"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 God say to him?
"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?" 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
God." 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 God provides you, but say of it, 'It passeth away;' for indeed it is but a
temporary supply for a temporary need. Never suffer your goods to become your god."- Spurgeon.
7. What do these sins bring upon mankind?
"For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of
disobedience." Verse 6.
8. What double service did Christ say is impossible?
"Ye cannot serve God 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 God
knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the
sight of God." 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.
15. What parable did Christ give to correct the false idea of the Pharisees that
wealth was a sign of special favor with God?
The parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Luke 16: 19-31.
16. What did He point out as one of the dangers of the possession of wealth?
"And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto His disciples, How hardly shall
they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! . . . Jesus answereth again, and
saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into
the kingdom of God!" Mark 10:23,24.
NOTE.-And how hard it is for those who have riches not to trust in them!
17. As a rule, what class generally accept the gospel?
"Harken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world
rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love
Him?" James 2:5.
18. How difficult did Christ say it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God?
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man
to enter into the kingdom of God." Mark 10:25.
NOTE.-If Christ here referred to a small, low gate in the walls of Jerusalem, called
"The Needle's Eye," as is thought by some, the force of the statement still
remains; for, before a camel could pass through this gate, it was necessary that he should
be relieved of his burden, and get down on his knees and creep through.
19. Why was the rich young man desiring salvation, unwilling to sell what he had and
give alms, as Christ told him to do?
"But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had
great possessions." Matt. 19:16.
20. What is the love of money declared to be?
"For the love of money is the root of all evil." 1 Tim. 6:10.
21. What evils befall those who are determined to be rich?
"But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many
foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." Verse
9.
22. Who gives man the power to get wealth?
"But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is He that giveth thee power
to get wealth." Deut. 8:18.
23. How may all, rich and poor, honor God?
"Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all
thine increase." Prov. 3:9.
24. What caution is given concerning riches?
"If riches increase, set not your heart upon them." Ps. 62:10.
25. Can riches be retained to men's hurt?
"There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for
the owners thereof to their hurt." Eccl. 5:13.
26. What charge is given to the rich?
"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor
trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to
enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing
to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time
to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." 1 Tim. 6:17-19.
27. What makes rich without adding sorrow?
