"Men shall be _lovers of their own selves, covetous_." 2 Tim. 3:2.

4. How prevalent is this sin of self-seeking?

"For _all seek their own_, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." Phil.

2:21.

5. What does charity not do?

"Charity ... _seeketh not her own_." 1 Cor. 13:4, 5.

6. How are we admonished with regard to selfishness?

"Let no man _seek his own_." 1 Cor. 10:24. "Look not every man _on his own things_, but every man also _on the things of others_." Phil. 2:4. "Even as I please all men in all things, _not seeking mine own profit_, but the profit of many, that they may be saved." 1 Cor. 10:33. "Let every one of us _please his neighbor_ for his good to edification." Rom. 15:2.

7. What example of unselfishness did Christ leave us?

"For your sakes _He became poor_." 2 Cor. 8:9. "Even Christ _pleased not Himself_." Rom. 15:3. See 1 John 3:17.

Covetousness

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Sin Of Achan. "When I saw ... I coveted them, and took them." Joshua 7:21.

1. What warning did Christ give concerning covetousness?

"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.

2. What commandment forbids this sin?

"Thou shalt not covet." Ex. 20:17.

Covetous: "Inordinately desirous; excessively eager to obtain and possess (especially money); avaricious."-_Webster._

3. What showed this principle to have been strong in the rich man who already had abundance?

"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_." Luke 12:18, 19.

4. What did G.o.d say to him?

"But G.o.d said unto him, _Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided_?"

Verse 20.

5. What application of this parable did the Saviour make?

"So is he that layeth up _treasure for himself_, and is not _rich toward G.o.d_." Verse 21.

6. What does Paul call covetousness?

"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and _covetousness, which is idolatry_." Col. 3:5.

NOTE.-"Do not wade far out into the dangerous sea of this world's comfort. Take the good that G.o.d provides you, but say of it, 'It pa.s.seth away;' for indeed it is but a temporary supply for a temporary need. Never suffer your goods to become your G.o.d."-_Spurgeon._

7. What do these sins bring upon mankind?

"For which things' sake _the wrath of G.o.d_ cometh on the children of disobedience." Verse 6.

8. What double service did Christ say is impossible?

"Ye cannot serve _G.o.d_ and _mammon_." Luke 16:13.

9. Of what sin were the Pharisees guilty?

"And the Pharisees also, _who were covetous_, heard all these things: and they derided Him." Verse 14.

10. What reply did Christ make?

"And He said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but G.o.d knoweth your hearts: for _that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of G.o.d_." Verse 15.

11. How does the Lord regard the covetous?

"For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, _whom the Lord abhorreth_." Ps. 10:3.

12. What did this sin lead Achan to do?

"When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold, ... _I coveted them, and took them_." Joshua 7:21.

13. What did covetousness lead Judas to do?

"And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, _to betray Him_ unto them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and _promised to give him money_. And he sought how he might conveniently _betray Him_." Mark 14:10, 11.

14. Why are the last days to be perilous?

"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." 2 Tim. 3:1, 2.

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Balaam And The Angel. "The elders of Moab, ... with the rewards of divination in their hand, ... came unto Balaam." Num. 22:7.