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 goods for  many  years  he  might  take  his  rest  and  eat and drink  and  make  merry. But no  sooner  was  his plan accomplished  than  God  said  to  him:  "Thou fool !  this  very  night  do  I  demand  thy  soul  of  thee." Why was  God  so  harsh  with  him? We do  not  read that his  riches  were  ill-gotten,  or  that  he  turned  away the needy. His crime  was  forgetfulness  of  others, selfishness, because,  says  Christ,  "  he  laid  up  treasures for  himself  and  was  not  rich  towards  God,"  and God's earthly  representatives,  the  poor. The last and worst  of  the  Gospel  millionaires  was  Dives. He clothed himself  in  purple  and  fine  linen  and  feasted sumptuously every  day,  but  never  a  crumb  would  he give  to  Lazarus,  dying  of  starvation  on  his  doorstep. But Dives  died  and  was  buried  in  hell. Brethren, there is  never  a  modern  millionaire  but  can  find  his prototype in  one  of  the  Gospel  three. Be it  that riches are  his  only  fault;  belong  he  to  the  selfish  class, or the  unmerciful,  he  is  sure  to  learn  in  the  history  of these  three  what  Christ  thinks  of  him  and  what  will probably be  his  fate  hereafter. Thou art  not  worthy to be  My  disciple;  this  night  do  I  demand  thy  soul of thee;  and  judgment  without  mercy  to  him  that hath not  done  mercy.

Brethren, go  back  in  thought  to  Jesus  amid  the throng, the  miraculous  banquet  ended,  blessing  them, and with  a  gracious  smile  bidding  them  go  in  peace. What a  contrast  between  that  feast  and  that  other just then  being  celebrated  in  King  Herod's  palace  in honor  of  himself — his  birthday. Lavish expenditure, sinful luxury,  incest,  with  never  a  thought  of  the  poor