TOPIC: THE SIN OF CONVERTOUSNESS.
MEMORISE:
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke 12:15
READ: Exodus 18:21
21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
MESSAGE:
Covetousness is a major challenge both in the Church and in the world today. Worldliness too has become a great foe of the Church and it appears many Christians (irrespective of how long they have been in the faith), are being carried along. This may be because even they are victims of this sinful habit.
Our Lord Jesus, in today’s memory verse warns us against covetousness. Covetousness can be described as an inordinate desire for material or non-material possessions, especially those of another individual. In Exodus 20:17, the Lord warns against coveting someone else’s possession or spouse. The vanity in being covetous is captured in Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 which says:
“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?”
In 1 Timothy 6:6-9, Apostle Paul wrote to warn us against the menace of worldliness and covetousness. He encouraged believers to embrace godliness with contentment which is great again. He said also that “….they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” (1 Timothy 6:9). John corroborates this in 1 John 2:15-17 where he warned us against worldliness, saying:
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him….. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof…”
Beloved, how far have you been dragged into the world? How far has the world been dragged into you? Are you not running after those things that did not matter to you years ago? Even the rich are now running into the Church; they want peace and satisfaction. They envy believers and want to share in our heritage. While they are running to God for peace and joy, many of us have thrown away these blessings that money cannot buy, for the vanity of this world. Remain where God has established you.
ACTION POINT:
Mortify any form of lust in your life- the lust of the flesh, of the eyes and the pride of life, so you can enjoy everlasting joy and peace.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezra 10.
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 14: JESUS MY LORD, MY GOD, MY ALL.
1. Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All,
How can I love thee as I ought?
And how revere this wondrous gift,
So far surpassing hope or thought?
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Refrain:
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
2. Had I but Mary's sinless heart
To love thee with, my dearest King,
Oh, with what bursts of fervant praise
Thy goodness, Jesus, would I sing.
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
3. Thy Body, Soul, and Godhead, all,
O mystery of love divine.
I cannot compass all I have,
For all thou hast and art are mine.
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
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