Article August 8, 1931 Issue

Employment and Supply

JOHN W. W. CASSELS

IN the twelfth chapter of Luke's Gospel is recorded Jesus' parable of a rich man who devoted his energies to the hoarding of material riches that he might later take his ease and be merry. This eagerly awaited time, however, of ease in matter never arrived. Instead, after being told, "This night thy soul shall be required of thee," the rich man was left pondering the question, "Then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?"

The parable finishes significantly with the words, "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." Evidently Jesus meant to infer that the hoarding of material wealth for purely selfish motives not only was wrong, but could not result in a permanent sense of supply. Following up his parable, he urged his hearers to think less about how their material needs would be met and to dwell more on the goodness of a loving Father, assuring them that such a Father would surely provide them with all they had need of. He said, "But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Was Jesus speaking from practical experience? The question is important, because if it can be established that Jesus knew what he was talking about, then the longsought solution for the world problem of unemployment and lack is at hand. The only sure test of the practicality of the Master's words is to examine his life to see whether he successfully practiced what he preached.

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