LESSON 9 *February 25–March 3
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Isa. 14:12–14, Eph. 5:5, Joshua
7, John 12:1–8, Acts 5:1–11, 1 Cor. 10:13.
Memory Text: “ ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s
life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses’ ” (Luke 12:15, NKJV).
Covetousness has been defined as an inordinate desire for wealth or
possessions that really don’t belong to you. Covetousness is a big
deal, big enough, in fact, to be right up there with not lying,
stealing, or murder. It’s so damaging that God chose to warn against it in
His great moral law. “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt
not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant,
nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s” (Exod. 20:17).
Covetousness is frequently listed with heinous sins that will keep one
out of the kingdom of God. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not
inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with
mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9, 10).
Covetousness, right up there with extortion, idolatry, fornication, and
adultery? That’s what the texts say, and this week we will look at examples
of just how bad it is and what we can do to overcome it.
* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 4.
EGW Notes — SATURDAY ↓
Sabbath Afternoon, February 25
Lesson 9 - Beware of Covetousness
The whole heart must be yielded to God, or the change can never be
wrought in us by which we are to be restored to His likeness. By nature
we are alienated from God. The Holy Spirit describes our condition in such
words as these: “Dead in trespasses and sins;” “the whole head is sick, and
the whole heart faint;” “no soundness in it.” We are held fast in the snare
of Satan, “taken captive by him at his will.” Ephesians 2:1; Isaiah 1:5, 6; 2
Timothy 2:26. God desires to heal us, to set us free. But since this requires
an entire transformation, a renewing of our whole nature, we must yield
ourselves wholly to Him.
The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The
yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle; but
the soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in holiness. . . .
[God] sets before us the height of blessing to which He desires to bring
us through His grace. He invites us to give ourselves to Him, that He may
work His will in us. It remains for us to choose whether we will be set free
from the bondage of sin, to share the glorious liberty of the sons of
God.—Steps to Christ, p. 43.
Make God your entire dependence. When you do otherwise, then it is
time for a halt to be called. Stop right where you are, and change the order
of things. In sincerity, in soul-hunger, cry after God. Wrestle with the
heavenly agencies until you have the victory. Put your whole being into
the Lord’s hands soul, body, and spirit, and resolve to be His loving,
consecrated agency, moved by His will, controlled by His mind, infused by
His Spirit . . . then you will see heavenly things clearly.
If we would permit our minds to dwell more upon Christ and the
heavenly world, we should find a powerful stimulus and support in
fighting the battles of the Lord. Pride and love of the world will lose their
power as we contemplate the glories of that better land so soon to be our
home. Beside the loveliness of Christ, all earthly attractions will seem of
little worth.—Sons and Daughters of God,
p. 105.
Constant, self-denying benevolence is God’s remedy for the cankering
sins of selfishness and covetousness. God has arranged systematic
benevolence to sustain His cause and relieve the necessities of the
suffering and needy. He has ordained that giving should become a habit,
that it may counteract the dangerous and deceitful sin of covetousness.
Continual giving starves covetousness to death. Systematic benevolence is
designed in the order of God to tear away treasures from the covetous as
fast as they are gained and to consecrate them to the Lord, to whom they
belong. . . .
The constant practice of God’s plan of systematic benevolence weakens
covetousness and strengthens benevolence. If riches increase, men, even
those professing godliness, set their hearts upon them; and the more they
have, the less they give to the treasury of the Lord. Thus riches make men
selfish, and hoarding feeds covetousness; and these evils strengthen by
active exercise. God knows our danger and has hedged us about with
means to prevent our own
ruin.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 548.
SUNDAY February 26
The Ultimate Original Sin?
The question often arises, and understandably so, about how sin arose in
God’s universe. We understand how, at least somewhat. And at its heart, it
was because of covetousness. Perhaps covetousness, then, is the ultimate
original sin.
Read Isaiah 14:12–14. What hints are given there about the fall of
Lucifer? How did covetousness play a crucial role in that fall?
* Your notes will not be saved!
“Not content with his position, though honored above the heavenly host,
he ventured to covet homage due alone to the Creator. Instead of seeking to
make God supreme in the affections and allegiance of all created beings, it
was his endeavor to secure their service and loyalty to himself. And
coveting the glory with which the infinite Father had invested His Son, this
prince of angels aspired to power that was the prerogative of Christ
alone.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 35.
Read Ephesians 5:5 and Colossians 3:5. With what does Paul equate
covetousness, and why?
How fascinating that twice Paul would equate covetousness with
idolatry. People practice idolatry when they worship—that is, dedicate their
lives to—something other than God, something created rather than the
Creator (Rom. 1:25). Could covetousness be, then, wanting something that
we shouldn’t have, and wanting it so badly that our desire for it, rather than
the Lord, becomes the focus of our heart?
No doubt, Lucifer at first didn’t know where his wrong desires were to
lead him. It can be the same with us. The commandment against
covetousness, the one commandment that deals only with thoughts, can stop
us from acts that will lead to the violation of other commandments, as well.
(See, for instance, 2 Samuel 11.)
Read 1 Timothy 6:6, 7. How can focusing on what Paul writes here
help protect us from covetousness?
EGW Notes — SUNDAY ↓
Sunday, February 26
The Ultimate Original Sin?
So long as all created beings acknowledged the allegiance of love, there
was perfect harmony throughout the universe of God. It was the joy of the
heavenly host to fulfill the purpose of their Creator. They delighted in
reflecting His glory and showing forth His praise. And while love to God
was supreme, love for one another was confiding and unselfish. There was
no note of discord to mar the celestial harmonies. But a change came over
this happy state. . . .
Little by little Lucifer came to indulge the desire for self-exaltation. The
Scripture says, “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast
corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.” Ezekiel 28:17. “Thou
hast said in thine heart, . . . I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. .
. . I will be like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:13, 14. Though all his glory was
from God, this mighty angel came to regard it as pertaining to himself.
Not content with his position, though honored above the heavenly host,
he ventured to covet homage due alone to the Creator. Instead of seeking
to make God supreme in the affections and allegiance of all created beings,
it was his endeavor to secure their service and loyalty to himself. And
coveting the glory with which the infinite Father had invested His Son,
this prince of angels aspired to power that was the prerogative of Christ
alone.—Patriarchs and Prophets,
p. 35.
Many who claim to believe in God deny Him by their works. Their
worship of money, houses, and lands marks them as idolaters and
apostates. All selfishness is covetousness, and is, therefore, idolatry. Many
who have placed their names on the church roll, as believers in God and
the Bible, are worshiping the goods the Lord has entrusted to them that
they may be His almoners. They may not literally bow down before their
earthly treasure, but nevertheless it is their god. They are worshipers of
mammon. To the things of this world they offer the homage which
belongs to the Creator. He who sees and knows all things records the
falsity of their profession.
From the soul temple of a worldly Christian, God is excluded, in order
that worldly policy may have abundant room. Money is his god. It belongs
to Jehovah, but he to whom it is entrusted refuses to let it flow forth in
deeds of benevolence. Did he appropriate it in accordance with God’s
design, the incense of his good works would ascend to heaven, and from
thousands of converted souls would be heard songs of praise and
thanksgiving.—Counsels on Stewardship,
p. 223.
Pure religion brings peace, happiness, contentment; godliness is
profitable to this life and the life to come.
That unrest and discontent which ends in fretting and complaining is
sinful; but the discontent with one’s self which urges on to more earnest
effort for greater improvement of the mind for a broader field of
usefulness is praiseworthy. This discontent does not end in
disappointment but in gathering force for a higher and more extended
field of usefulness. Only be ever balanced by firm religious principle and a
sensitive conscience, having ever the fear of God before you, and you will
certainly prosper in becoming fitted for a life of
usefulness.—Our High Calling, p. 242.
MONDAY February 27
An Accursed Thing in the Camp
It was arguably one of the grandest times in the history of Israel. After
40 years of wandering in the wilderness, they were finally entering the
Promised Land. Through a dramatic miracle, the children of Israel crossed
the Jordan River at its flood stage—on dry land. This dry-land crossing was
so impressive that the hearts of the heathen kings in Canaan melted, and
they had no spirit to fight (Josh. 5:1).
The first real challenge in the conquest of Canaan was the walled and
fortified city of Jericho. No one knew what to do to defeat the inhabi tants of
Jericho—not even Joshua. In answer to Joshua’s prayer, God revealed the
plan for the destruction of the city, which they followed. But then things
took a decidedly bad turn.
Read Joshua 7. What happened after the powerful victory at Jericho,
and what message should we take from this story for ourselves?
Once confronted, Achan admitted what he did, saying that he had
“coveted” those goods. The Hebrew word here translated “coveted,” chmd,
has been used in some places in the Bible in a very positive sense. The
same root appears in Daniel 9:23, for instance, when Gabriel told Daniel
that he was a man “greatly beloved.”
In this case, however, this chmd was bad news. Despite the clear
command not to pillage from the captured cities (Josh. 6:18, 19), Achan did
just that, bringing disrepute upon the whole nation. In fact, after the defeat
at Ai, Joshua feared that “ ‘the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land
will hear it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then
what will You do for Your great name?’ ” (Josh. 7:9, NKJV). In other
words, the Lord wanted to use these great victories as part of letting the
surrounding nations know of His power and His work among His own
people. Their conquests were to be (in a different sort of way) a witness to
the nations of Yahweh’s power. Of course, after the fiasco at Ai, besides the
loss of human life, that witness had been compromised.
Think about how easily Achan could have justified his actions: Well,
it’s such a small amount compared to all the rest of the booty. No one
will know, and what can it hurt? Besides, my family needs the money.
How can we protect ourselves from this kind of dangerous
rationalization?
EGW Notes — MONDAY ↓
Monday, February 27
An Accursed Thing in the Camp
To establish his guilt beyond all question, leaving no ground for the
charge that he had been unjustly condemned, Joshua solemnly adjured
Achan to acknowledge the truth. The wretched man made full confession
of his crime: “Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel. . . .
When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two
hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekel’s weight,
then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth
in the midst of my tent.” . . .
Of the millions of Israel there was but one man who, in that solemn
hour of triumph and of judgment, had dared to transgress the command of
God. Achan’s covetousness was excited by the sight of that costly robe of
Shinar; even when it had brought him face to face with death he called it
“a goodly Babylonish garment.” One sin had led to another, and he
appropriated the gold and silver devoted to the treasury of the Lord—he
robbed God of the first fruits of the land of
Canaan.—Patriarchs and Prophets,
pp. 495, 496.
He who looks at earthly things as the chief good, he who spends his life
in an effort to gain worldly riches, is indeed making a poor investment.
Too late he will see that in which he has trusted crumbling into dust. It is
only through self-denial, through the sacrifice of earthly riches, that the
eternal riches can be obtained. It is through much tribulation that the
Christian enters the kingdom of heaven. Constantly he is to war the good
warfare, not laying down his weapons until Christ bids him rest. Only by
giving all to Christ can he secure the inheritance that will endure through
all eternity.—This Day With God, p. 152.
Thousands are making the same mistake as did the Pharisees whom
Christ reproved at Matthew’s feast. Rather than give up some cherished
idea, or discard some idol of opinion, many refuse the truth which comes
down from the Father of light. They trust in self, and depend upon their
own wisdom, and do not realize their spiritual poverty. They insist on
being saved in some way by which they may perform some important
work. When they see that there is no way of weaving self into the work,
they reject the salvation provided.
A legal religion can never lead souls to Christ; for it is a loveless,
Christless religion. Fasting or prayer that is actuated by a self- justifying
spirit is an abomination in the sight of God. The solemn assembly for
worship, the round of religious ceremonies, the external humiliation, the
imposing sacrifice, proclaim that the doer of these things regards himself
as righteous, and as entitled to heaven; but it is all a deception. Our own
works can never purchase salvation. . . .
Man must be emptied of self before he can be, in the fullest sense, a
believer in Jesus. When self is renounced, then the Lord can make man a
new creature. New bottles can contain the new wine. The love of Christ
will animate the believer with new life. In him who looks unto the Author
and Finisher of our faith the character of Christ will be
manifest.—The Desire of Ages, p. 280.
TUESDAY February 28
The Heart of Judas
One of the most tragic stories in the Bible is that of Judas Iscariot. This
man had a privilege that only 11 other people in all the history of the world
have had: to have been with Jesus all that time and to have learned eternal
truths directly from the Master Himself. How sad that many people who
never had anything remotely like the opportunities that Judas had will be
saved, while Judas, we know, is now destined for eternal destruction.
What happened? The answer can be found in one word: covetousness,
the desires of his heart.
Read John 12:1–8. What did Mary do that attracted so much
attention during the feast? How did Judas react? Why? What was
Jesus’ response?
The Savior’s gentle rebuke to Judas’s covetous remark led him to leave
the feast and go directly to the palace of the high priest, where Jesus’
enemies were gathered. He offered to betray Jesus into their hands for a
sum much smaller than Mary’s gift. (See Matt. 26:14–16.)
What happened to Judas? Having had so many wonderful opportunities,
so many rare privileges, why would he do something so evil? According to
Ellen G. White, Judas “loved the Great Teacher, and desired to be with
Him. He felt a desire to be changed in character and life, and he hoped to
experience this through connecting himself with Jesus. The Saviour did not
repulse Judas. He gave him a place among the twelve. He trusted him to do
the work of an evangelist. He endowed him with power to heal the sick and
to cast out devils. But Judas did not come to the point of surrendering
himself fully to Christ.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 716.
In the end, we all have character defects that, if surrendered, can be
overcome through the power of God working in us. But Judas did not fully
surrender to Christ, and the sin of covetousness, which he could have
overcome in the power of Christ, overcame him instead, with tragic results.
Who among us doesn’t struggle with covetousness over one thing or
another? In this case, what he coveted was money, and that covetousness, a
problem of the heart, led him to stealing (John 12:6), which ultimately led
him to betray Jesus.
What a frightful lesson for all of us about the danger that covetousness
can bring. What seems like a small thing, a simple desire of the heart, can
lead to calamity and to eternal loss.
EGW Notes — TUESDAY ↓
Tuesday, February 28
The Heart of Judas
Judas had valuable qualities, but there were some traits in his character
that would have to be cut away before he could be saved. He must be born
again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible. His great hereditary
and cultivated tendency to evil was covetousness. And by practice this
became a habit which he carried into all his trading. . . .
He was given every opportunity to receive Christ as his personal
Saviour, but he refused this gift. He would not yield his way and will to
Christ. He did not practice that which was contrary to his own
inclinations; therefore his strong avaricious spirit was not corrected.
While he continued a disciple in outward form, and while in the very
presence of Christ, he appropriated to himself means that belonged to the
Lord’s treasury.
Judas might have been benefited by these lessons, had he possessed a
desire to be right at heart; but his acquisitiveness overcame him, and the
love of money became a ruling power. Through indulgence, he permitted
this trait in his character to grow and take so deep a root that it crowded
out the good seed of truth sown in his
heart.—Counsels on Stewardship,
pp. 219, 220.
Money was to Judas a continual temptation, and from time to time,
when he did a little service for Christ, or devoted a little time to religious
purposes, he paid himself out of the meager fund collected to advance the
light of the gospel. He finally became so penurious that he made bitter
complaint because the ointment poured upon the head of Jesus was
expensive. He turned it over and over in his mind, and counted the money
that might have been placed in his hands to expend if that ointment had
been sold. His selfishness grew stronger until he felt that the treasury had
really met with a great loss in not receiving the value of the ointment in
money. He finally made open complaint of the extravagance of this
expensive offering to Christ. Our Saviour rebuked him for this
covetousness. This rankled in the heart of Judas, until, for a small sum of
money, he consented to betray his Lord. There will be those among
Sabbathkeepers who are no truer at heart than was
Judas.—Testimonies for the Church,
vol. 4, p. 42.
If we draw nigh to God, we shall draw nigh to one another. We cannot
draw nigh to the same cross without coming into unity of spirit. Christ
prayed that His disciples should be one as He and the Father are one. We
should seek to be one in spirit and in understanding. We should seek to be
one that God may be glorified in us as He was glorified in the Son, and
God will love us as He loves His Son.
God loves you. He does not wish to draw you nigh to Him to hurt you,
oh, no; but to comfort you, to pour in the oil of rejoicing, to heal the
wounds that sin has made, to bind up where Satan has bruised. He wants
to give you the garments of praise for the spirit of
heaviness.—That I May Know Him, p. 246.
WEDNESDAY March 1
Ananias and Sapphira
It was an exciting time to be a member of the church. Following the
great outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, the apostles
were preaching the gospel with power, and thousands were joining the
church.
“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were
assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they
spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that
believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that
ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things
common” (Acts 4:31, 32).
What a privilege Ananias and Sapphira had, being part of the early
church, seeing it grow, and seeing the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in
such a marked manner. “Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for
all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the
proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet;
and they distributed to each as anyone had need” (Acts 4:34, 35, NKJV).
It was in this setting that Ananias and Sapphira, obviously impressed by
what was happening and wanting to be part of it, decided to sell some
property and contribute the proceeds to the church. So far, so good.
Read Acts 5:1–11. What do you think was worse, holding back part
of the money or lying about it? Why such a harsh punishment?
At first, it seemed as if they were sincere in their desire to give toward
the work. However, “afterward, Ananias and Sapphira grieved the Holy
Spirit by yielding to feelings of covetousness. They began to regret their
promise and soon lost the sweet influence of the blessing that had warmed
their hearts with a desire to do large things in behalf of the cause of
Christ.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 72. In other words,
though they had started out with the best of motives, their covetousness
caused them to put on a front and pretend to be what they really weren’t.
“So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard
these things” (Acts 5:11, NKJV). After this incident, people surely
must have been more careful in returning their tithe. But this sad
account was not included in the Bible as a warning about faithfulness
in tithing. Instead, what does it teach us about where covetousness
can lead?
EGW Notes — WEDNESDAY ↓
Wednesday, March 1
Ananias and Sapphira
God hates hypocrisy and falsehood. Ananias and Sapphira practiced
fraud in their dealing with God; they lied to the Holy Spirit, and their sin
was visited with swift and terrible judgment. When Ananias came with
his offering, Peter said: “Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie
to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it
remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine
own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast
not lied unto men, but unto God.”
“Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and
great fear came on all them that heard these things.” . . .
Infinite Wisdom saw that this signal manifestation of the wrath of God
was necessary to guard the young church from becoming demoralized.
Their numbers were rapidly increasing. The church would have been
endangered if, in the rapid increase of converts, men and women had been
added who, while professing to serve God, were worshiping mammon.
This judgment testified that men cannot deceive God, that He detects the
hidden sin of the heart, and that He will not be mocked. It was designed as
a warning to the church, to lead them to avoid pretense and hypocrisy,
and to beware of robbing
God.—The Acts of the Apostles,
pp. 72, 73.
There are those who are guilty of the same sin as Ananias and
Sapphira, thinking that if they withhold a portion of what God claims in
the tithing system the brethren will never know it. Thus thought the
guilty couple whose example is given us as a warning. God in this case
proves that He searches the heart. The motives and purposes of man
cannot be hidden from Him. He has left a perpetual warning to Christians
of all ages to beware of the sin to which the hearts of men are continually
inclined.
Although no visible marks of God’s displeasure follow the repetition of
the sin of Ananias and Sapphira now, yet the sin is just as heinous in the
sight of God and will as surely be visited upon the transgressor in the day
of judgment, and many will feel the curse of God even in this life. When a
pledge is made to the cause, it is a vow made to God and should be
sacredly kept. In the sight of God it is no better than sacrilege to
appropriate to our own use that which has been once pledged to advance
His sacred
work.—Testimonies for the Church,
vol. 4, p. 469.
Self-sacrifice is the keynote of Christ’s teachings. Often this is enjoined
upon believers in language that seems authoritative, because there is no
other way to save men than to cut them away from their life of
selfishness. Christ gave, in His life on earth, a true representation of the
power of the gospel. . . . To every soul who will suffer with Him in
resistance of sin, in labor for His cause, in self-denial for the good of
others, He promises a part in the eternal reward of the righteous. Through
the exercise of the spirit that characterized His lifework, we are to become
partakers of His nature. Partaking in this life of sacrifice for the sake of
others, we shall share with Him in the life to come the “far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”—“A Work of Preparation,”
Review and Herald, September 28, 1911.
THURSDAY March 2
Overcoming Covetousness
Covetousness is a matter of the heart and, like pride and selfishness,
often goes unnoticed, which is why it can be so deadly and deceiving. It’s
hard enough overcoming sins that are obvious: lying, adultery, stealing,
idolatry, Sabbath breaking. But these are outward acts, things that we have
to think about before we do them. But to overcome wrong thoughts
themselves? That gets tough.
Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. What promise is given here, and why is
this so important to understand in the context of covetousness?
How then, in God’s power, can we be protected against this dangerously
deceptive sin?
1. Make a decision to serve and depend on God and to be a part of His
family. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . . but as for me and my
house, we will serve the LORD” (Josh. 24:15).
2. Be daily in prayer and include Matthew 6:13, “Lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory, for ever.” When feeling covetous of something that
you know you should not have, pray over it, claiming promises in the Bible
for victory, such as 1 Corinthians 10:13.
3. Be regular in Bible study. “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that
I might not sin against You” (Ps. 119:11, NKJV).
Jesus tackled the human/sin problem. He was tempted on every point
that we are tempted on. And for power to resist, He spent whole nights in
prayerful communion with His Father. And Jesus didn’t leave this earth
until He had both forged the way by example and then promised power to
make it possible for every person to live a life of faith and obedience—to
develop a Christlike character.
“Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let
him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for
He will abundantly pardon” (Isa. 55:6, 7, NKJV).
What, if any, have been the consequences in your own life from
covetousness? What lessons have you learned? What might you still
need to learn from them?
EGW Notes — THURSDAY ↓
Thursday, March 2
Overcoming Covetousness
The deadly sin that led to Achan’s ruin had its root in covetousness, of
all sins one of the most common and the most lightly regarded. While
other offenses meet with detection and punishment, how rarely does the
violation of the tenth commandment so much as call forth censure. The
enormity of this sin, and its terrible results, are the lessons of Achan’s
history.
Covetousness is an evil of gradual development. Achan had cherished
greed of gain until it became a habit, binding him in fetters well-nigh
impossible to break. While fostering this evil, he would have been filled
with horror at the thought of bringing disaster upon Israel; but his
perceptions were deadened by sin, and when temptation came, he fell an
easy prey.
Are not similar sins still committed, in the face of warnings as solemn
and explicit? We are as directly forbidden to indulge covetousness as was
Achan to appropriate the spoils of Jericho. God has declared it to be
idolatry. We are warned, . . . “Take heed, and beware of covetousness.”
Luke 12:15. . . . We have before us the fearful doom of Achan, of Judas, of
Ananias and Sapphira. Back of all these we have that of Lucifer, the “son
of the morning,” who, coveting a higher state, forfeited forever the
brightness and bliss of heaven. And yet, notwithstanding all these
warnings, covetousness
abounds.—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 496.
God has provided that we shall not be tempted above what we are able
to bear, but that with every temptation He will make a way of escape. If
we live wholly for God, we shall not allow the mind to indulge in selfish
imaginings.
If there is any way by which Satan can gain access to the mind, he will
sow his tares and cause them to grow until they will yield an abundant
harvest. In no case can Satan obtain dominion over the thoughts, words,
and actions, unless we voluntarily open the door and invite him to enter.
He will then come in and, by catching away the good seed sown in the
heart, make of none effect the truth.
All who name the name of Christ need to watch and pray and guard
the avenues of the soul, for Satan is at work to corrupt and destroy if the
least advantage is given
him.—The Adventist Home, p. 402.
(1 Corinthians 10:12, 13). These words are given for the people while
they are in connection with the world, subject to temptations and
influences which are deceiving and deluding. While they stay their mind
upon Him who is their sun and their shield, the blackness and darkness
that surround them will not leave one spot or stain upon their garments.
They will walk with Christ. They will pray and believe and work to save
the souls that are ready to perish. These are trying to break the bands that
Satan has fastened upon them, and they will not be put to shame if by
faith they will make Christ their companion. Temptations and deceptions
will be constantly brought up by the great deceiver to spoil the work of
the human agent, but if he trusts in God, if he is humble and meek and
lowly of heart, keeping the way of the Lord, heaven will rejoice, for he
will gain the victory.—Ellen G. White Comments, in
The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 960.
FRIDAY March 3
Further Thought: In the conquest of Jericho, Achan was not the
only man carrying silver and gold back to the camp of Israel. Joshua had
told the men to bring back the silver and gold and vessels of brass and iron
to the treasury of the house of God (Josh. 6:19, 24). Everything else was to
be burned. Achan, however, was the only man to keep something for
himself. “Of the millions of Israel there was but one man who, in that
solemn hour of triumph and of judgment, had dared to transgress the
command of God. Achan’s covetousness was excited by the sight of that
costly robe of Shinar; even when it had brought him face to face with death
he called it ‘a goodly Babylonish garment.’ One sin had led to another, and
he appropriated the gold and silver devoted to the treasury of the Lord—he
robbed God of the first fruits of the land of Canaan.”—Ellen G. White,
Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 496.
In Paul’s list of signs of the last days, the first two items involve our
attitude toward money and possessions. “But know this, that in the last days
perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of
money [covetous]” (2 Tim. 3:1, 2, NKJV). Selfishness and love of money
are significant descriptions of humanity in the last days—our day.
Discussion Questions:
-
1. Read 1 Timothy 6:6–10: “Now godliness with contentment is
great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain
we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these
we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into
temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts
which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money
is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the
faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many
sorrows” (NKJV). In class, talk about examples of those who, because
of the love of money, have “pierced themselves [and others] through
with many sorrows.” There are lots of examples, aren’t there? How
can we find the right balance, knowing that we need money to get by
but not falling into the trap Paul warns about here?
-
2. What are other things, besides money, that we can covet?
-
3. What is the difference between a legitimate desire for something
and covetousness? When might a legitimate desire for something turn
into covetousness?
EGW Notes — FRIDAY ↓
Friday, March 3
For Further Reading
Our High Calling, “Let Jesus Lead,” p. 38;
Reflecting Christ, “Christ a Perfect Example for All,” p. 37.
INSIDE STORY
Boldly Sharing Jesus
By ANDREW MCCHESNEY
On an Easter Sunday, retired pastor Simo Vehkavuori stood in a packed
train traveling home to the capital, Helsinki, from evangelistic meetings that
he had conducted in central Finland. A 24-year-old university student
boarded the train and looked around for a seat.
“Even though the train looks full, why don’t you walk through the cars
and see whether you can find an empty seat?” Simo said to her.
She returned, smiling. “I found two free seats,” she said. “One for me
and one for you. Come with me!” The two sat opposite each other. “Excuse
me, but do you mind if I ask you how you feel about religion?” Simo asked.
“I’m quite far from spiritual things right now,” she said.
“Would you like to know how I became a believer?” Simo asked.
She did, and Simo told her. As the train approached Helsinki, he said,
“Would you mind if I remembered you in my prayers?”
The student burst into tears. The tears flowed down her cheeks, and she
said, loudly, “That would be really great! Please do that.”
Before parting ways, Simo said something that he often tells new
friends: “May you be encouraged to know that, even though you are very
busy, you can serve a risen Jesus Christ, the One who atoned for our sins on
the cross of Calvary. And that’s not all. This same Jesus has promised to
come back and will take us to a heavenly home where eternity will start. So,
dear friend, let us stay on the heaven-bound journey under the Father’s
loving hand until we reach our destination. May the Lord bless you through
His grace.”
On another train trip, Simo was surprised when a woman greeted him
and even shook his hand as he boarded. “Hello, I’m a retired Seventh-day
Adventist pastor,” he replied. “That’s interesting,” the woman said. “I have
never heard about Adventists. I want to hear all about your church on this
500-kilometer [300-mile] trip. Here were two empty seats. Let’s sit
together.”
Simo spoke about the Adventist Church for the whole trip. As they left
the train, a man walked up behind them. “Thank you for the interesting train
ride,” he said, eagerly grabbing Simo’s hand with both of his hands. “Thank
you for being so brave to share God so loudly that all of us could hear.”
At 84, Simo seeks divine appointments on every train. “The older I get,
the bolder I get in sharing Jesus,” he said.
This mission story illustrates Spiritual Growth Objective No. 5 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s
“I Will Go” strategic plan, “To disciple individuals and families into Spirit-filled lives.” Read more:
IWillGo2020.org. Read more about SIMO next week.
Provided by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission, which uses Sabbath School
mission offerings to spread the gospel worldwide. Read new stories daily at
AdventistMission.org.
† Disclaimer: Contents of these lessons are not intended to be financial advice but is general commentary based on biblical principles. The reader is encouraged to seek competent professional advice which will suit their particular personal situation.
