ABSTRACT
The attitude of Christ to material riches, and to those who possess, or do not possess it, is very remarkable. It may be even said to constitute His distinguishing characteristic as a man among men. If we venture to face the significance of His being God among men, all His words and acts take on a deeper and more searching truth. But even as a man amongst men He has this distinctive mark : riches have no glamour for Him ; poverty seems to Him no disqualification, nor even a disadvantage. He honours all men, it is true, and the rich among them, but not more than the poor. One of His great followers, St. Bernard, was said to fear no man, but to reverence all ; that was a trait which he derived from the Master. As a poor man Himself, He never sought to be rich ; and His poverty gave Him easy access to all sorts and conditions of men. The poor were never afraid of Him ; and the rich (is it not an evidence of the inward working of truth in all men ?) were curiously drawn to Him : they came to Him by night if they were ashamed to come by day ; they invited Him to their tables ; they climbed up the trees to see Him, and were honoured when He proposed to come to their houses ; they undertook for Him a costly burial, so that a prophecy seemed to be fulfilled : He was with the rich in death.
