Editorial May 23, 1903 Issue

Disabling Riches

W.

JESUS' suggestive words, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" have been supposed to appeal especially to those who, like the rich young man, have large wealth; but when these words are considered in the light of the Master's other saying, "A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth;" they come to have a meaning which is of much broader application.

It is not the number of things, but our thought of the end they will subserve, that gives the true estimate of our belongings. Our beliefs respecting the causal relation of materiality to the comfort and satisfaction of life, these furnish us the correct inventory of our worldly estate, and these beliefs, if not wholly subordinated to the Christ ideal, will certainly exclude us from the heaven of spiritual attainment.

The presence or absence of material things, may have little or nothing to do with the presence and dominion of these material beliefs. The so-called poor may be far more burdened and hampered by them than are the rich, and for the reason that their unsatisfied longings remain in full force and accumulate, while those who through experience have come to know the inability of material gratifications to bring happiness and content of heart, are undeceived, and so find, through experience or illumination, escape from the fetters of false sense.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Poem
What Have we Done To-day
May 23, 1903
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit