This weeks lesson has a very interesting title:
"I See, I Want, I TAKE"Sadly that sequence is very much evident in the carnal nature and the lesson moves on to point to a supposed "gospel" that seems to suggest the above sequence is part of the gospel!
SUNDAY
The Prosperity Gospel
Some Christians teach those who have real faith will be rewarded with health and wealth.
The lesson then points us to the Christians described in 2 Corinthians 8:1-7.
Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. 3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, 4 begging us with much urging for the favor [a]of participation in the [b]support of the [c]saints, 5 and this, not as we had [d]expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord
These Christians were facing a lot of problems and were in deep poverty. It was a time of great affliction with them, as Christians in these parts met with ill treatment, which had reduced them to poverty. Yet,they had found the Lord and had abundance of joy in the midst of tribulation!
They weren't complaining about their lot, nor were they wondering why God didn't come through for them and give them wealth. Instead they abounded in their liberality; they gave out of their little, for the benefit of others.
MONDAY
Blurred Spiritual Eyesight
The "I see, I want, I take, mentality causes spiritual cataracts to grow over our spiritual eyesight!
Matthew 13 3-7 (NASB)
3 He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road,... Others fell on the rocky places,... 7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out.
22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful
Unlike the seeds before, the seeds falling on thorny ground took root and grew. These people saw the truth, they received the truth, they do not cast off their profession of truth, but something happened. Their desire for worldly possessions destroys the plant of truth in their lives.
Cataracts in the eyes block light, making it difficult to see clearly. Over an extended period of time, cataracts can cause blindness. The same is true when the mind fills with the cares of things, and the deceitfulness of riches, obstructing the light of truth and making it difficult to see spiritual things clearly. Over an extended period of time, this can cause spiritual blindness.
TUESDAY
Steps of Covetousness
Eve treads the "I See, I want, I TAKE" path".
Genesis 3:6 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 desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
She saw.
She should have turned away her eyes from beholding that which she was not to have; but she enters into temptation, by looking with pleasure, with delight, on the forbidden fruit.
A great deal of sin comes in at the eyes. Satan is a master at creating "alluring things" for the eyes and plant the seeds of covetousness.
It was desirable.
If only she could have it her life would become better, she would be wise! Or so she thought.
She took.