sands of citizens in a great variety of organized kindness. Does this striking fact seem to you like a way-mark of progress for Jesus and his Golden Rule? POINTS FOR DISCUSSION 1. Which do you think is more difficult, to earn money honestly, or to spend it wisely? What makes money such a power in the world? What problems have you found in spending your allowance right? Do you know anyone who has more to spend than is good for him? If you had one hundred dollars monthly allowance, what would you do with it? 2. Why is thrift a virtue? Describe its effect on character. Show how Jesus taught thrift. What did he say to the man who hoarded his money instead of investing it? Does happiness depend on cash? Explain the dangerous effect of money on character. 3. What sort of a man did Jesus call a fool? Tell what you think of the story. What shows the man's selfishness? What do you think of the man's idea of having a good time? How much was that man worth when he died? 4. Why do we get so deeply interested in what we invest in? Tell what Jesus said about this. Can you explain what he said about "treasures in heaven"? Make clear the distinction in Jesus' teaching about hoarding and investing money. 5. What do we mean by "consecrating money"? What did Jesus say about trusteeship? If a man is a Christian, what difference should it make in the way he spends his income? What is the true Christian ideal of property ownership? What do you think Jesus would say about these illustrations of consecrated fortunes? What do you like about the modern "community fund" idea? FOR FURTHER STUDY AND HONOR WORK 6. What have you coveted most the past year? Compare the tenth commandment with Paul's advice to "covet earnestly the best gifts." Try to decide what "better gifts" you should earnestly desire. What effect does covetousness have upon happiness and character? I 7. Study the story of Nabal, in 1 Samuel 25, and compare it with Jesus' story of the Foolish Rich Man. Remember the name Nabal is the Hebrew word for fool. Do you think Jesus had this older story in mind at the time? 8. Study the system of giving which is called tithing. What did Jesus say about it? Should two brothers having the same income each give a tenth, if one is a bachelor and the other the father of six children? Why should all Christians give systematically "as the Lord has prospered them"? Decide on a practical plan of giving for yourself. CHAPTER XIX THE GOLDEN RULE MUST PROTECT THE WEAK THE most contemptible of all boys is the bully. Why is it we all dislike him so? Is it not because he uses his brute strength to take advantage of weakness? Often he is too much of a coward to face a boy of his own size who would give him a real test of strength and courage. Any person who imposes on another's weakness or takes advantage of ignorance or in any other way abuses the privilege of power is at heart a bully, and the religion of Jesus brings a very stiff challenge to such a person. The bully or the knight-errant. Some forms of bullying seem innocent enough at first, but they cause a good deal of annoyance if not real distress-for instance, the old custom of hazing or fagging in college and "prep schools." Have you ever indulged in it? It seemed funny at the time, but it was a violation of personal rights. You were making that freshman for the time being your slave, just because your upper-class dignity gave you the upper hand. He resented it, but was probably helpless to resist, for he was the "under dog." Perhaps he got his consolation in the thought that in a year or two he would get even by hazing the new freshmen who would come after him. There is a much finer type of fellow who enjoys rather the role of knight-errant. He is always looking out for a chance to turn things right side up, to get people out of trouble, to checkmate the bully and rescue his victims, |