The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1948-03-04
WHY NOT SEEK THE
TRUE RICHES?
By REV. JOHN GRIMES

In the parable of the unjust stew
ard found in Luke 16, Jesus shows
the difference between true and
false riches. Earthly goods are term
ed "unrighteouS mammon", while
the true riches are put for the king
dom OF Cod, and the graces of the
spirit, such as peace, JOY and con-
tentment.
God often bestows riches upon
Elen without their ASKING in the
case of King Solomon but we aic
warned not to seek them. Labor
not to be rich and "If riches in
crease set not your heart upon
them" are plain scriptural COM
mands. On the other hand the COM
mand to seek the true riches is just
as plain. Seek ye first the kingdom
of God and His Righteousness and all
these things shall be added unto
you. Buy the truth and sell it not,
and "I council thee to buy of me
gold tried in the fire that thou may
est be rich, are all found in the
Word of God.
How rich we would be if we
would seek the true riches as earn
estly as men of the world seek af
ter the false! The writer of Proverbs
refers to such earnestness. If thou
seek her as silver, the search for her
as for hid treasures; then thou
shalt understand the fear of the
Lord and find the knowledge of
God. Then he described some of the
things that God will throw in for
good measure-health, prosperity,
riches, honor, long life and content
ment. Read the second and third
chapters for this description. st.
Paul was rejoicing in this spiritual
wealth when he wrote to the Corin-
thians and referred to himself and
his fellow workers as poor yet
making many rich, and having moth
ing, yet possessing all thing" Later
he wrote to Timothy from Nero's
prison house-"Godliness with con-
tentment is great gain. With SIM
liar joy, Madame Guyon, suffering
for conscience sake in a French
prison could sing:
Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars, cage.
Quiet souls take these for her
mitage.
Think of the hunger, WEAKNESS
and pain men will endure to secure
gold. Let us show the same diligence
in seeking the true wealth. On one
occasion Jesus rose up a great while
before day to pray, and on another
he prayed all night. How few fol-
low his example. How few search
the Scriptures diligently. How few
seek for the spiritual jewels. Lord
Halifax has said that Nazism would
not have gripped Germany as firm
ly if the Christians would have
sought from the beginning as earn
estly for what was true as the NaZ1S
sought for what was false. Their
zeal should put us to shame.
Reader, there is within your
reach a treasure better than gold.
The Bible which may be covered
with dust contains wealth OF un-
minted Jewels. The church hymnal
holds within its pages treasures of
spiritual song. The secret place, per
haps neglected, will afford a rich
ness of joy and peace. The house of
God may prove to you the gate to
Heaven You may be like the man
who sought for gold in vain all over
the whole earth and at last found it
in his own back yard. In the king
dom of God you will find untold
riches. In Christ you will find all
the treasures of wisdom and know
ledge.
ooh, the unsearchable riches of
Christ, who would not gladly
endure,
Crosses, afflictions, and trials on
earth, riches like these to Sc
cure.
Precious, more precious, wealth
that can never be told,
Oh, the unsearchable riches of
Christ, precious, more precious
than gold.'