Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 February 1914 — BROOKLYN TABERNACLE BIBLE-STUDY-ON [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BROOKLYN TABERNACLE BIBLE-STUDY-ON

“WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS." Luke 12:13-34 March 1. “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” —V. H was surrounded by a mul4 titude of Jews, one of whom re ■ quested that Jesus admonish his brother to give him a share of the family inheritance. Jesus declined, saying that He was not a judge or a divider, and backing His refusal with a caution against covetousness. This implies that the man who addressed Jesus was coveting what legally belonged to his brother. Jesus would have him, and all, see that abundance of earthly possessions is ot the sum of life. The basis of happine. s Is measured by the soul’s relationship to God and hope in Him.

God’s promise to Israel was that if they would keep the Law, they would inherit the Promise made to Abraham, and be used as God’s Kingdom to bless the world. Their

difficulty was that they were unable to keep the Divine requirements. Nevertheless, the Kingdom hope was ever uppermost in their minds. Jesus came into the world to give Himself a “Ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2,6). and to begin the work of calling

“Israelites indeed,” to constitute His associates in the Kingdom. He kept the Law perfectly, and, additionally, laid down His life sacriflclally for Adam and his race. This sacrifice enabled Him to make good for\he unintentional shortcomings of all “Israelites indeed.” While they could not keep the Law and thus obtain the Kingdom, they could by accepting Christ have the righteousness of the Law imputed to them and be acceptable to God. Hence Jesus’ preaching was wholly along Kingdom lines, to the people who for centuries had striven to constitute that Kingdom. The first opportunity for membership in that Kingdom was granted Israel: and only in proportion as they rejected the favor did it pass to the Gentiles, as St Paul said. (Acts 13:46). In view of these facts we see that Jesus’ teachings were not addressed to the world, but to the people of God.

“Soul, Take Thine Ease.” Our Lord gave a parable illustrating the comparative folly of all earthly ambitions in contrast with the ongreat possibility of the Kingdom. The parable tells of a rich farmer who built greater barns and storehouses, with the thought of thenceforth taking his ease. But ere long he died. Many read into this parable things which it does not contain. They Infer that the rich man went to eternal tor ment; but nothing in the Lord's words so intimates. The expression. “This night shall thy soul be required of thee.” signifies. This night you shall die in poverty. Earthly riches will be of no account in the future. The lesson is that spiritual riches should be laid up instead.

That rich man might have consecrated his life to God through Christ, and then faithfully laid down time, talent, opportunities, wealth, sacriflcially. Thus he would have laid up treasures in Heaven, and in the resurrection would have been received of the Lord as a member of His Kingdom class, commissioned to scatter Divine blessings for a thousand years to all the families of the earth. That rich man, having missed his opportunities, will nevertheless come forth during Christ’s Millennial King-

dom; for all in the graves shall heu. the voice of the Son of God and come forth. His resurrection will be that described as the Resurrection of Judgment. (John 5:29. R. V.) He will come forth to shame and contempt. which will continue until he shall form a better

> character; or. refusing to do so. he will be cut off in the Second Death. “Seek First the Kingdom.” Jesus did not mean that we are to look amongst the kingdoms of earth hoping to find one of them His Kingdom. On the contrary, He informs us that His Kingdom is future: “My Kingdom is not of this world"-thls order of things. We hope, we wait, we pray, we prepare for that King, dom. seeking it in the sense of doing those things which shall make us “meet for the inheritance of the saints in light” \ For those who vould be heirs of the Kingdom there is one definite proce- ’ dure: (1» They must recognize themselves as sinners, unworthy of Divine notice- , <2i They must recognize Jesus as “the Lamb of God. which taketh away the sin of the world;” ■ (3» They must realize that-while His sacrifice is the basis of the world's reconciliation to God. nevertheless that work is to be accomplished by Him during His Millennial Regn; ' (4» They are to hear the Lord’s declaration that He is now seeking the Kingdom class—those whose saintship will endure fiery trials in respect to their love mid loyalty to God and the brethren, even unto death.

Jesus' Reproof of Coveting.

Beart on Earthly Riches.