CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS
LENTEN STUDY: 7 DEADLY SINS
GREED #4: WHAT PROFIT DO YOU SEEK?
MONTE W. HOLLAND
INTRODUCTION
The following study is a journey through Lent, the forty-day pre-Easter season (which excludes Sundays). Easter’s date, determined by the time of the first full moon after the Spring equinox, is very late this year.
Traditionally, many Christians use Lent for self-examination and a renewal of their commitment to their faith.
This year I chose to do a devotional study on aspects of the Seven Deadly Sins, sins identified by very early Christians as key behaviors separating man from God and God’s will. The seven sins are not listed together in the Bible—each is, however, spoken about in various Scripture sites.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS:
GREED, ENVY, ANGER, LUST, GLUTTONY, SLOTH and PRIDE.
THE ASPECTS OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS ARE:
#1 Breaking the Mosaic Law
#2 Defying God or rebelling against God
#3 Acts of violence to others
#4 Failing to make proper sacrifices or worship
#5 Not living up to or reflecting God’s glory (not living as one created in God’s image)
GREED #4
WHAT PROFIT DO YOU SEEK?
SCRIPTURE: 17 Warn the rich people of this world not to be proud or to trust in wealth that is easily lost. Tell them to have faith in God, who is rich and blesses us with everything we need to enjoy life. 18 Instruct them to do as many good deeds as they can and to help everyone. Remind the rich to be generous and share what they have. 19 This will lay a solid foundation for the future, so they will know what true life is like. (1 Timothy 6:17-19 (CEV))
31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men. 34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8:31-38 (KJV))
DEVOTION: Profit!
We all have a profit motive. Before entering into a new venture, we often ask How much profit will there be in this for me? The answer often comes back: You have to take a risk if you want to make money. There is no guarantee of profit.
I don’t like to take too many chances. And yet the economy is in the shape it is in because too many people took dangerous chances—to get rich. Paul has a totally different outlook when speaking about rich people (and basically we are them) who have plenty on their tables. He reminds them to have faith, do as many good deeds as you can, and help everyone. And he goes on to tell them to be generous and share what they have. Paul also tells them why: these good deeds are (more…)
CAROLYN'S COMPOSITIONS
Lenten Study: 7 Deadly Sins—Greed #4: What Profit Do You Seek?
Tags: All, All posts, Bible, Christianity, Church, COMMENTARY, Contemplation, DEVOTIONS, God, Greed.1 Timothy 6:17-19, Inspiration, Inspirational, Jesus, Latest post, Life, Lifestyle, Mark 8:31-38, Meditation, Misc., Miscellaneous, Musings, postaday2011, Reflections, Spirituality, The profit motive, Theology, Thoughts, What profit do you seek?
CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS
LENTEN STUDY: 7 DEADLY SINS
GREED #4: WHAT PROFIT DO YOU SEEK?
MONTE W. HOLLAND
INTRODUCTION
The following study is a journey through Lent, the forty-day pre-Easter season (which excludes Sundays). Easter’s date, determined by the time of the first full moon after the Spring equinox, is very late this year.
Traditionally, many Christians use Lent for self-examination and a renewal of their commitment to their faith.
This year I chose to do a devotional study on aspects of the Seven Deadly Sins, sins identified by very early Christians as key behaviors separating man from God and God’s will. The seven sins are not listed together in the Bible—each is, however, spoken about in various Scripture sites.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS:
GREED, ENVY, ANGER, LUST, GLUTTONY, SLOTH and PRIDE.
THE ASPECTS OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS ARE:
#1 Breaking the Mosaic Law
#2 Defying God or rebelling against God
#3 Acts of violence to others
#4 Failing to make proper sacrifices or worship
#5 Not living up to or reflecting God’s glory (not living as one created in God’s image)
GREED #4
WHAT PROFIT DO YOU SEEK?
SCRIPTURE: 17 Warn the rich people of this world not to be proud or to trust in wealth that is easily lost. Tell them to have faith in God, who is rich and blesses us with everything we need to enjoy life. 18 Instruct them to do as many good deeds as they can and to help everyone. Remind the rich to be generous and share what they have. 19 This will lay a solid foundation for the future, so they will know what true life is like. (1 Timothy 6:17-19 (CEV))
31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men. 34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8:31-38 (KJV))
DEVOTION: Profit!
We all have a profit motive. Before entering into a new venture, we often ask How much profit will there be in this for me? The answer often comes back: You have to take a risk if you want to make money. There is no guarantee of profit.
I don’t like to take too many chances. And yet the economy is in the shape it is in because too many people took dangerous chances—to get rich. Paul has a totally different outlook when speaking about rich people (and basically we are them) who have plenty on their tables. He reminds them to have faith, do as many good deeds as you can, and help everyone. And he goes on to tell them to be generous and share what they have. Paul also tells them why: these good deeds are (more…)