LESSON XII.—SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1900.
13 "AND one out of the multitude said unto Him, Master, bid 14 my brother divide the inheritance with me. But He said unto 15 him, Man, who made Me a judge or a divider over you? And He said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance 16 of the things which he possesseth. And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought 17 forth plentifully; and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my 18 fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my corn 19 and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, 20 drink, be merry. But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which 21 thou hast prepared, whose shall they be? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22 "And He said unto His disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat; nor yet for 23 your body, what ye shall put on. For the life is more than the food, and the body than the raiment." Golden Text: "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul." Mark 8:36. (1) While Jesus was teaching one of His most impressive lessons, what question did one who was present ask Him? V. 13. Note 1. (2) What pointed question did Jesus ask him? V. 14. Note 2. (3) Turning to the listeners, what caution did He give them? What reason does the Saviour give for giving this warning? V. 15. (4) What parable did Jesus introduce to impress upon His hearers the result of covetousness? V. 16. (5) What question does He represent this man as asking himself? What was perplexing this man? V. 17. Note 3. (6) What did this covetous man finally decide to do? What was his purpose in building greater? V. 18. (7) What does this man say to his soul? What does he invite his soul to do? V. 19. (8) What does God call such an one? What terrible announcement does the Lord make to him? What question does the Lord ask him in regard to his hoarded wealth? V. 20. (9) What is the occupation of those to whom this lesson applies? What is their lack? V. 21. Note 4. (10) Whom does Jesus now personally address? What practical instruction did He give them? V. 22. (11) What is the relative importance of life and food? What of the body and that which clothes it? V. 23. 1. One of the multitude.—Not one of the disciples, but one who had been listening unmoved to the solemn lesson the Saviour had been teaching. His question seems to have been an interruption of the Saviour's discourse. The Saviour taught with power and with authority; and this man, who had been dwelling upon his grievance, thought Jesus was just the one to secure for him the earthly possessions he desired. Instead of learning the solemn truths which Jesus was teaching, this man was planning how he might use Jesus to secure his own worldly ends. Are we not doing the same, when, during the worship of God, we lay plans in worldly matters? 2. Not a judge or divider.—He had not been appointed a public officer of a worldly kingdom. He was not a divider, that is, one appointed to separate property, apportioning to each one his share in accordance with the judge's decision. Jesus, in these words, makes it plain that the business of a politician, or political office-holder, is not the business which He has commissioned His servants to perform. "I have given you an example," are the words of Christ. "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked." 1 John 2:6. Christ's church should be separate from the State. It must be or it can not be His church. A church that is in politics is a church that has left her lawful Spouse. The light of such a church is darkness. 3. He reasoned within himself.—The decision which a man reaches in reasoning within himself is bound to be a selfish decision. He does not pray over the matter, and follow the light God gives him; but he asks himself what he shall do, and self gives him an answer that is pleasing to himself; but the answer is sure to be out of harmony with the purpose of God. It is sure to lead to disappointment, distress, and ruin. "The value of life depends on what we are, not on what we possess. Any beast may carry a load of gold, but he is a beast still." 4. Not rich toward God.—In seeking a place to lay up treasures, he had overlooked heaven, and had lost all. He was not "rich in love, in character, in good works, in deeds of kindness, in labors and gifts for the salvation of men; not rich in all that makes the glory of God and the bliss of heaven. The only man who is really rich is he who is rich toward God."—Peloubet.