Peril of Covetousness
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as it was to Christ,—“If Thou wilt fall down and worship me.” He is
content to require that integrity shall be yielded, conscience blunted.
Through devotion to worldly interests he receives all the homage he
asks. The door is left open for him to enter as he pleases, with his evil
train of impatience, love of self, pride, avarice, and dishonesty. Man is
charmed, and treacherously allured on to ruin.
The example of Christ is before us. He overcame Satan, showing
us how we also may overcome. Christ resisted Satan with Scripture.
He might have had recourse to His own divine power, and used His
own words; but He said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” If
the Sacred Scriptures were studied and followed, the Christian would
be fortified to meet the wily foe; but the word of God is neglected, and
disaster and defeat follow.
The Rich Young Ruler
A young man came to Christ, and said, “Good Master, what good
thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” Jesus bade him keep the
commandments. He replied, “All these things have I kept from my
youth up: what lack I yet?” Jesus looked with love upon the young
man, and faithfully pointed out to him his deficiency in keeping the
divine law. He did not love his neighbor as himself. His selfish love
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of riches was a defect, which, if not remedied, would debar him from
heaven. “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to
the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow
Me.”
Christ would have the young man understand that He required
nothing of him more than to follow the example that He Himself, the
Lord of heaven, had set. He left His riches and glory, and became poor,
that man, through His poverty, might be made rich; and for the sake
of these riches, He requires man to yield earthly wealth, honor, and
pleasure. He knows that while the affections are upon the world, they
will be withdrawn from God; therefore He said to the young man, “Go
and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure
in heaven: and come and follow Me.” How did he receive the words
of Christ? Was he rejoiced that he could secure the heavenly treasure?
Oh, no! “He went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” To