Someone once asked famous evangelist Billy Graham what surprised him most about life, now that he was old (Graham was in his 60s at the time). Graham’s answer? “The brevity of it.” No question, life goes by quickly. What do the following texts teach about human life here? Ps. 49:17; 1 Tim. 6:6, 7; Ps. 39:11; James 4:14; Eccles. 2:18–22. Not only does life go by quickly, but also when you die, you take nothing with you, at least of the material goods that you have accu- mulated. (Character? That’...
Mar 07, 2023•9 min•Ep. 1682
Read Luke 12:16–21. What’s the relevant message to us here? What strong rebuke did the Lord give to the foolish man, and what should that say to us regarding our attitude toward what we own? Though the message is broader than this, one could argue that this was a story Jesus told about what not to do in retirement. Accordingly, if a person is quitting work to spend his accumulated assets on himself, he should beware and take this story to heart. The problem is not work- ing hard or getting wealt...
Mar 07, 2023•7 min•Ep. 1681
Read for This Week’s Study: Luke 12:16–21, Eccles. 2:18– 22, Prov. 27:23–27, 2 Cor. 4:18, Eccles. 5:10, Col. 1:15–17. Memory Text: “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13). As we near the end of our earning years, our financial focus turns toward preserving our assets in anticipation of the end of life. The tra...
Mar 07, 2023•5 min•Ep. 1680
Further Thought: In the conquest of Jericho, Achan was not the only man carrying silver and gold back to the camp of Israel. Joshua had told the men to bring back the silver and gold and vessels of brass and iron to the treasury of the house of God (Josh. 6:19, 24). Everything else was to be burned. Achan, however, was the only man to keep something for himself. “Of the millions of Israel there was but one man who, in that solemn hour of triumph and of judgment, had dared to transgress the comma...
Mar 03, 2023•6 min•Ep. 1679
Overcoming Covetousness Covetousness is a matter of the heart and, like pride and selfishness, often goes unnoticed, which is why it can be so deadly and deceiving. It’s hard enough overcoming sins that are obvious: lying, adultery, stealing, idolatry, Sabbath breaking. But these are outward acts, things that we have to think about before we do them. But to overcome wrong thoughts themselves? That gets tough. Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. What promise is given here, and why is this so important to u...
Mar 02, 2023•8 min•Ep. 1678
Ananias and Sapphira It was an exciting time to be a member of the church. Following the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, the apostles were preaching the gospel with power, and thousands were joining the church. “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither s...
Mar 01, 2023•11 min•Ep. 1677
The Heart of Judas One of the most tragic stories in the Bible is that of Judas Iscariot. This man had a privilege that only 11 other people in all the history of the world have had: to have been with Jesus all that time and to have learned eternal truths directly from the Master Himself. How sad that many people who never had anything remotely like the opportunities that Judas had will be saved, while Judas, we know, is now destined for eternal destruction. What happened? The answer can be foun...
Feb 28, 2023•8 min•Ep. 1676
An Accursed Thing in the Camp It was arguably one of the grandest times in the history of Israel. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, they were finally enter- ing the Promised Land. Through a dramatic miracle, the children of Israel crossed the Jordan River at its flood stage—on dry land. This dry-land crossing was so impressive that the hearts of the heathen kings in Canaan melted, and they had no spirit to fight (Josh. 5:1). The first real challenge in the conquest of Canaan was the...
Feb 27, 2023•12 min•Ep. 1675
The Ultimate Original Sin? The question often arises, and understandably so, about how sin arose in God’s universe. We understand how, at least somewhat. And at its heart, it was because of covetousness. Perhaps covetousness, then, is the ultimate original sin. Read Isaiah 14:12–14. What hints are given there about the fall of Lucifer? How did covetousness play a crucial role in that fall? “Not content with his position, though honored above the heavenly host, he ventured to covet homage due alo...
Feb 26, 2023•8 min•Ep. 1674
Read for This Week’s Study: Isa. 14:12–14, Eph. 5:5, Joshua 7, John 12:1–8, Acts 5:1–11, 1 Cor. 10:13. Memory Text: “ ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses’ ” (Luke 12:15, NKJV). Covetousness has been defined as an inordinate desire for wealth or possessions that really don’t belong to you. Covetousness is a big deal, big enough, in fact, to be right up there with not lying, stealing, or murder. It’s so damaging that Go...
Feb 26, 2023•7 min•Ep. 1673
Further Thought: “No scheme of business or plan of life can be sound or complete that embraces only the brief years of this present life and makes no provision for the unending future. . . . No man can lay up treasure in heaven without finding his life on earth thereby enriched and ennobled.” —Ellen G. White, Education, p. 145. “That which lies at the foundation of business integrity and of true success is the recognition of God’s ownership. The Creator of all things, He is the original propriet...
Feb 24, 2023•6 min•Ep. 1672
Seeking Godly Counsel There are scores of secular money-management gurus out there, but God warned us against consulting them for the management of the assets He has entrusted to us. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its se...
Feb 23, 2023•8 min•Ep. 1671
Working With Integrity Another phase of a “successful” life, the last phase, has the potential to be the most enjoyable—if the decisions of the earlier years have been wise and not ruined by unexpected events. In an ideal situation the parents have raised their children to become independent adults, the home is paid for, the transportation needs are met, there are no lingering debts, and there is a sufficient income stream to provide for the senior family’s needs. God calls His children to a hig...
Feb 22, 2023•8 min•Ep. 1670
The Earning Years As we have seen, God intended for humans to work in one capacity or another. This part of our life (the working years) is usually about 40 years long. For many people this is the time when children are being brought up and educated and when the home and other major purchases are acquired. This can be a very intense time financially. It is a very sensitive time because the family is learning to work together, and its members are creat- ing lifelong bonds. Financial stress can wr...
Feb 21, 2023•10 min•Ep. 1669
The Blessing of Work (Ideally) Unless you are independently wealthy, or the beneficiary of a trust fund that Mommy and/or Daddy set up for you so that you would never have to work a day in your life (if you read many stories about these kids, the money, meant to be a blessing, often leads to tragedy for them as adults), you will sooner or later need to work for a living. The ideal, of course, is to find something that you are passionate about that can provide you with a good income, get trained ...
Feb 20, 2023•7 min•Ep. 1668
First Things First Read Ecclesiastes 12:1. What’s the message there for us? As youths mature into adulthood, thoughts will arise about having to provide for basic needs—food, clothing, and shelter. Jesus Himself has told us how to prioritize our needs when He said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33). Of course, for those who are older and who didn’t make a choice for Jesus when they were young, there is still t...
Feb 19, 2023•12 min•Ep. 1667
Read for This Week’s Study: Eccles. 12:1; Gen. 2:15; 1 Tim. 5:8; Col. 3:23, 24; Gen. 39:2–5; Prov. 3:5–8. Memory Text: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23, 24, NKJV). Most people want to live a “successful” and happy life. Of course, in a fallen world, where tragedy and calamity can strike at a moment’s notice, this goal might not always be e...
Feb 18, 2023•6 min•Ep. 1666
Further Thought: “ ‘When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another.’ Thus Christ on the Mount of Olives pictured to His disciples the scene of the great judgment day. And He represented its decision as turning upon one point. When the nations are gathered before Him, there will be but two classes, and their eternal destiny will ...
Feb 17, 2023•9 min•Ep. 1665
Consider the Man Job Read Job 1:8. How was Job described by God Himself? That’s pretty good, having even God call Job “perfect” and “upright” (Job 1:8), so perfect and upright that no one else on the earth at that time could equal him. Again, these are God’s own words, verbatim, about Job. Even after Job faced one catastrophe after another, God repeated what He had first said about Job, that there was no one else on earth like him, perfect and upright and so forth, except that then a new ele- me...
Feb 16, 2023•9 min•Ep. 1664
Zacchaeus was a wealthy Jew who had made his money by working as a tax collector for the hated Romans. For that, and because he and other tax collectors exacted more tax than was really due, Zacchaeus was hated and called a “sinner.” Zacchaeus lived in Jericho, which sat on a trade route with much business commerce. The meeting of Zacchaeus and Jesus was not a coincidence. Zacchaeus had apparently come under spiritual conviction and wanted to make some changes in his life. He had heard about Jes...
Feb 15, 2023•9 min•Ep. 1663
The Rich Young Ruler We don’t know much about the rich young ruler other than that he was young, a ruler, and rich. And he had an interest in spiritual things. He was so energetic that he came running to Jesus (Mark 10:17). He was excited to learn about eternal life. This story is so important that it is recorded in all three synoptic Gospels: Matthew 19:16–22, Mark 10:17–22, and Luke 18:18–23. Read Matthew 19:16–22. What did Jesus mean when He said to him, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell ...
Feb 14, 2023•9 min•Ep. 1662
God’s Provision for the Poor In their writings, the Bible’s authors included many of God’s provi- sions for the poor, the strangers, the widows, and the fatherless. We have records of this that go all the way back to Mount Sinai. “ ‘Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner you shall do with your vineyard and your...
Feb 13, 2023•7 min•Ep. 1661
The Life and Ministry of Jesus Early in His public ministry, Jesus traveled to Nazareth, in the region of Galilee. This was His hometown, and the local people already had heard of His work and miracles. As His custom was, Jesus attended Sabbath services in the synagogue. Though Jesus was not the officiat- ing rabbi, the attendant handed Him the Isaiah scroll and asked Him to give the Scripture reading. Jesus read Isaiah 61:1, 2. Read Luke 4:16–19 and compare it with Isaiah 61:1, 2. (See also Luk...
Feb 12, 2023•10 min•Ep. 1660
Read for This Week’s Study: Luke 4:16–19; Isa. 62:1, 2; Deut. 15:11; Matt. 19:16–22; Luke 19:1–10; Job 29:12–16. Memory Text: “ ‘Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” ’ ” (Matthew 25:34, NKJV). The Bible speaks often of the strangers (sometimes called aliens), the fatherless, and the widows. They may be the ones whom Jesus referred to as “ ‘ “the least of these My brethren” ’ ” (M...
Feb 12, 2023•9 min•Ep. 1659
Further Thought: God honored His part of the covenant by bless- ing Abraham. And Abraham honored God by not storing up treasures on this earth. “The heritage that God has promised to His people is not in this world. Abraham had no possession in the earth, ‘no, not so much as to set his foot on.’ Acts 7:5. He possessed great substance, and he used it to the glory of God and the good of his fellow men; but he did not look upon this world as his home. The Lord had called him to leave his idolatrous...
Feb 10, 2023•12 min•Ep. 1658
Moses in Egypt The character of Moses dominated the early years of sacred history. He was kept alive in the providence of God, who worked through an enterprising mother and a caring sister. When Pharaoh’s daughter found baby Moses in the ark of bulrushes, she asked his Hebrew mother to care for him and paid her to do so. What a blessed challenge for a young mother who was an exile and slave! Jochebed had only 12 years to teach her child to pray, to trust and honor God, and shape his charac- ter ...
Feb 09, 2023•11 min•Ep. 1657
From Deceiver to Prince As a young man who loved and feared God, Jacob nevertheless stooped to conspire with his mother, Rebekah, to deceive his father and gain his blessing. As a consequence, he started his adult life on the wrong path, having to flee or, perhaps, face an early death. Rebekah told Jacob to “flee thou to Laban . . . ; and tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away; . . . then I will send, and fetch thee” (Gen. 27:43–45). Jacob was actually gone for 20 years, a...
Feb 08, 2023•10 min•Ep. 1656
Lot’s Bad Decisions When Abram left his homeland in response to God’s call, his nephew Lot chose to go with him on his pilgrimage. Genesis 13 records that God blessed Abram to the point that he “was very rich in cattle [the primary measure of wealth in that culture], in silver, and in gold” (Gen. 13:2). Lot also “had flocks, and herds, and tents” (Gen. 13:5). They both became so wealthy with their extensive livestock herds that they could not dwell close together. In order to avoid strife betwee...
Feb 07, 2023•12 min•Ep. 1655
Abram, the Father of the Faithful God called Abram to leave his homeland and his kinfolk and go to a land that He would show him. Thus began the bloodline of the Messiah. Though details aren’t given, Abram had to leave the land of his birth and early years. Surely, it wasn’t an easy decision, and no doubt he gave up some earthly pleasure and conveniences to do it. Read Genesis 12:1–3. How were “all the families of the earth . . . blessed” as a result of this promise and its acceptance? This was ...
Feb 06, 2023•11 min•Ep. 1654
Noah Found Grace It is noteworthy to consider that those who are seeking heavenly trea- sure are frequently called by God to make major life alterations here on earth. Be prepared to face the same thing, if need be. Read Genesis 6:5–14. What radical changes came into Noah’s life as a result of obeying God? What principles can we find here for our- selves in a world that needs to be warned about impending doom? Noah could have spent his time and resources building a home for himself, but he chose...
Feb 05, 2023•11 min•Ep. 1653
