Money is not an unmixed good. It brings in its train many temptations. It is easier to bear poverty than wealth—easier to be a saint when life is hard than when prosperity lavishes her gifts.

When the Pope was showing St. Francis of Assisi the treasures of the Vatican, he remarked: “We can hardly say with the Apostle, ‘Silver and gold have we none.’ ” Francis replied aptly and incisively: “Yes, holy father, and I suppose we can hardly say either, ‘Rise up and walk.’” Often it is in the poverty of earthly circumstances that the soul becomes possessed of an authority which wealth cannot buy.

What compensations there will be hereafter in the times of the restitution of all things! See Acts 3:21.

Then the unsatisfied yearnings for husband, wife, or child; the love which craved for love; the lonely, the homeless, the pilgrim, will neither hunger nor thirst, because the Lamb will lead him to the fountains of waters of life. : 5 68. The Bargaining Spirit Rebuked.

Matthew 20:1-16. This parable orginated in Peter’s question. He had seen the rich young man go away sorrowful, because he could not meet the test which had been put to him; and he contrasted with that great refusal the swift willingness with which he and his fellow Apostles had left all to follow the Lord Jesus.

“Take care,’ said Jesus, “or your bargaining for the rewards of the Kingdom will put you down among the lowest; while they who don’t bargain will come out at the top.” The last made no agreement; they came in at the eleventh hour, and were only too glad to take the vineyard path, leaving the vine owner to give what he thought right. The first “agreed,” taking care to strike a bargain of so much money for so much work. Bu they would have done better if they had left the payment to the grace of their employer. “or this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that. the promise may be sure to all the seed,’ Rom. 4:16, R.V.