Stewardship: Motives of the Heart

I See, I Want, I Take

Lesson #2 for January 13, 2018

Scriptures: [2 Corinthians 8:1-7; Matthew 13:3-7,22; 26:14-16; Genesis 3:1-6; Isaiah 56:11; 2 Peter 1:5-9].[1]

1.    This lesson is a discussion of the covetousness and greed that surround us in our society today. What role has it played in the Adventist Church? Are we subject to the temptations to greed and covetousness like others?

2.    Ellen White once saw in vision the Devil discussing his plans with his henchmen, the evil angels. Her report of it goes like this:

“Go, make the possessors of lands and money drunk with the cares of this life. Present the world before them in its most attractive light, that they may lay up their treasure here, and fix their affections upon earthly things. We must do our utmost to prevent those who labor in God’s cause from obtaining means to use against us. Keep the money in our own ranks. The more means they obtain, the more they will injure our kingdom by taking from us our subjects. Make them care more for money than the upbuilding of Christ’s kingdom and the spread of the truths we hate, and we need not fear their influence; for we know that every selfish, covetous person will fall under our power, and will finally be separated from God’s people.”—Ellen G. White, Spirit of Prophecy,* vol. 4, 339.2 (1884); Counsels on Stewardship* 154.3-155.0; TM* 473.3. [Notice carefully that this is a quote from Satan seen by Ellen White in vision.]

3.    It would be very profitable for every Adventist to get a copy of those four facsimile volumes (the Spirit of Prophecy set, 1SP, 2SP, 3SP, and 4SP); or, even better, get a copy of the Ellen G. White CD-ROM and read what she wrote for the special benefit of Adventists in the 1870s and 1880s.

4.    How well has Satan done with that approach? What can we learn from the Bible about greed and covetousness?

5.    Greed has reached into the Christian evangelism scene. Put simply, many popular television preachers are saying that God wants to bless you and are saying that if you serve Him, He will bless you; in fact, He will make you wealthy. They say that if you follow God, He blesses you with wealth and health.

6.    Is God in the business of promoting materialism? Some might suggest that is the message of the blessings and curses recorded in the writings of Moses. See [Deuteronomy 28:1-14; 7:12-24; and Leviticus 26:3-13][2].

7.    Or, were those messages only for the Israelites? The prosperity gospel suggests: “If I do this, God promises to do that in return.” Is that just a business deal? What does that have to do with faith?

8.    Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-7[3]. Do you know of anyone who has given even more than s/he was/is capable of giving? What about the widow and her two mites? (Mark 12:42; Luke 21:2)[4] What about the widow who fed Elijah? (1 Kings 17:8-16)[5] Second Corinthians 1-9 is part of Paul’s fourth letter to the Corinthians. He had just received a message that the Corinthians were anxious to have him return and spend time with them. But, he still needed to finish some work and finish collecting money in Macedonia.

9.    Why do you think those Macedonian and Greek Christians were so generous to the Christians in Jerusalem? What did Paul say to them? Elsewhere, Paul suggested that the Philippians were fairly well off; so, is this passage talking about a different group? Do you know of any modern Christian groups that have given more than they could afford? What will happen to our wealth in the time of trouble?

10.    We do not need to go back to the Bible to teach us that the cares of this life and its riches are temporary. Nothing on this earth lasts for very long. Helen Keller the blind and deaf scholar once said: “The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.” Is that true? Can you think of some examples from the Bible?

Some love this world so much that it swallows up their love for the truth. As their treasures here increase, their interest in the heavenly treasure decreases. The more they possess of this world, the more closely do they hug it to them, as if fearful their coveted treasure would be taken from them.

The more they possess, the less do they have to bestow upon others, for the more they have, the poorer they feel. O, the deceitfulness of riches! They will not see and feel the wants of the cause of God.—Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts,* vol. 2, 267.1 (1860).

What was the financial condition of the advent believers in 1860 when this was written?

11.    On what is our vision focused? It is not enough to have Jesus in view; we must keep Him clearly in focus. When they were quite young, Ellen White and her sister worked very hard for 25 cents per day and saved $30 to use for God’s cause!

Even though he may be poor, the youth who is industrious and economical can save a little for the cause of God. When I was only twelve years old, I knew what it was to economize. With my sister I learned a trade, and although we would earn only twenty-five cents a day, from this sum we were able to save a little to give to missions. We saved little by little until we had thirty dollars. Then when the message of the Lord’s soon coming came to us, with a call for men and means, we felt it a privilege to hand over the thirty dollars to father, asking him to invest it in tracts and pamphlets to send the message to those who were in darkness.—Ellen G. White, Youth’s Instructor,* September 10, 1907, par. 2.

12.    Read Matthew 13:3-7,22[6]. Have you observed any of the scenarios that Jesus suggested in His parable of the sower and the seed? Jesus suggested that the weeds are the cares of this world and the desire for wealth. Why is that such a dangerous trap for so many? Why did Jesus say in the same verse that the “deceitfulness of riches” would be responsible for many losing their salvation? Could our love for riches choke out our love for God and His work?

13.    The Seventh-day Adventist Church is growing in membership very rapidly as churches go. But, almost all of those new members are in Third World countries where wages are low. In the past, the United States, Canada, and Australia along with some help from Europe supported the work in those poorer countries; but, that is no longer possible. What are the implications for the church? Over 90 percent of our membership is in countries of the Third World.

14.    Read Genesis 3:1-6[7]. Ellen White added to this picture, suggesting that while enjoying themselves working in the garden, Adam and Eve wandered apart from each other. When Eve looked up, she realized she had come dangerously close to the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

15.    Try to imagine being one of the beings in the universe looking down at this earth and watching Eve walking towards that tree and away from Adam. Were the eyes of the entire universe focused on what was happening there and what happened next?

16.    Does the serpent’s approach to Eve sound like a modern advertising agency? She saw the fruit; how beautiful it looked. It appeared to be delicious. When the serpent spoke to her and suggested that it was very desirable, she wanted it. So, she took it. Thus, we see the three steps in greed: I see, I want, I take.

17.    One of the worst things about greed and covetousness are that they are quiet sins; that is, they happen inside of us. No one else can observe what is actually going on in our minds. King Ahab coveted the vineyard of Naboth and pouted over it until his queen arranged for Naboth to be murdered so that Ahab could have that vineyard. (1 Kings 21[8]) Achan saw and wanted the Babylonian garment, the silver, and the gold. Very soon, he found himself taking them and burying them in his tent, thus, leading to the destruction of himself and his entire family. (Joshua 7:20-22)[9]

“If selfishness be the prevailing form of sin, covetousness may be regarded as the prevailing form of selfishness. This is strikingly intimated by the Apostle Paul, when describing the ‘perilous times’ [2 Tim. 3:1] of the final apostasy, he represents selfishness as the prolific root of all the evils which will then prevail, and covetousness as its first fruit. ‘For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous’ [2 Tim. 3:2].”—John Harris, Mammon (New York: Lane & Scott, 1849), p. 52.—Quoted in Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Tuesday, January 9.

18.    Is covetousness the basis for virtually all other sins? Reread the 10th commandment in Exodus 20:17[10]; and then, look at Paul’s argument recorded in Romans 7:7-13[11].

19.    Read Isaiah 56:11[12]. It seems that the people in positions of power in Isaiah’s day were as greedy as many people seem to be today.

20.    Greed, covetousness, and selfishness are the absolute antithesis of the character of Christ. Paul said: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9, NKJV)

21.    So, in what areas of our society do we see the most obvious greed and covetousness? Is it in businesses? The stock market? The economies of nations?

22.    Think of the fate of Judas. It was all because he was so greedy and loved money so much. Who would want to follow his example? See Matthew 26:14-16[13] and the chapter on Judas in the Desire of Ages 716-722.

How tenderly the Saviour dealt with him who was to be His betrayer! In His teaching, Jesus dwelt upon principles of benevolence that struck at the very root of covetousness. He presented before Judas the heinous character of greed, and many a time the disciple realized that his character had been portrayed, and his sin pointed out; but he would not confess and forsake his unrighteousness.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages* 295.1; CTr* 264.7; CC* 286.2.

23.    Judas actually arrived at the place in his thinking that he believed that if he could force Jesus to free Himself and, thus, prove His power to become king of the Jews, then he, Judas, would be credited with putting Jesus on the throne!

24.    Would it be safe for God to admit to heaven greedy people with all the wealth available there?

25.    Read Galatians 5:22-25[14]. The first two verses discuss the famous fruit of the Spirit. And we should notice very importantly that the last part of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control. What is the relationship between “putting to death human nature with all its passions and desires” and the Spirit-control of our lives?

26.    Read 2 Peter 1:5-9[15]. Notice once again that self-control and endurance are a major part of Peter’s ladder.

27.    So, how can we overcome selfishness, greed, and covetousness with the help of the Holy Spirit and still maintain self-control, the gift of the Spirit? Does this seem like a contradiction? What tools does the Holy Spirit have to help us overcome greed? Working with the poor? Giving generously to support God’s work for the poor? How do we develop self-control and learn to do things as Jesus did? How many of us have really sacrificed in order to give? Consider these words about Jesus when He was still a youth:

Jesus worked to relieve every case of suffering that He saw. He had little money to give, but He often denied Himself of food in order to relieve those who appeared more needy than He. His brothers felt that His influence went far to counteract theirs. He possessed a tact which none of them had, or desired to have. When they spoke harshly to poor, degraded beings, Jesus sought out these very ones, and spoke to them words of encouragement. To those who were in need He would give a cup of cold water, and would quietly place His own meal in their hands. As He relieved their sufferings, the truths He taught were associated with His acts of mercy, and were thus riveted in the memory.—Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages* 87.1.

28.    It is fair to say that the ultimate human goal is to be happy and satisfied? That goal can never be reached by human materialism.

“Materialistic values are associated with a pervasive undermining of people’s well-being, from low life satisfaction and happiness, to depression and anxiety, to physical problems such as headaches, and to personality disorders, narcissism, and antisocial behavior.”—Tim Kasser, The High Price of Materialism (Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press, 2002), p. 22.—Quoted in Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide for Friday, January 12.

29.    Why do you think the prosperity gospel is so popular? What do you think Jesus would say about that form of the “gospel”? What is its appeal?

30.    Members of the royal family of England and wives of presidents in the United States have often taken up special challenges to try to deal with major troubles which face our world. One sage once wrote: “If we are looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn’t test people for drugs-we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed, and love of power.” Do you think that would be a good approach? If only we had such a set of tests!

31.    After thinking about Galatians 5:22-23[16], would you say that God’s control is really better than self-control? Will God need to monitor and control everyone who is admitted to heaven day and night to keep us out of trouble? Wouldn’t self-control be the ultimate goal?

32.    When we are born, all we are aware of is our own personal needs. All we can do for our parents and family is poop and pee and smile once in a while! But, Christians need to reach the place where their first concern is for God and other people. How do we manage to make that transition? Maturity! When we work for others, especially the poor, does it become clearer in our minds what is really important and what is not so important? In a world full of selfishness and greed, how can we separate our real needs from our wants, what we consider real necessities from our preferences, our basic issues from embellishments? Is there a clear plan laid out in Scripture for overcoming greed and selfishness? If we truly became like Jesus, would it be safe for God to return self-control to us?

33.    What are the emotional impacts of dissatisfaction, discontent, greediness, coveting, and fantasizing about and loving material things? One of the biggest challenges of dealing with greed and covetousness in the church is that those are largely secret sins. Adultery and murder are clearly identifiable and condemned; but, consider what Ellen White wrote.

God does not regard all sins as of equal magnitude; there are degrees of guilt in His estimation, as well as in that of man; but however trifling this or that wrong act may seem in the eyes of men, no sin is small in the sight of God. Man’s judgment is partial, imperfect; but God estimates all things as they really are. The drunkard is despised and is told that his sin will exclude him from heaven; while pride, selfishness, and covetousness too often go unrebuked. But these are sins that are especially offensive to God; for they are contrary to the benevolence of His character, to that unselfish love which is the very atmosphere of the unfallen universe. He who falls into some of the grosser sins may feel a sense of his shame and poverty and his need of the grace of Christ; but pride feels no need, and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings He came to give.—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ* 30.1.

34.    Could some “faithful saints” fail to get into heaven while some repentant “drunks” might be admitted? See Matthew 7:21-23; 25:31-46[17].

35.    If we are ever to overcome greed, selfishness, and covetousness, where should we start? If you have ever had the experience of fighting this battle, you know that the earlier in the sequence you take action, the easier it is to avoid the sin. If covetousness and greed take the steps of I see, I want, and I take, we should resist the first hint of covetousness and greed by simply turning our vision away. But, are we still in Laodicea? Laodiceans are blind! We are looking or trying to look in all the wrong places.

36.    While many of the saints in the Bible were quite wealthy-see for example Abraham, Job, and Boaz-these men clearly placed God in a position of top priority in their lives. So, we should do our best to avoid looking at any sin, whatever that involves. Remember that Jesus said: “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” (Matthew 5:29, NRSV) What does that really mean? If anything stands in our way of placing God first in our lives, we need to get rid of it.

37.    The second step in greed is wanting. James 4:7-8[18] gives us some idea about how to deal with wanting: 1) Resist the Devil, 2) Cleanse your hands, and 3) Purify your hearts. The only way to conquer the sin of wanting is to fill your mind and heart with Jesus Christ. When we do that and our thoughts are constantly of Him, there will not be time or space for wanting things we should not want.

38.    The final step in covetousness is the “purchase point”: I take. But, even at that point, Christ promises us: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV) Our Bible study guide suggests:

Through self-control—which, for the Christian, is nothing less than completely surrendering to divine control—our thoughts, passions, and energies may be directed to use God’s material blessings in accordance with His will.—Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide 30.

39.    What have you learned from this lesson about the relationship between self-control and divine control?

40.    What things could we as individuals or as groups do to help the poor and needy and begin to take our minds off getting and taking? We could visit the sick and disabled of the church. We could assist in a Sabbath school class or Pathfinders for the youth. Even as individuals we could help by: 1) Serving food at a homeless shelter; 2) Raising money to help a nonprofit organization; 3) Help a local family or even a poor church family with some need they have; or 4) Visiting or encouraging people in a nearby prison. If we are going to learn to be like Jesus Himself, wouldn’t it be good to try practicing some of these things even now?

© 2017, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution of all or of a portion of this material such as to a Bible study class is encouraged. ‘Electronic version.    Info@theox.org

1-2Co 8:1-7 NRSV We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; (2) for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. (3) For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, (4) begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints-- (5) and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us, (6) so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you. (7) Now as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you--so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.

Mat 13:3-7 NRSV And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. (4) And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. (5) Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. (6) But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. (7) Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

Mat 13:22 NRSV As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing.

Mat 26:14-16 NRSV Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests (15) and said, "What will you give me if I betray him to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver. (16) And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

Gen 3:1-6 NRSV Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, 'You shall not eat from any tree in the garden'?" (2) The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; (3) but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.'" (4) But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die; (5) for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (6) So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.

Isa 56:11 NRSV The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. The shepherds also have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, to their own gain, one and all.

2Pe 1:5-9 NRSV For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, (6) and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, (7) and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. (8) For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) For anyone who lacks these things is short-sighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins.

2-Deu 28:1-14 NRSV If you will only obey the LORD your God, by diligently observing all his commandments that I am commanding you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth; (2) all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the LORD your God: (3) Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. (4) Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your livestock, both the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock. (5) Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. (6) Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. (7) The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you; they shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways. (8) The LORD will command the blessing upon you in your barns, and in all that you undertake; he will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. (9) The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. (10) All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you. (11) The LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground in the land that the LORD swore to your ancestors to give you. (12) The LORD will open for you his rich storehouse, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all your undertakings. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. (13) The LORD will make you the head, and not the tail; you shall be only at the top, and not at the bottom--if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today, by diligently observing them, (14) and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I am commanding you today, either to the right or to the left, following other gods to serve them.

Deu 7:12-24 NRSV If you heed these ordinances, by diligently observing them, the LORD your God will maintain with you the covenant loyalty that he swore to your ancestors; (13) he will love you, bless you, and multiply you; he will bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock, in the land that he swore to your ancestors to give you. (14) You shall be the most blessed of peoples, with neither sterility nor barrenness among you or your livestock. (15) The LORD will turn away from you every illness; all the dread diseases of Egypt that you experienced, he will not inflict on you, but he will lay them on all who hate you. (16) You shall devour all the peoples that the LORD your God is giving over to you, showing them no pity; you shall not serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you. (17) If you say to yourself, "These nations are more numerous than I; how can I dispossess them?" (18) do not be afraid of them. Just remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt, (19) the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs and wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. (20) Moreover, the LORD your God will send the pestilence against them, until even the survivors and the fugitives are destroyed. (21) Have no dread of them, for the LORD your God, who is present with you, is a great and awesome God. (22) The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to make a quick end of them, otherwise the wild animals would become too numerous for you. (23) But the LORD your God will give them over to you, and throw them into great panic, until they are destroyed. (24) He will hand their kings over to you and you shall blot out their name from under heaven; no one will be able to stand against you, until you have destroyed them.

Lev 26:3-13 NRSV If you follow my statutes and keep my commandments and observe them faithfully, (4) I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. (5) Your threshing shall overtake the vintage, and the vintage shall overtake the sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and live securely in your land. (6) And I will grant peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and no one shall make you afraid; I will remove dangerous animals from the land, and no sword shall go through your land. (7) You shall give chase to your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. (8) Five of you shall give chase to a hundred, and a hundred of you shall give chase to ten thousand; your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. (9) I will look with favor upon you and make you fruitful and multiply you; and I will maintain my covenant with you. (10) You shall eat old grain long stored, and you shall have to clear out the old to make way for the new. (11) I will place my dwelling in your midst, and I shall not abhor you. (12) And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people. (13) I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be their slaves no more; I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.

3-2Co 8:1-7 NRSV We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; (2) for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. (3) For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, (4) begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints-- (5) and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us, (6) so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you. (7) Now as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you--so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.

4- Mar 12:42 NRSV A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.

Luk 21:2 NRSV he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.

5-1Ki 17:8-16 NRSV Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, (9) "Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you." (10) So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink." (11) As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." (12) But she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." (13) Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. (14) For thus says the LORD the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the LORD sends rain on the earth." (15) She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. (16) The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.

6-Mat 13:3-7 NRSV And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. (4) And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. (5) Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. (6) But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. (7) Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

Mat 13:22 NRSV As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing.

7-Gen 3:1-6 NRSV Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, 'You shall not eat from any tree in the garden'?" (2) The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; (3) but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.'" (4) But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die; (5) for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (6) So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.

8-1Ki 21:1-29 NRSV Later the following events took place: Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. (2) And Ahab said to Naboth, "Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house; I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money." (3) But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid that I should give you my ancestral inheritance." (4) Ahab went home resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, "I will not give you my ancestral inheritance." He lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and would not eat. (5) His wife Jezebel came to him and said, "Why are you so depressed that you will not eat?" (6) He said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, 'Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it'; but he answered, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'" (7) His wife Jezebel said to him, "Do you now govern Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite." (8) So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal; she sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. (9) She wrote in the letters, "Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth at the head of the assembly; (10) seat two scoundrels opposite him, and have them bring a charge against him, saying, 'You have cursed God and the king.' Then take him out, and stone him to death." (11) The men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. Just as it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, (12) they proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the assembly. (13) The two scoundrels came in and sat opposite him; and the scoundrels brought a charge against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king." So they took him outside the city, and stoned him to death. (14) Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned; he is dead." (15) As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, "Go, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead." (16) As soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab set out to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. (17) Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: (18) Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria; he is now in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. (19) You shall say to him, "Thus says the LORD: Have you killed, and also taken possession?" You shall say to him, "Thus says the LORD: In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will also lick up your blood." (20) Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?" He answered, "I have found you. Because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the LORD, (21) I will bring disaster on you; I will consume you, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel; (22) and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin. (23) Also concerning Jezebel the LORD said, 'The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the bounds of Jezreel.' (24) Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat; and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the air shall eat." (25) (Indeed, there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the LORD, urged on by his wife Jezebel. (26) He acted most abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the LORD drove out before the Israelites.) (27) When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth over his bare flesh; he fasted, lay in the sackcloth, and went about dejectedly. (28) Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: (29) "Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son's days I will bring the disaster on his house."

9-Jos 7:20-22 NRSV And Achan answered Joshua, "It is true; I am the one who sinned against the LORD God of Israel. This is what I did: (21) when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, then I coveted them and took them. They now lie hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath." (22) So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and there it was, hidden in his tent with the silver underneath.

10-Exo 20:17 NRSV You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

11-Rom 7:7-13 NRSV What then should we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet, if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet." (8) But sin, seizing an opportunity in the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the law sin lies dead. (9) I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived (10) and I died, and the very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. (11) For sin, seizing an opportunity in the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. (12) So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good. (13) Did what is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, working death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

12-Isa 56:11 NRSV The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. The shepherds also have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, to their own gain, one and all.

13-Mat 26:14-16 NRSV Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests (15) and said, "What will you give me if I betray him to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver. (16) And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

14-Gal 5:22-25 NRSV By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. (24) And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (25) If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

15-2Pe 1:5-9 NRSV For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, (6) and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, (7) and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. (8) For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) For anyone who lacks these things is short-sighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins.

16-Gal 5:22-23 NRSV By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

17-Mat 7:21-23 NRSV "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. (22) On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' (23) Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.'

Mat 25:31-46 NRSV "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. (32) All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, (33) and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. (34) Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; (35) for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, (36) I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' (37) Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? (38) And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? (39) And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' (40) And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' (41) Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; (42) for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, (43) I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' (44) Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' (45) Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' (46) And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

18-Jas 4:7-8 NRSV Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

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