Article March 27, 1971 Issue

You Can Take It with You

EDNA MAY EVANS WHITE

Centuries ago Christ Jesus put forth a parable to teach a great lesson on the subject of covetousness. According to Luke he said, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?" Luke 12:16,17; The parable then relates that the rich man decided to build greater barns for storing his wealth and to take life easy, to "eat, drink, and be merry." Then comes the warning, "But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?"

How true it is that material wealth must eventually be left behind! Only spiritual riches, such as the qualities of joy, peace, harmony, which comprise the true nature of man made in God's image and likeness, can be taken into the kingdom of heaven.

In human experience many unlovely and negative qualities are expressed. Belief in heredity, hard experiences, and lack of parental direction or control often allow these false traits to become established as an individual's nature, and even to seem advantageous and pleasurable to him. But a bad disposition or a weak character is no more a part of the real man, God's son, than barnacles are part of a ship. All unlovely characteristics, no matter how satisfying or necessary they may seem to those expressing them, must eventually be overcome and discarded. Jesus said, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven," Matt. 18:3; implying that innocency and purity are keys to the kingdom.

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