e r ty o f riches. E a r t h ly riches, n o m a t t e r h ow g r e a t, c a nnever b u yf o ro n et h e best t h i n g i n life, f o rt h e best t h i n g i n life i s t h e r e al life, t h e life o f God . B u t t h a n k God, p o v e r ty c a n never h i n d er u s f r om h a v i n g t h e t r u e st riches. N oo n ec a nb e so poor t h a t h e c a n n ot a c c e p t . t he g i f t o f God. T h ewo r l d 's m e a s u r e m e nt o f me ni 3 by t h e ir possessions. God's m e a s u r e m e nt of m a ni s h i s positio n i n H i ssight. L a z a- r u s w a sa l w a ys a mo re w o r t hy m a n t h a n Dives, b u tt h ewo r ld di dn o tk n ow it . T h e world b owed a n ds a l a a m ed t o Dives. H e h ad h i sn a me i n t h ewo r l d 's hall o f f a m e; he h a dm a de good; h i s mo n ey s p o ke f o r him; h emo v ed i n t h eh i g h e st circle. L a z a- r u s w a s t h eu n k n o w n, u n c a r e d - f or b e g g a r; he w a so n offence t o t h ef a s t i d i o us g r o up t h a t a s s e mb l ed i n t h e h ome o f Dives. L a z a r us w a sw e l l - k n o wn i n h e a v en w h e re God w a sp r o v i d i ng a place f o rhim. T h e re w a s n o m a n s i on f o r t h e u n r e g e n e r a te Dives, s o h e w e n t t o t h eplace p r e p a r ed f o r t h e devil a n dh i sangels. T h eg r a vé i s riot t he g o al o f ma n . I f w e a r e t o g e tt h e r e al e s t i m a te o f v a l u es w em u s t t a k e into c o n s i d e r a t i on e t e r n i t y. I f w e w a n t t o k n o w a m a n 's real s t a n d i n g, w em u s t look u p on God's r a t e book a n d se e h o wGo d q u o t es h im . T h ee n d o r s e m e nt o f t h e L o rd J e s us wo u ld h a ve a d d ed n ov a l ue t o a note in a n yb a n k i n P a l e s t i n e, b u t i n h e a v en it w a sr a t ed a b o ve p a r . P e t er a n d J o hn w e r e f o r c ed t o c o n f e ss t h a t t h ey h a d n e i t h er silver n o rgold, b u tt h ey w e r e able to reach o u ton e h a nd a n dt o u ch h e a v en a n d with t h e o t h er heal a cripple. I t m a k e s little difference w h e t h er y o u h a ve a n y t h i ng e a r t h l y, i f y o uh a ve Christ, f o r w i th H i mal l t h i n gs a r eyours, a n dy ea r e Christ's a n dC h r i st i s God's. 3. Boys' Games. W h e n i t comes t o p l ay al lchildren a r emuch alike, a n d k i te flying, tops, Blind Man's Buff, a n d w r e s t- l i ng a r ea s d e ar t o J a p a n e se children a s t o Am e r i c an boys. T h eBoy's F e s t i v al i s o n t h e 5t h d a y o f t h e 5 t h mo n t h. T h eo u t - w a r d sign o f i t i s a pole, f r om wh i ch h a n g s a p a p er fish, b e f o re each door w h e re a bo yh a sbeen born d u r i ng t h eyear. T h e fish r e p r e s e n ts a c a r p, b e c a u se t h e c a rp is s t r o ng a n dlong lived, a n ds w i ms a g a i n st t h e c u r r e n t. T h eBoy's F e s t i v al i s j o y - ous w i th picnics a n d parties. 4. T h eGirl's Games. Littl e g i r ls h a ve a h a p py t i me i n J a p a n, b u tt h e r e l i g i o us c u s t oms give t h em a v e ry s o r r o w f ul t i me w h e n t h ey g r o w older. E v en w h en t h ey a r e little t h ey m u s t c a r ry t h eb a by b r o t h er or sister o n t h e ir b a c ks while a t play, a n d "Bounce t h e B a l l" i s a l w a y s b o u n ce t h e baby, too . T h e n, o f course, t h ey p l ay g a m e s , - a nd h a ve puzzles a n d dolls. T h e " F e a st o f Dolls" i s o n t h e 3r d d a yo f t h e 3rd m o n th w h en a l lt h eb e st dolls a n ddoll f u r n i t u re a r eb r o u g ht o u tf o r3 days, a f t e r w h i ch t h ey a r ep u tc a r e f u l ly a w a y f o ra n - o t h er year. J a p a n e se children love f a i ry a n d a n i m al stories a s well a s o u r Own . 5. Ca ny o u tell a s t o ry J a p a n e se chil- d r en h a ve never h e a r d? T h ey n e v er h e a rd of o u r C h r i s t m as F e s t i v a l. T h ey n e v er h e a rd o f H i mw h o se birth i t c e l e b r a t e s; h ow J e s us w a sborn i n B e t h l e h em; w h y H e c a me t o t h e e a r t h; n o rh o wH e loves all childnen, t h eJ a p a n e se a s well a sa n y , a n d t o ok t h em i n H i sa r m s, while H e Said (see Matt. 19:14). T h ey n e v er h e a rd o f
o r g a n o f t h ebody; i t i s closely r e l a t ed t o t h e b r a in a n dgives e x p r e s s i on t o t h e f e e l- i n g s ; i t m a n i f e s ts love, s ymp a t h y, etc . 'Two t h i n gs a r ee s s e n t i al t o p e r f e ct s i g h t: good vision a n dgood light. S o t h e spir- i t u a l m a nneeds a single ey ea n d p e r f e ct light. T h e se a r ed e p e n d e nt u p on t h ec o n - d i t i on o f t h eh e a r t. T h eh e a r t i s t h e s e at of t h e affections. T h r ee t h i n gs a r e f o c u s s ed i n t h eh e a r t; mind, emotion, a n d will. W h a t direction d o y o ur t h o u g h ts t a k e ? W h a t a r ey o ur desires? O n wh i ch s i de i s y o ur will? T h econdition o f y o ur "heart i s d e p e n d e nt u p on t h e se t h r ee t h i n g s. T h eh e a rt m a yb e a c h a r n e l - h o u se f o r foul birds, o r a place w h e re t h e Ho ly Spirit holds s w a y. . P u r i ty o f h e a rt i s •essential t o visions o f God . W h o shall •ascend into t h ehill o f t h e Lord, o rw h o s h a ll s t a nd i n h i s holy place? H e t h a t h a t h clean h a n ds arid a p u re h e a r t. P s . 24:3-4. T h eL o rd J e s us h a s s o a s c e n d ed a n d w e c a n s t a nd w i th Him . a n d g e tt h e r e al vision o f God's f a ce reflected i n H i s Son. T o d o s o w e need t h e p r a c t i c al cleansing, s o t h a t w e m a y h a ve h o u r ly visions. I f w e give the. Spirit o f Go dH i s r i g h t f ul place, give H i mdominion i n H i s T e mp l e, H e w i l drive b a ck t h e d a r k n e ss a n d flood t h esoul wit!? l i g h t; H ewill shed t h e , l o ve o f Go da b r o ad i n t h e h e a r t; H e -will open t h e w i n d o ws o f t h e soul t o h e a v e n ly b e a u t i e s; H ewill fill the 'T emp le w i th sacred music. I nt h equiet o f a clean h e a r t J o uwill flnd t h e p e r f e ct i m a ge o f •God. LESSO NV . Ma y 5 , 1912 . T he title o f o u rlesson i s " P o v e r ty a n d "Rich.es." I t m i g ht well h a ve been t h e p o v - 1. Se e t h a t t h e children a r e e n t i r e ly i a m i l i a r w i th t h es t o ry i n i t s details. I f they, a r en o ttell i t yourself a n d , then, l e t a t l e a st t w o o f t h em r e p e at i t t o y o u ; a n d . d r a w i t f r om t h er e st b y q u e s t i o n i n g. 2. A s ki f a n o r d i n a ry m a ni s a b le t o h e lp i n a case like this; a n dw h odi d help t h e f r i e n d l e ss m a n ; a n d w h yi t w a s t h a t H e could help h i m ;a n dw h yH e di d help "him. P s a .89:19.) 3. F i nd o u t w h a t t h ey r e m e m b er o f o t h er cases t h a t J e s us helped. S o lead t h e m t o se et h a t J e s u s' wh o le life w a so f h e l p f u l n e s s. Tell t h em t h es t o ry o f Good S a m a r i t a n, a n ds h ow h o wi t fits t h e w o r k of Jesus, w h osaid "G otho u an d d o like - -Wise " ( L u ke 10:30-37). H a ve t h em read E p h e s i a ns 5:3 . 4. A s k t h em t o n a me some o n ew h o needs help. An dd o n o t l e t t h em f o r g et •about b e i ng h e l p f ul a t home, a n da t school; a n d g e t t h em t o tell o f h e l p f u l n e ss i n .•giving time, mo n e y, a n d p r a y e r. JAPANES E CHILDRE N A T PLAY . Apri l 14 . Prov .20:11 . 1. I f possible h a ve a m a pb e f o re t h e J u n i o rs even if .y o ug e t - i t f r om a n a t l a s. 2. Localise t h e ir ideas b y a s k i n g which w a y w eg o t o reach J a p a n; h o ww e t r a v e l; "where w e t a k e a s t e a m e r; h o wl o ng i t "takes t o reach t h e r e; w h e re w e wo u ld l a n d , etc . A Ma n Tha t Neede dHelp . Apri l 7 . Joh n 5:2-7 .
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