CHAPTER 31 (The Great Controversy)
Covetousness
I saw Satan and his angels consulting
together. He bade his angels go and lay
their snares especially for those who were looking for Christ's second
appearing, and who were keeping all God's commandments. Satan told his angels that the churches were
all asleep. He would increase his power
and lying wonders, and he could hold them.
But the sect of Sabbath-keepers we hate.
They are continually working against us, and taking from us our
subjects, to keep that hated law of God.
Go, make the possessors of lands and money drunk
with cares. If you can make them place
their affections upon these things, we have them yet. They may profess what they please, only make
them care more for money than the success of Christ's kingdom, or the spread of
the truths we hate. Present the world
before them in the most attractive light, that they may love and idolize it. We must keep all the means in our ranks we
can. The more means they have, the more
will they injure our kingdom by getting our subjects. And as they appoint meetings in different
places, then we are in danger. Be very
vigilant then. Cause all the distraction
you can. Destroy love for each
other. Discourage and dishearten their
ministers; for we hate them. Hold up
every plausible excuse to those that have means, lest they hand it out. Control the money matters if you can, and
drive their ministers to want, and distress.
This will weaken their courage and zeal.
Battle every inch of ground. Make
covetousness and love of earthly treasures the ruling traits of their
character. As long as these traits rule,
salvation and grace stand back. Crowd
all you can around them to attract them, and they will be surely ours. Not only are we sure of them, but their
hateful influence will not be exercised toward others to lead them to
heaven. And those who shall attempt to
give, put within them a grudging disposition, that it may be sparingly.
I saw that Satan carried out his plans well. And as the servants of God appointed
meetings, Satan and his angels understood their business, and were on the
ground to hinder the work of God, and he was constantly putting suggestions
into the minds of God's people. Some he
leads in one way, and some in another, always taking advantage of evil traits
in the brethren and sisters, exciting and stirring up their natural besetments. If they are disposed to be selfish and
covetous, Satan is well pleased to take his stand by their side, and then with
all his power he seeks to lead them to manifest their besetting sins. If the
grace of God and the light of truth melt away these covetous, selfish feelings
for a little, and they do not obtain entire victory over them, when they are
not under a saving influence, Satan comes in and withers up every noble,
generous principle, and they think that they have to do too much. They
become weary of well-doing and forget all about the great sacrifice Jesus made
for them, to redeem them from the power of Satan, and hopeless misery.
Satan took advantage of Judas' covetous, selfish
disposition, and led him to murmur against the ointment Mary dedicated to
Jesus. Judas looked upon it as a great
waste; it might have been sold and given to the poor. He cared not for the poor, but considered the
liberal offering to Jesus extravagant.
Judas prized his Lord just enough to sell him for a few pieces of
silver. And I saw that there were some
like Judas among those who profess to be waiting for their Lord. Satan has the control over them, but they
know it not. Not a particle of
covetousness or selfishness can God approbate.
He hates it, and he despises the prayers and exhortations of those who
possess it. As Satan sees his time is
short, he leads them on to be more and more selfish, more and more covetous,
and then exults as he sees them wrapt up in themselves, close, penurious and
selfish. If the eyes of such could be
opened, they would see Satan in hellish triumph, exulting over them, and
laughing at the folly of those who accept his suggestions, and enter his
snares. Then he and his angels take the
mean and covetous acts of these individuals, and present them to Jesus and the
holy angels, and reproachfully say, These are Christ's followers! They are getting ready to be translated! Satan marks their deviating course, and then
compares it with the Bible, with passages which plainly rebuke such things, and
then presents it to annoy the heavenly angels, saying, These are following Christ
and his word! These are the fruits of
Christ's sacrifice and redemption!
Angels turn in disgust from the scene.
God requires a constant doing on the part of his people, and when they
become weary of well and generous doing, he becomes weary of them. I saw that God was greatly displeased with
the least manifestation of selfishness on the part of his professed people, for
whom Jesus has not spared his own precious life. Every selfish, covetous individual will fall
out by the way. Like Judas, who sold his
Lord, they will sell good principles, and a noble, generous disposition for a
little of earth's gain. All such will be
sifted out from God's people. Those who want heaven, must, with every
energy they possess, be encouraging the principles of heaven. And instead of their souls withering up with
selfishness, they should be expanding with benevolence, and every opportunity
should be improved in doing good to one another, and increasing and growing
more and more into the principles of heaven.
Jesus was held up to me as the perfect pattern. His life was without selfish interest, and
was marked with disinterested benevolence.
See Mark 14:3-11; Luke 12:15-40; Colossians
3:5-16; 1John 2:15-17
Mar 14:3 And
being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came
a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she
brake the box, and poured it on his head.
Mar 14:4 And
there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this
waste of the ointment made?
Mar 14:5 For
it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given
to the poor. And they murmured against her.
Mar 14:6 And
Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on
me.
Mar 14:7 For
ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good:
but me ye have not always.
Mar 14:8 She
hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the
burying.
Mar 14:9
Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the
whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of
her.
Mar 14:10 And
Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him
unto them.
Mar 14:11 And
when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he
sought how he might conveniently betray him.
Luk 12:15 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.
Luk 12:16 And
he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought
forth plentifully:
Luk 12:17 And
he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room
where to bestow my fruits?
Luk 12:18 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.
Luk 12:19 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.
Luk 12:20 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?
Luk 12:21 So
is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Luk 12:22 And
he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your
life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
Luk 12:23 The
life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Luk 12:24
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have
storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the
fowls?
Luk 12:25 And
which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
Luk 12:26 If
ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for
the rest?
Luk 12:27
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say
unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of
these.
Luk 12:28 If
then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is
cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little
faith?
Luk 12:29 And
seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of
doubtful mind.
Luk 12:30 For
all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father
knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Luk 12:31 But
rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto
you.
Luk 12:32 Fear
not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the
kingdom.
Luk 12:33 Sell
that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a
treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither
moth corrupteth.
Luk 12:34 For
where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luk 12:35 Let
your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
Luk 12:36 And
ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from
the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him
immediately.
Luk 12:37
Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching:
verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to
meat, and will come forth and serve them.
Luk 12:38 And
if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them
so, blessed are those servants.
Luk 12:39 And
this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would
come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken
through.
Luk 12:40 Be
ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think
not.
Col 3:5
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication,
uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which
is idolatry:
Col 3:6 For
which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of
disobedience:
Col 3:7 In the
which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Col 3:8 But
now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy
communication out of your mouth.
Col 3:9 Lie
not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his
deeds;
Col 3:10 And
have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him
that created him:
Col 3:11 Where
there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian,
Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Col 3:12 Put
on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Col 3:13
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel
against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Col 3:14 And
above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Col 3:15 And
let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in
one body; and be ye thankful.
Col 3:16 Let
the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord.
1Jn 2:15 Love
not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the
world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For
all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and
the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And
the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God
abideth for ever.
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