A FAMOUS painter has attempted to portray upon canvas the historic meeting between Jesus and the rich young ruler who came to inquire of the Master, "What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" The artist has painted the scene with rare skill and depicted the forms and faces of the striking characters with an inspired brush; but the incident is greater than the picture, and with all the well displayed genius of the painter and his sympathetic treatment of the great theme, there is much left for the thoughtful observer to supply.
It appears from the story that there was that about the young nobleman which at first view kindled Jesus' interest and admiration. He was comely to look upon, he bore the stamp of intelligence and culture, he was versed in the Jewish law, he had kept the commandments from his youth, and best of all he was a seeker after good. The Master, turning upon him that far-seeing look which ever pierced the thin veneer of human nature and revealed the underlying character, perceived that which instantly won his human love and sympathy. But neither his questioner's winning personality nor his apparent moral uprightness could hide from the great Teacher the hidden fault in the young man's character, and swift came the reply: "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." The sweeping answer must have fallen upon the young man's ears with a sense of great dismay, for, clutching his possessions tightly to his breast, he "went away sorrowful."
The defect in the young man's character which the eye of the Master detected and which his answer revealed, was a wrong concept of possessions. He had overlooked true riches in the gain of material things. He had mistaken the shadow for the substance. He had material goods in abundance, but they were not the kind of possessions which make one rich. They were transient gains which a catastrophe might destroy in a moment of time or an unwise venture wipe out in a day.
