AVARICE AND GENEROSITY. SUMMARY. 1-6-The love of money and the desire to be rich is a temptation to man, and lies at the root of evil; the deeds inspired by it are hateful to God. 7-Job describes what he saw in his day, and the groans of the populous city, and asks why men do not improve. 8-10 The prophets call upon men to consider their ways, and not to follow the fashion of the world by removing the old landmark, and adding field to field. 11-13-Shall the miser find rest or the mean man happiness? 14-16-Give rather to all in distress, at least your sympathy, even to your enemy; be a father to the fatherless: do to others as ye would they should do to you. 17, 18-Paul worked with his hands that he might have enough to give to others. 19-Abraham was courteous in his dealings with his neighbours. 20-In the Psalms we find the ideal of uprightness. V, 1-4. The Love of Money, and its Consequences. 1. He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him. Proverbs xxviii, 22. (a.v.) 2. They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. I Timothy vi, 9, 10. (a.v.) 3. They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him. Psalm xlix, 6, 7. (R.V.) 4. Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the V, 5-6. land to fail. Saying, when will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat? The Lord hath sworn, For they know not to do right, saith the Lord, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. 6. Amos iii, 10. (a.v.) The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! Isaiah v, 7, 8. (a.v.) |