Article December 7, 1935 Issue

Rich Possessions

LENA PEDRICK HOWARD

On the walls of one of the offices in the Administration Building of The Mother Church is a painting which portrays the story of Jesus in conversation with a certain rich man. The artist clearly conveys in the painting his concept of the seriousness of the young man when questioning Jesus, and the love and compassion with which the Master answered his inquiry.

It is apparent that this young man, learning of the great works of Jesus, recognized that Jesus had a comprehension of immortality which surpassed his own understanding, and felt that in a few words Jesus could tell him what he should do that he might "have eternal life." It is related that this young man had "great possessions"; also, that he had kept the Commandments from his youth, and probably felt equipped to do whatever Jesus might ask of him. No doubt, however, Jesus discerned the materiality of his thought and also a sense of pride in his personal worth. The young man was indeed surprised and "went away sorrowful" when Jesus said to him, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven." It may seem strange that one should be asked to sell all one has before giving unto the poor. Yet this is precisely what Jesus asked.

A worker who sees this picture frequently has pondered the import of the story in an endeavor to ascertain what could have been in the heart of the young man when questioning Jesus, and whether the command of Jesus might have any bearing on her experience, since she, unlike the inquirer, had not an abundance of this world's goods. It greatly surprised her, however, to find that she too had much stored away in human consciousness which she had cherished as "great possessions," and which surely she would need to "sell"—cast out—to make room for those spiritual qualities by which one discerns the needs of others and helps them to know that God supplies those needs. Would not traits of disposition such as self-righteousness, selfishness, pride, envy, resentment, self-will, self-satisfaction, egotism, and other material elements hinder advancement toward the goal which one must attain in order to avail oneself of rightful divine heritage? If one is bound by error, how can he loose the bands of his fellow men?

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