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Tithes and Offerings

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 1, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 25.

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Tithes and Offerings.

COVETOUSNESS.

(Lesson 2, July 13, 1889.)
1. WHAT is more than food and raiment? "The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment." Luke 12:23.
2. What assurance does Christ give that we shall be clothed? "If then God so clothe the grass, which is to-day in the field, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?" Verse 28.
3. Why would he not have us live in careful suspense regarding the necessaries of life? "And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after; and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things." Verses 29, 30.
4. Of what does he exhort us to beware? "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." Verse 15.
5. What parable is given to illustrate covetousness? "And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" Verses 16-20.
6. How does this parable show the covetous spirit?
7. What kind of men was Moses to select for responsible positions? "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." Ex. 18:21.
8. Is the same instruction brought into the New Testament? "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work." "Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous." 1 Tim. 3:1, 3.
9. What spirit should characterize a bishop or elder? "For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate." 1 Tim. 1:7, 8.
10. With what class of sins is covetousness placed? "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.
11. Should Christians fellowship those who are covetous? "Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat." 1 Cor. 5:10, 11.
12. How does God regard a covetous man? "For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth." Ps. 10:3.
13. Should it be so much as named as becometh Christians? "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints." Eph. 5:3.
14. What other commandment is broken by a covetous man? and can such ever enter Heaven? "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." Verse 5.
15. What is one of the ways in which covetousness manifests itself? "And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you; whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." 2 Pet. 2:2, 3.
16. How will the preaching of God's word affect such persons? "And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument; for they hear thy words, but they do them not." Eze. 33:31, 32.
17. What is the characteristic sin of this world? "For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely." Jer. 6:13.
18. When does this text especially apply? "They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace." "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken." Verses 14, 16, 17. "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." 1 Thess. 5:2, 3. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy." 2 Tim. 3:1, 2.
19. What is the difference between a righteous and a covetous man? "He coveteth greedily all the day long; but the righteous giveth and spareth not." Prov. 21:26.
20. For what did David pray? "Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness." Ps. 119:36.
21. What promise is made to him who hates covetousness? "The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor; but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days." Prov. 28:16.
22. To what does the apostle exhort God's people? "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Heb. 13:5.
23. What is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ? "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." 2 Cor. 8:9.
24. What is the difference between the grace of Christ and covetousness? Ans.—The grace of Christ gives all, and covetousness takes all.