1116 never does take fiis ease. The only place where real ease can be found is neither in the accumulation nor enjoyment of wealth, but in Jesus Christ (Matt. 12:28). The rich man neither addressed God nor his fellow-man, only his own shriveled self, “my soul.” He told his soul that he had “much goods laid up for many years.” That was a great mistake. His soul had absolutely nothing laid up, only his body; and that not for many years, but for a few short hours. The place to lay up goods for many years is not in barns, but in heaven (Matt. 6:19-21). They are laid up there by giving „them away (Mark 10:21). This man’s highest conception of the right use of money was in eating, drink ing and being merry. This beastly con ception is not outgrown yet. He expected his soul to be satisfied in that way. He thought that the soul could be fed with corn and his thirst satisfied with wine. Souls cannot be satisfied that way. The soul is too large for anything but God to satisfy. Its only real satisfaction is in Christ (John_4:13, 14; 7:37-39). Butsome men have not learned the difference be tween their souls and their bellies. Up to this point the man had done all the talk ing; now God speaks. „ He does not say much, but the little he does say upsets all the man’s plans. The man had said “many years,” but God says “this night.” So wide man’s calculations from God’s. The man' Considered hirñsélf wise, but God called him a “fool.” He called him so be cause that was what he was. So is every one that “layeth up for himself treasure and is not rich toward God.” Fools of that stripe abound today. The man had said “my soul,” but God said “thy soul is required (asked back) of thee.” When God demanded his soul back the poor wretch had nothing left. God put a hard question to him, “the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?” He had had the burden and toil of heaping them up; another should have the joy of spending them. The money-getter usually toils for some -one else. He did not even get a chance to begin the barns he had so shrewdly planned. There is no greater fool
THE KING’S BUSINESS
than the man who lives for money. He is wise in his own sight, but a fool in the sight of God. That is a wonderful ex pression, “rich toward God,” and deserves long meditation. i Sunday, December 26.' Luke 12:22-34. The Lord Jesus would háVe us live ab solutely without anxiety. We should not be anxious for our life, nor for otir food, nor for our body, nor for our clothes. The life is more than food, and as God gave us life we may trust Him to supply us with food. The body is more than raiment, and as He gave us our bodies, we may look to Him, for clothing for them. He sees that even the ravens are abundantly fed, and that the fields áre clothed with a beauty and splendor beyond that of Solomon, so we can trust Him to clothe and feed us. Not only is there no .need that we be anxious, there is nothing gained by being anxious. With all our anxiety we cannot add one cubit to our stature. Anxiety never gains anything. All our anxiety comes from “little faith.” Our Father knows what we have need of, and we can trust our Father to supply it. Our whole business is to find His will and do it. Monday, December 27. Luke 12:35-40. The disciples of Jesus Christ should ever be ready for, looking for, loving and eagerly desiring our Lord’s return (cf. 2 Peter 3:11, 12, R. V.; Titus 2:13; 2 Tim. 4 : 8 ). The faithful servants of an absent but expected Lord, always watch for Him in order that they may give Him a suitable welcome when He comes. If Jesus Christ should come again today, surely some of His professed disciples would not be ready to open to Him immediately. We cannot be looking for our Lord if we know .that He cannot possibly return for a thousand years, or any time. In order that we may be practically in the attitude pronounced “blessed” by our Lord, it must at least be possible that He «pome at any moment. He comes and knocks at the individual heart even now (Rev. 3:20). In order to hear His knock and let Him in we must be
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