gods moral
and spiritual standards.
I. Self Before God (vv. 1929.
The rich young ruler had many ad-
vantages and virtues. He was
young, life was before him, vivid
I was his imagination, strong was his
body. He was educated, and devel-
oped intelligence is an honor to any
man. He had position, which can
always be used for good. He had
money, which when rightly gained
and used, is a powerful and honor
able possession. Above all, he had
the priceless jewel of good charac-
ter. Notice that he had kept the
commandments, that he came be-
fore the Lord in humility seeking
truth, and that Jesus ''loved him"
". 21).
Almost any father would be proud
to own this young man as a son.
Many churches would welcome him
to membership and even to leader
ship. Jesus dealt with him honest
ly, however, and went to the root Of
his difficulty which was that he
loved himself and his possessions
more than he loved God. Therefore
he must give them up before he
could really follow Jesus. Sad in
deed was his refusal. He came rum
ming ". 17), but he went away sor-
rowful ". 22).
What stands between you and a
full surrender to Christ? Face it
honestly. Be thankful if your pastor
or a friend frankly points it out.
Shun those who would ''pat you on
the back" and assure you that all is
well. A cancer will kill unless it
is cut out. The surgeons knife
may hurt, but it is an instrument of
good.
Note that the statement of Jesus
in verse IS is not a denial of His
deity, but definite claim that He
is God. He says in effect, eff you
call me good you must recognize
that I am God"
II. God Before Self wv. 21-27).
The disciples, who evidently
shared the common opinion that
money could do almost anything,
were surprised to hear that riches
were really hindrance to spiritual
ity, because ". 24) of the tendency
OF men to trust in their wealth and
forget their need of God.
Jesus does not leave the rich man
without hope, for he goes on to say
that what is impossible for men
and even for the rich man himself is
entirely possible with God.
Two things need emphasis in this
connection. First, let those of us
who have little of this worlds goods
be thankful that we have, at least,
been delivered from this tempta-
ton. 1t may well be an expression
OF Gods love and grace toward u.s.
Second, let us thank God for every
man OF wealth who has given him
self and what he has into Gods
hands.
III. The Last Before the First
(vv. 28-3D.
The ways of God are confusing
and humbling to the flesh. The way
up in spiritual things is to go
down mark 9:35). Those who are
first in the eyes of men are often
last in Gods sight. Others whom
men count as least stand highest in
Gods sight because they are faith
ful and true to Him. The world looks
at the missionary of the cross and
says, He has sacrificed every
thing" and knows nothing Of the
"hundredfold' reward even in this
life, "and in the world to come, eter'
nal life" ". 30).