WISE COUNSEL CONCERNING INVESTMENT.
A SHARP contrast is drawn—between the relative values of the riches of this world and the treasures that may be laid up in heaven—in the counsel of Jesus to a certain man who came to Him for instruction. The man was a ruler having honorable position; he was young, therefore naturally supposed that he had before him a good measure of time to enjoy life; he was rich, having the means to make temporal life enjoyable under ordinary circumstances. Everything that men naturally seek after in this world was at his command. There was one thing, however, that he desired which seemed to him an essential complement of his material possession. He knew, as all men do, that the years of this life, even to a young man, are few at best. He wanted eternal life in which to enjoy the honor and the wealth that he already possessed. That was the height of his ambition. So he came to Jesus, with his heart full of selfishness, to inquire how he might gain eternal life. Jesus at once referred him to the law of God, and said, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." The young man claimed that he always had done this. The Lord did not formally dispute the claim, but immediately put it to the test: "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." This was a fair, logical test; if the young man was keeping the commandment, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself," he would instinctively, unhesitatingly divide his substance with any who had need. In fact, he never could have become very rich in this world's goods without knowing that his wealth was a trust reposed in him as a steward, to be used as the Giver should direct. But the contrast to which we would call especial attention is between the life that is attached to this world's riches and that which goes with the treasures laid up in heaven. "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." The one thing that stood between the rich young ruler and eternal life was his covetousness, his love of money; it hindered his faith in the word of Christ. Through this trait the god of this world had blinded his eyes to his eternal interests; it were better for him to dispose of the riches altogether and become a co-laborer with Christ. By holding on to his worldly treasures, the rich man must be content to enjoy only a temporal life of brief, uncertain tenure; but by withdrawing his capital from perishable investment and depositing it in the bank of heaven through the medium of God's cause in the earth, it becomes not only greatly enhanced in value, but with the investment goes an eternal life insurance policy. This counsel of the Lord regarding investment was given to one whom He loved (Mark 10:21), and under such circumstances even a fallible man would give the best advice of which he was capable. Shall we not learn wisdom from the words of Him who is the source of all wisdom on all matters, temporal and spiritual? "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." G.