thought and intelligence, then this saying of the Teacher becomes
plain indeed. It is impossible for anyone to have two chief centers of
interest. If a man devote his thought and intelligence to the laying up
of wealth, he will of course neglect his duty to God. For, said Jesus,
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and
love the other, or he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye
cannot serve God and Mammon."
[Sidenote: A simple application.]
Everyone knows how true this saying is. Let us apply it to some of
our own likes. All boys and most girls like baseball. Every boy and
every girl should like {170} to keep the Sabbath holy. Now, if a boy
begins to yield to the temptation to play baseball on Sunday, it is not
long, ordinarily, before his surrender is complete, and the playing
of baseball on Sunday becomes for him a regular practice. What has
then happened to his attendance at the Sunday School and the sacrament
service? The boy is scarcely if ever seen there. Do you ask why? This
boy started by trying to serve both God and Mammon. But the things of
God are displeasing to Mammon; and the things of Mammon are displeasing
to God. Oil and water, you know, will not mix. As the boy grew in his
love for baseball on the Sabbath, he grew also in his hatred for the
duties he owed to his God. As he held tenaciously to his baseball on
the Sabbath, he despised the service of the great King. Truly, one
cannot have two chief centers of interest. "Ye cannot serve God and
Mammon."
[Sidenote: A parable in point.]
And the folly of the worship of Mammon is so clear, that it is
surprising that men will ever fall into error. Jesus illustrated this
truth with an excellent parable. "The ground of a certain rich man
brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself saying, What
shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he
said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater;
and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to
my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine
ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him. Thou fool, this
night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things
{171} be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure
for himself, and is not rich toward God."
[Sidenote: The light of the body.]
Again, Jesus said when speaking of laying up treasure in heaven,
and serving God and Mammon, "The light of the body is the eye: if
therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.
If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that
darkness!" In the Old Testament, the evil eye stands for avarice and
greed, the good eye for generosity. Is there anyone, then, who does not
see that if a man fosters thoughts of selfishness and greed, he blinds
himself, to all the better and higher things, and gropes in darkness.
[Sidenote: A summary.]
In this way, then, Jesus taught that men should serve God with
single-minded loyalty. In His sayings and parables, He presents four
reasons: (1) The life of man is in the hands of God. He gave it and
He will take it away. No one is sure how long he may be privileged to
enjoy worldly pleasures. But the life of the spirit is everlasting.
Its joys shall never end. (2) Worldly goods and pleasures are
perishable and fleeting. We may lose them when we think we have them
most securely. The things of the spirit are eternal. They can not be
taken from us, so long as we worship in spirit and in truth. (3) It is
impossible for man to hold two equally important and equally cherished
objects of interest. One of the two will inevitably be neglected. (4)
If a man's motives are selfish and worldly, his soul becomes darkened
to truth, and to spiritual things.
{172} [Sidenote: A paraphrase.]
For these excellent and sufficient reasons, man should cultivate an
attitude of single-minded loyalty to God. Instead of toiling and
sweating for things of passing value only, man should strive for the
things of permanent joy and satisfaction. Jesus's message, as has been
aptly said, may be paraphrased thus:
"Look up. Get a goal before you that is worth while. Let the one
passion of your life be loyalty to God. Then your joys will be
wholesome and permanent, and you shall walk in the light, not in
darkness."
THE REFERENCES
Matt. 13:44-46. Matt. 6:13-21.
Mark 1:13, 14. Matt. 6:24.
Mark 10:13-16. Luke 12:13-15.
Matt. 6:22-23.
THE QUESTIONS
1. How does man show himself short-sighted when considering the things
of God?
2. What is the significance of the parable of the treasure and the
pearl of great price?
3. What do we learn from Jesus's attitude toward little children?
4. Name and discuss the first two reasons given by Jesus why we should
cultivate single-minded loyalty to God.
5. Name and discuss the second two reasons why we should cultivate
single-minded loyalty to God.
6. Name as many instances as you can in which we might practice
single-minded loyalty in our own lives.
{173}
{174} PICTURE: CHRIST AND THE RICH YOUNG RULER, Hofmann
{175}
XXIII
RICHES AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD
[Sidenote: A liberal man.]
When Matthias Baldwin, who built the first American locomotive, had
made good and had accumulated a fortune, he was wont to distribute
liberal gifts freely among those who had been less prosperous than he.
So generous, indeed, was he that when he had not the cash by him he
would give personal notes instead. "Nobody hesitates to sign promises
to pay in the future in order to get capital for business," he would
say. "Are we to trust the Lord to take care of our affairs, and not His
own?" Sometimes, it is said, this practice would get Mr. Baldwin into
small difficulties; but on the other hand it often helped him when he
needed business notes for himself. Said one bank president to another,
once, "You refuse to help him because he does not know what to do with
his money. We will stand by him because he is determined to do good
with his money. His collaterals are God's promises." And that bank
president was right.
[Sidenote: An unnatural doubt.]
Now, the teachings of the previous lesson may have aroused some
questions in your minds as to whether or not there will be found a
place in the kingdom of heaven for the rich man--for him who has
devoted much time apparently to the service of mammon. Perhaps you
have heard from some one that "it is easier for a camel to go through
the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of
God;" and you have therefore concluded that heaven is for only the
poor. There are some people who hold {176} so narrow a notion. In this
lesson, however, we shall learn how riches should be used; and that
poverty is no larger guarantee of salvation than are riches.
[Sidenote: The case of the rich young ruler.]
One day, not long after Jesus had blessed the little children brought
to Him, there came to Him a rich young ruler, who said, "Good Master,
what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"
"And He said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good
but One, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the
commandments.
"He saith unto Him, Which?
"Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery,
Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness. Honour thy
father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
"The young man saith unto Him, All these things have I kept from my
youth up: what lack I yet?
"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou
hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and
come and follow me.
"But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for
he had great possessions."
[Sidenote: The difficulty of sacrifice.]
This simple little story reveals to us the truth. The rich young ruler
was essentially a good young man. From his youth up he had striven
to observe the law of Moses. He had committed no gross offense; he
was guilty of no heinous sin; as he understood the law, he loved his
neighbor as himself. But the more perfect law of the Gospel, which
Jesus taught, called for sacrifice. The things the young man had done
had been easy. He had {177} refrained from evil, because he loved not
evil. But when he was bidden to part with his wealth, and to give it to
others more needy than he, the center of his affection was touched. For
he loved his riches. It was not the riches, then, that stood between
him and eternal life. It was the love of those riches. The thing he
loved he could with difficulty give up.
[Sidenote: The conclusion of Jesus.]
Therefore did Jesus say to His disciples, "Verily I say unto you.
That a rich man shall hardly (with difficulty) enter into the kingdom
of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the
kingdom of God."
[Sidenote: The amazement of the disciples.]
Naturally, such a statement puzzled the disciples just as it has
puzzled men from that time to this. So the disciples asked, "Who then
can be saved?" But Jesus answered only, "With men this is impossible;
but with God all things are possible."
[Sidenote: The power of God.]
While this answer may seem evasive, yet one can readily see in it the
possibility implied. Of course, with God all things are possible.
He can touch the heart of man so that it shall not be centered on
wealth--so that the chief affection of man shall not be, Midas-like,
the love of gold. Riches in themselves are of no value; but riches as
a means of service may be righteously desired. And the Lord Jesus has
Himself promised the blessings of the earth to those who honestly seek
Him.
[Sidenote: A promise of worldly blessings.]
"Seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink," urged Jesus,
"Neither be ye of doubtful mind. {178} For all these things do the
nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have
need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all
these things shall be added unto you."
[Sidenote: The object of the world's desire.]
Riches, then, should be righteously acquired; and the acquiring of them
should be made secondary to the learning to know God and Jesus Christ
whom He hath sent. It is natural that every boy and girl should plan
for the future, and that the plans should include the accumulation, if
possible, of some of this world's goods. But Jesus would not have those
who know him to be like the nations of the world. They seek after the
riches of the world merely for the sake of the riches themselves. They
love money--and Paul said, you know, that, "the love of money is the
root of all evil." The disciples of Jesus will never serve mammon; they
will make mammon serve them, and use riches for good. Money itself will
not be the object of their love, but the service that money can be made
to render. Jesus taught this lesson in a parable often misunderstood.
[Sidenote: The parable of the unjust steward.]
"There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was
accused unto him that he had wasted his goods, and he called him, and
said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of
thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward
said within himself. What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from
me the stewardship. I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved
what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may {179}
receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his lord's
debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my
lord? And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him.
Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to
another. And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of
wheat. And he said unto him. Take thy bill, and write four score. And
the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely:
for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the
children of light. And I say unto you. Make to yourselves friends of
the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you
into everlasting habitations."
Now, Jesus did not approve of the actions of the steward. They were
decidedly dishonest, and Jesus calls him an unjust steward. But from
the conduct of this steward, Jesus draws a profitable lesson. The
steward was a man of the world. The children of the world are wise in
their generation. When, therefore, the steward was in trouble, he made
the mammon of unrighteousness his servant, and secured for himself a
comfortable living when he should be put out of the stewardship. A
somewhat similar use should the children of light make of such wealth
as they are appointed stewards over. They should look after the poor,
care for the needy, shed comfort and cheer, and make for themselves
friends by means of their wealth. First must come obedience to the
commandments of God, and a diligent seeking after Him. Then worldly
goods must be made to serve in helping to prepare a habitation in the
eternal home.
{180} Paul, again, who seemed always clearly to comprehend the
teachings of the Master, put it thus: "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; that
they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute,
willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good
foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal
life."
In the teaching of Jesus, then, riches are not a bar to eternal life.
The terms of salvation are the same to the rich and the poor alike. It
is not poverty that saves a man, but humility of spirit and obedience.
So it is not riches that condemn a man; but love of riches, and
disobedience. Many there are who, like the rich young ruler, turn and
go their way because they have great possessions. Many others there
are who, like Matthias Baldwin, exclaim, "I feel more thankful for the
disposition to give largely than for the ability to give largely; for I
know that immense wealth can be acquired a great deal easier than the
heart to use it well. My money without a new heart would have been a
curse to me."
THE REFERENCES
Matt. 19:16-22. Luke 12:29-31.
Luke 18:22. 1 Tim. 6:10, 17-19.
Luke 16:1-10.
{181} THE QUESTIONS
1. What disposition did Matthias Baldwin develop with the accumulation
of riches?
2. Why do some people think that heaven is not for the rich man?
3. Why could not the rich young ruler follow Jesus?
4. What did Jesus mean by the statement concerning the rich man and the
camel?
5. What use should be made of riches?
6. What is the root of all evil?
7. What lesson did Jesus teach in the parable of the Unjust Steward?
8. Why have the poor no greater assurance of salvation than have the
rich?
9. Which is the great gift, wealth or the disposition to give?
{182} PICTURE: LAZARUS AT THE RICH MAN'S HOUSE, Dore
{183}
XXIV
SUCCEEDING WITH WHAT ONE HAS
[Sidenote: The rich man and Lazarus.]
In the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Lazarus lies sick and
hungry at the door of the Rich Man who only the crumbs that fall from
the rich man's table. The Rich Man failed to recognize his opportunity;
and when these two passed beyond, Lazarus was taken into the bosom
of Abraham, while the Rich Man was consigned to the torments of
everlasting punishment.
[Sidenote: Wanted: a chance.]
The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus must cause each one of us to
reflect, that, undoubtedly, he has himself many opportunities lying
unnoticed at his door. Indeed, while nearly every boy is prone to say
when he sees a successful man, "If only I had his chance," the fact
remains that he probably had as good a chance as the successful man but
failed to make the most of it. Jesus understood well the weakness in
men that makes for failure, both temporal and spiritual, and as was his
wont illustrated his point by means of a significant parable.
[Sidenote: The parable of the talents.]
"The kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who
called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto
one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every
man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the
same, and made them other five {184} talents. And likewise he that had
received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one
went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
"After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth
with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought
other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five
talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His
lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou
has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many
things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received
two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents:
behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto
him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over
a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into
the joy of thy lord.
"Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew
thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and
gathering where thou hast not strawed: and I was afraid, and went and
hid my talent in the earth: lo, here thou hast that is thine. His
lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant,
thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have
not strawed: thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the
exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with
usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which
hath ten talents. For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he
shall have abundance: but from {185} him that hath not shall be taken
away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into
outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
[Sidenote: A general law.]
In this parable, Jesus has stated a far-reaching law of truth. It
applies to every boy and to every girl, to every man and to every
woman. And it operates in every field of endeavor--in the temporal
world, in the mental world, in the spiritual world. Perhaps everyone
knows someone else who is waiting for an opportunity. Perhaps, you
yourselves, like the snail in Hans Christian Andersen's tale of "The
Snail and the Rose Bush," think that you have a great deal in you,
and say to yourselves as did the snail, "Wait till my time comes, I
shall do a great deal more than to yield roses, or to bear nuts, or
to give milk as cows do." But in thinking so and saying so you forget
the eternal truth taught by Jesus in the parable of the talents. The
big opportunity can come only if every day, like the rose bush, you
make the most of that day's chance, and contribute the roses and the
fragrance of your life to the world.
[Sidenote: The water boy.]
Let us consider a concrete case. Not so very long ago, there was
employed in one of the great American steel works, a young boy to carry
water. You all know what that means. And it must be admitted that
there is but small opportunity in the humble calling of water-carrier.
His master had entrusted the boy with a single talent. But as the
master went the rounds of inspection, he observed that the water boy
was always on the job. No matter how early the master came, the boy
was there {186} before him; no matter how late the master stayed, the
boy stayed later than he. He worked, he observed, he studied; he was
making his talent grow. By and by, a vacancy occurred higher up. The
master did not hesitate. He called to him the water boy, and gave to
him the work of greater responsibility. That was but the beginning.
Today the water boy is one of the most highly honored and trusted men
in the great steel industry of America. No place, you see, is so humble
but that it has its own opportunity for service. And that opportunity
improved, there lie always greater chances ahead. That opportunity
neglected, failure only can follow. One can become ruler of many things
only if one has proved oneself faithful in few.
[Sidenote: Intellectual endeavor.]
Examples might be multiplied to prove the truth of the law taught by
Jesus. When boys and girls go to school, it is those who make the most
of that opportunity that grow in intelligence and power. They progress
steadily until they become leaders of men. Knowledge is added to
knowledge, until they master the field in which they are working. On
the other hand, those who neglect the opportunity afforded by school
attendance, become relatively more and more ignorant. The world forges
ahead in knowledge and wisdom. Their industrious associates go forward
by strides. But they, themselves, lag ever farther and farther behind.
Verily, to him who hath is given, until he possesses in abundance;
whereas from him who hath not, is taken even that he had.
[Sidenote: Spiritual growth.]
But it was not to temporal and mental things only that Jesus meant to
apply the law illustrated in the {187} parable of the talents. Perhaps
His chief purpose was to apply it to the spiritual life. There, as in
the physical life, one must serve, and do one's utmost, in whatever
calling God may have placed one. According to one's courage and
faithfulness will one's reward be. And that reward, you must note,
does not consist of a commission in money. It consists of a larger
responsibility, a larger opportunity to serve, a place of greater honor
in the kingdom of God. Such a reward--whether in the physical or in the
spiritual life--is after all the only reward worth while.
[Sidenote: The lesson applied.]
Let us grapple to our souls, then, the lesson of this parable. The
lasting reward of effort of any kind is not the material gain derived
therefrom, but the effect upon one's character--ability developed to
do bigger and nobler things; the confidence inspired to carry larger
trusts. So, two of the servants of the lord developed in efficiency
and ability to do. The other feared. He feared failure--he dared not
attempt--he dreaded to venture. His ability, such as it was, became
paralyzed. As a result he inspired no confidence--nay, he lost the
confidence his lord had reposed in him. Moreover, through his failure
to make use of his little opportunity, the slothful servant lost
confidence in himself, and thereby squandered his native power to
achieve, however small it may have been.
God requires of all of us that we shall serve Him diligently. And
service of Godly kind means that we give ourselves wholly to the Lord,
all that we have and all that we are. Time, and means, and life,
are His, {188} and every word, every thought, every act, should be
prompted by loyalty to God and His kingdom. Then are we profitable
servants; and then are we multiplying the talents God has entrusted to
our care. "Thou shalt not idle away thy time," said Jesus in our own
dispensation, "neither shalt thou bury thy talent that it may not be
known."
THE REFERENCES
Matt. 25:14-30. Doc. and Cov. 60:13.
THE QUESTIONS
1. What is meant by a "chance?"
2. How much smaller opportunity had the servant with one talent than
the servant with five?
3. What does the story of the water-boy illustrate?
4. How does the parable of the talents apply to the school life of boys
and girls?
5. How does the parable apply to one's spiritual life?
6. What is man's duty to God?
{189}
{190} PICTURE: THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, Hofmann
{191}
XXV
THINK RIGHT
[Sidenote: The great commandment.]