Friday, November 28, 2014

Lesson 10 Weep and Howl ! Nov 29- Dec 5 2014

Lesson 10November 29-December 5


Weep and Howl!


Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week's Study: James 5:1-6Ps. 73:3-191 Sam. 25:2-11Lev. 19:13Luke 16:19-31Matt. 5:39.
Memory Text: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also(Matthew 6:21).
The worldwide popularity of the television show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? suggests that many people vicariously enjoy the rags-to-riches fantasy and probably hope it could happen to them someday.
But wealth isn't all that many believe it to be. Studies suggest that increasing income follows the law of diminishing returns: beyond allowing people to live comfortably, more possessions do not buy more happiness. Meaningful relationships, job satisfaction, and a purposeful life usually make a greater contribution to one's happiness than does wealth. The best things are freely given, such as loving words, a smile, a listening ear, simple kindnesses, acceptance, respect, a sympathetic touch, and genuine friendship.
Even more precious are the gifts given by God: faith, hope, wisdom, patience, love, contentment, and many other blessings that come through His Spirit's presence in our lives. The irony is that, while many Christians would agree with these sentiments, their daily living suggests that selfishness often has the upper hand. As we'll see this week, greed is a big mistake, one fraught with horrendous consequences.
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, December 6.
SundayNovember 30

Justice Will Be Done!

Chapter 5 of James begins with a bang: Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! (James 5:1, NKJV). No doubt, that would have gotten his readers' attention.
In James 1:10-11, he reminded the rich of the impermanence of wealth. Here, in chapter 5 , he urges those who stubbornly hold on to it to weep and howl. It is as if their impending judgment is even now being poured out. The vivid description continues throughout our passage for this week, bringing to mind the divine retribution for the wicked excess that characterizes the period just prior to Christ's return (see Luke 17:27-292 Tim. 3:1-2Rev. 18:37). A similar attitude permeates God's last-day church (Rev. 3:17). Interestingly, the Greek word translated as miseries in James 5:1 comes from the same root used to describe Laodicea as wretchedin Revelation 3:17.
There is so much injustice in the world, especially economic injustice. Sometimes it is so hard to understand why some people get rich exploiting the poor and, worse, why they seem to get away with it! Read Psalm 73:3-19. What hope is found in these verses regarding this perennial problem?


Throughout the books of the Old Testament prophets, we find a concern for justice and the promise that God will act to set things right. But this persistent and settled sense of hope did not seem to make the uncomfortable and perplexing period of waiting for God's intervention any easier. For instance, writing at a time of widespread apostasy among God's people, when Babylon, swelling with pride, celebrated its power and prosperity, the prophet Habakkuk peppered God with pointed questions (see Hab. 1:2-413-14). God's short answer was to trust in Him and wait a little longer (Hab. 2:2-4). And the prophet did just that (see Hab. 3:17-18).
What injustices cause you to simmer and burn inside with anger and outrage? (And there is so much more going on that you don't even know about!) Though, of course, we should do what we can to alleviate injustice, how can we learn to rest in the promise that, somehow, when it's all over, God's justice will be done?

MondayDecember 1

When Wealth Becomes Worthless

Read James 5:2-3. What warning is James giving here? Though his words are quite strong, what kind of wealth is he talking about? What's the basic message?


Rotting wealth, moth-eaten clothing, and even silver and gold rusting-these are images for us to consider soberly as our planet spins blissfully on, faster and faster toward its demise.
The world's economic situation always seems to be going from one crisis to another; even the good times, when they come, rarely last and are always followed by a downturn. Any semblance of economic stability and tranquility that the global marketplace might offer is fleeting and largely imaginary. Discontent and instability grows as the disparity between rich and poor widens. Such was the situation when James wrote that the poor were growing increasingly desperate and the rich more intolerant of the plight of the destitute.
Consider the following individuals and describe the effect wealth (or the lack of it) had on them:
  1. Nabal (1 Sam. 25:2-11)

  2. Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:12-19)

  3. Peter (Acts 3:1-10)

Sooner or later, worldly wealth loses its luster for all of us. We learn its limitations and maybe even its dark side. Money has its place; the problem is when people put it in the wrong place.
James says money will be a witness against those who misuse it (James 5:3). Though he gives this warning in an end-time context, the point should be clear: how we use our money matters. The image of flesh-consuming fire is meant to wake us up to the seriousness of the choices we are making with our money. Are we heaping up treasure that will ultimately be burned up, or are we saving for eternity? (See Luke 12:33-34.)
Think carefully about your attitude toward money and how it affects your relationships. What does this say about how you are using it?

TuesdayDecember 2

Cries of the Poor

Reading through James, we may notice that several different categories of wealthy people are mentioned, including rich merchants who will be cut down in the midst of their pursuits (James 1:11), business people who sue to protect their investments (James 2:6), and agricultural landholders who have withheld wages from their laborers (James 5:4). These verses describe the rich negatively based on their past behavior, present attitude, and future punishment. These people have essentially heaped up treasure (James 5:3, NKJV)at the expense of the poor.
Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out (James 5:4, NASB).Compare Lev. 19:13Deut. 24:14-15Jer. 22:13. What important principle is seen here, not just in the immediate contexts but in general in regard to how we deal with others?


In Israel in Bible times, as soon as wages were paid, many if not most of the workers used these earnings to buy food to feed their families. Withholding wages often meant the family had to go hungry. Thus, it was a serious matter that James was addressing here.
No wonder, then, that James spoke so strongly against those who held back wages from those who worked for them. It's bad enough to defraud anyone of anything, but for someone already rich to hoard wealth by stealing from the poor is a sin, not just against the poor but a sin against heaven itself. And, as James writes, it will be dealt with in due time!
Riches bring with them great responsibilities. To obtain wealth by unjust dealing, by overreaching in trade, by oppressing the widow and the fatherless, or by hoarding up riches and neglecting the wants of the needy, will eventually bring the just retribution described by the inspired apostle: Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. -Ellen G. White,Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 682.
What are your dealings with others when it comes to money? What do those dealings say about your Christianity and about how much you reflect the character of Christ?

WednesdayDecember 3

Fat and Happy (for Now)

You have lived on the earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter (James 5:5, ESV; compare Ezek. 16:49Amos 4:1). What do these passages link to luxurious indulgence?


In the ancient world the notion prevailed that there was a fixed amount of wealth, meaning that if the wealth of some people increased, the wealth of others had to decrease. In other words, the rich can get richer only by making the poor poorer. Creatingwealth without adversely affecting the wealth of others, however, seems to be a relatively modern idea. Some even argue that, as the rich get richer, they can help make the poor richer too. On the other hand, considering the competition among developed and developing nations for increasingly scarcer resources, the limitations of wealth creation can seem more pressing. Hence, the issue of wealth inequality still rages today.
One of the most famous stories of Jesus dealing with issues of inequality is the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (see Luke 16:19-31). At the time of Jesus, most people were lucky to have two garments instead of just one, and happy if they feasted once a year. By contrast, the rich man in the story was clothed in purple and fine linen (the most expensive kind of garments) and who feasted sumptuously every day (vs. 19, ESV). Poor Lazarus, despite being carried to the gate of the rich man's house, had to beg for the few crumbs he received.
Contrary to popular opinion, the real focus of the parable is this life, not the afterlife. In fact, the original Greek makes no mention of heaven and hell at all. Both the rich man and Lazarus are depicted in the same place (vs. 23)-the grave (hades). The chasm separating them symbolizes the fact that after a person dies, his or her eternal destiny is fixed. Therefore, how we treat people in this life (as described in Moses and the prophets, vss. 29, 31NKJV) is extremely important. There is no future life in which we can make up for what we failed to do in this one: He who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? (1 John 4:20, NKJV).
What regretful things have you done that, though you might be able to make up for them now, you won't be able to make up for them later?

ThursdayDecember 4

Blame the Victim

When someone has done wrong, the natural tendency is to try to escape responsibility. Often people try to do this by transferring the responsibility to someone else-including the person who has been wronged. Murderers excuse themselves by pleading self-defense or blaming their upbringing. By saying they were enticed, sexual abusers blame the victim. Husbands and wives who get divorced typically blame the other for the failed marriage. Those guilty of killing the martyrs of the Christian faith blamed the martyrs by accusing them of heresy. Indeed, Jesus warned His disciples that  the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service (John 16:2, NKJV). In fact, we believe that James, too, was killed for his faith.
In light of this, the words in James 5:6 carry even more weight:
Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. How many times have you condemned others only to realize later that you were really the one who was wrong? Think especially about the last phrase of this verse. Does this mean that we should just let people walk all over us? On the other hand, how many quarrels have you had that would never have happened if you had put up no resistance? What does Jesus mean by turning the other cheek(Matt. 5:39). How are we on a practical level to do this (or is the problem that we want to be practical about something that, in and of itself, isn't really supposed to be practical)?


As we have seen, James has quite a bit to say about the rich and the poor. It should be kept in mind, though, that James never condemns the rich simply because they are rich. It is their attitudes and actions that matter to God. Similarly, the bare fact of being economically poor does not in itself endear a person to God. It is the poor in spirit and rich in faith who will be heirs of the kingdom (Matt. 5:3James 2:5, NKJV). These inner qualities may have no relation to our particular economic circumstances. But then again, they may. Those who are rich, and increased with goods (Rev. 3:17) may be more needy spiritually than they think. God warned Israel to beware lest after they entered the land and became prosperous they should forget that all the good things they enjoyed came from Him, including the power to get wealth (Deut. 8:11-18).
FridayDecember 5
Further Study: "Money has great value, because it can do great good. In the hands of God's children it is food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, and clothing for the naked. It is a defense for the oppressed, and a means of help to the sick. But money is of no more value than sand, only as it is put to use in providing for the necessities of life, in blessing others, and advancing the cause of Christ.
"Hoarded wealth is not merely useless, it is a curse. In this life it is a snare to the soul, drawing the affections away from the heavenly treasure. . . .
He who realizes that his money is a talent from God will use it economically, and will feel it a duty to save that he may give.-Ellen G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, pp. 351, 352.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Consider the following statements: The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender(Prov. 22:7, ESV). "Many poor families are poor because they spend their money as soon as they receive it. . . .
  2. When one becomes involved in debt, he is in one of Satan's nets, which he sets for souls.-Ellen G. White, The Adventist Home, p. 392. Is helping people to get out of debt or to avoid getting into debt a part of preach[ing] the gospel to the poor(Luke 4:18). Why, or why not?
  3. How do we really know whether money serves us or we serve it? See Luke 16:10-13.
  4. Economic disparity is everywhere. Some people have 2, 3, even 4 or more luxurious homes while others are happy to scrounge up a few pieces of wood and cobble them into a shelter. And what about those who have become obese by stuffing themselves while there are children all over the world going to bed hungry? Some argue that by taking from the rich we can give more to the poor. Others argue that as the rich get richer, they can help lift the poor out of poverty. How do we work, as Christians, to help alleviate the problem of extreme poverty? What things should we do to help, and what things shouldn't we do?

Trail of Death, Part 1

Joel Sandoval
Joel Sandoval grew up in an Adventist home, but his life was not transformed by God's grace. As a teen he resented the restrictions that the church represented. At age 15 he dropped out of church and joined a gang. He quickly became involved in organized crime, drugs, and spiritism. He had his body tattooed with symbols of the devil and began smoking marijuana. Soon he moved to hard drugs, such as cocaine.
Joel's parents allowed him to live at home, hoping that he would see the error of his ways. But when he was high on drugs, he often destroyed things in the house and terrified his mother. When the drugs wore off, Joel became depressed. One time he even tried to commit suicide. In spite of his parents' constant prayers and offers of help, Joel was convinced that no one loved him.
He made fun of his parents and others who invited him to church. Joel hated them for what they stood for; he hated the church; he hated God. In spite of his abuse, his parents and church members continued to pray for him and remind him of God's unfailing love. His mother was convinced that someday he would return to God and the church.
One night Joel was supposed to join his gang in a battle with another gang. A voice seemed to warn him to not go out that night. He remained home. Later he learned that his best friend had been killed during the fight. Joel realized that the warning voice he had heard was the voice of God. It had saved his life.
As he thought about the past few months, Joel realized that God had been speaking to him, telling him that the life he was leading was wrong. He began to cry, for he saw no way out of his drug-infested life. He began attending church again, but when members welcomed him, he thought they were staring at him. He felt like an outsider and stopped attending.
Joel decided to leave the country. When he told his mother, she cried. Before he left she pressed a small book into his hand. "Please, take this," she begged. It was a New Testament. And in spite of his feelings about religion, Joel asked her to pray for him.
Joel and five other young men left Honduras, heading for Mexico. They passed through Guatemala and crossed into Mexico. But early one morning they found themselves surrounded by an angry mob who were brandishing knives and guns. The youth realized that these men intended to kill them. The previous day someone had stolen merchandise from a local business, and the mob was convinced that the six youths were the thieves. Spewing death threats, the locals locked the youth in a house, then circled the house with their guns and knives in hand.
Frightened, the boys watched as the locals prepared a noose to hang them. Some swore; others sobbed. Joel thought about how he had disappointed his family and God. He pulled out the New Testament that his mother had given him and began reading.
continued
Joel Sandoval lives with his parents in northern Honduras. He works in a clothing factory and spends his free time sharing his faith with others.

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.  email:  info@adventistmission.org  website: www.adventistmission.org

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Lesson 9 One Lawgiver and Judge. Nov 22-28

Lesson 9November 22-28


One Lawgiver and Judge


Sabbath Afternoon
Memory Text: There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? (James 4:12).
Our attitude toward law, whether God's law or human's, affects how we relate to others and even to how we relate to God Himself. Have you noticed that sometimes the rich and famous act as if they are above the law? Even some who make the laws, or enforce them, may look for ways to write those laws for their own personal gain. Disrespect for a society's laws, then, can involve disrespect for other people, because laws govern how we relate to each other.
At the same time, those whose attitude toward law is rigid and unbending may also have difficulty in their interpersonal relationships. At a deeper level, our view of the law depends on the degree of respect we have for the wisdom of the lawgivers and the fairness of their laws.
This week's lesson begins with a look at the law but then leads into some important words about a form of arrogance and self-dependence that we might not be aware of but which we are warned about as being sin, a violation of God's law. In fact, we're given here, in James, another way of looking at sin.
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, November 29.
SundayNovember 23

Judgment or Discernment?

Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it (James 4:11, NIV). How does judging others amount to sitting in judgment of the law?


The initial phrase in verse 11 that is literally translated speak against could include several sins of speech, including slander, bearing false witness, and angry words (see Lev. 19:15-18). On the one hand, it seems that James uses milder language here than inchapter 3; yet, the implications of speaking against one's brother or sister seem more serious in that doing so calls into question the law itself. By placing ourselves on the judgment seat, we ignore our own weaknesses (see Matt. 7:1-3) and focus instead on another's wrongdoing, as if we were somehow outside of or above the law. Such a focus also fails to love our neighbor as ourselves (Lev. 19:18). Thus, we are not keeping the law.
At the same time, however, while we should not be judging others, we must learn to have spiritual discernment.
Identify the areas in which spiritual discernment is called for in the following passages: Acts 17:111 Cor. 6:1-52 Cor. 13:5Phil. 1:91 John 4:1Gal. 6:1.


We are to compare what people teach and preach with the Word of God. We should also, as far as possible, encourage church members to settle their differences among themselves rather than in courts, where the judges may or may not be guided by God's Word. Most important, we should examine ourselves as to the health of our faith relationship and whether what we dwell on is uplifting and excellent or detrimental to our Christian experience.
It's so easy to criticize and judge others, especially when they do things we don't like. How can we learn to know if we have crossed the line from being spiritually discerning to being judgmental on God's law?
MondayNovember 24

The Lawgiver Is Judge

All the laws of the Old Testament are from Jesus. They are sometimes called the laws of Moses because they were given through him(2 Chron. 33:8Neh. 10:29), but it was Jesus who led the Israelites through the wilderness and spoke the Ten Commandments to them at Mount Sinai (see 1 Cor. 10:1-4). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus clarified and amplified the law. He is the Word . . . made flesh(John 1:14), and it is by His Word that we will be judged (John 12:48).
There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? (James 4:12, ESV). What do the following verses tell us about Jesus as our judge? Isa. 33:2211:1-5Heb. 4:15-16Rev. 19:11-16.


Only someone who knows the law very well is qualified to judge whether or not it has been broken. Lawyers study for many years before taking bar exams, which test their readiness to begin their practice. The scribes in the time of Jesus (many of whom were Pharisees) diligently studied also, and not only the Mosaic laws but also the accumulated legal traditions. The fact that Jesus did not agree with many of these traditions resulted in serious conflict with the leaders. But as the One who gave these laws, He was and is uniquely qualified to explain what they mean and to assess whether or not they have been transgressed. So when He comes again, His reward is with Him to give to all according to their works (Rev. 22:12). Furthermore, by taking on human nature, living a sinless life, dying in our place, and being raised victorious over sin and death, Jesus is able to save us from sin.
"God has committed all judgment unto the Son, for without controversy He is God manifest in the flesh.
God designed that the Prince of sufferers in humanity should be judge of the whole world. He who came from the heavenly courts to save man from eternal death; . . . He who submitted to be arraigned before an earthly tribunal, and who suffered the ignominious death of the cross-He alone is to pronounce the sentence of reward or of punishment.-Ellen G. White, Maranatha, p. 341. As both Lawgiver and Savior, Christ is uniquely qualified to be our Judge.
Either reward or punishment, we will face only one or the other. What's your only hope of reward?

TuesdayNovember 25

Planning Ahead

Read James 4:13(Compare Luke 12:13-21.) How do we balance prudent planning for the future with our need to live each day in expectation of Christ's imminent coming? How can we avoid the trap of merely building bigger barns?


It may seem very reasonable to plan a year in advance or even more. Businesses commonly have short-, medium-, and long-range plans. Individuals and families need to save for the future and to make provision for unexpected expenses. On the other hand, we also believe that Jesus is coming soon and that, someday, all of our earthly possessions will be consumed by flames (see 2 Pet. 3:10-12).
These two approaches to life are not necessarily in conflict. Someone has said, Plan as if Christ were not coming for years but live each day as if Christ were coming tomorrow. This is good as far as it goes, though long-term planning can make it difficult to take one day at a time. Many of Jesus' hearers (and no doubt many Christians today) would consider that the rich man who decided to build bigger barns was prosperous because God was blessing him. But Jesus reveals to us the man's inner thoughts:  soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry  (Luke 12:19, NKJV). In short, his overarching concern was to lay up treasure for himself.
Most important, rather than making our plans too definite, Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that (James 4:15, NKJV). This means more than simply appending d.v. (Deo volente, Latin for God willing) to the end of a sentence about our future plans. It means we should submit all our plans to God. We can pray: God, I want to know Your will. If you are not pleased with these plans, please show me. Then, if our plans are not good, God will show us that-as long as we remain attentive and willing to correct our plans or even change them entirely.
Read again James 4:13. Though on the surface nothing really seems wrong with what is being said, obviously there's a problem-not in what the people want to do but in their attitude about it. How can we be careful not to get caught up in that same attitude, even subconsciously?

WednesdayNovember 26

A Mist

Read James 4:14. What crucial point is being made here?


Life is uncertain. Every breath is a gift. James 4:14 uses a very rare Greek word (atmis), which is translated as vapor or mist. Like the Hebrew word hebel (breath, vapor), which occurs 38 times in Ecclesiastes and is often translated as vanity, it emphasizes the transitory nature of life. Who hasn't, especially as we get older, experienced just how fast and fleeting life is? Well into his old age, well-known evangelist Billy Graham said, I never knew that life went by so quickly.
In other words, there's always the imminence of death. We are all just a heartbeat away from it. Any of us, at any moment, for any number of reasons, could die in an instant. How rightly James says, yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring (4:14, ESV), including death.
I will not here dwell upon the shortness and uncertainty of life; but there is a terrible danger-a danger not sufficiently understood-in delaying to yield to the pleading voice of God's Holy Spirit, in choosing to live in sin; for such this delay really is.-Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 32.
Plus, not only is life so short but, in and of itself, it can also be so unsatisfying.
Read Ecclesiastes 2:15-194:45:109:11-12. How does the message of Solomon here only add to the point that James has made?


We see so much injustice, so much unfairness, so much that doesn't make sense in this life. No wonder we all long for the promise of eternal life made to us through Jesus. Without that, we are just a mist that will be gone and forever forgotten.
Take stock: how much of this world holds you in its grip? How can you always keep in mind just how fleeting it all is?

ThursdayNovember 27

Knowing and Doing What Is Good

Read James 4:15-17 in the context of the verses that come before it. What crucial point is he making here?


James here is dealing with the attitude of self-dependence. In fact, he calls that attitude arrogance, and the words spoken asboasting; he says it is evil. That's how important the right attitude is for the Christian.
Read verse 17. The Bible defines sin in two ways: (1) doing wrong; (2) not doing right. The first definition is given by John: sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4). Many modern versions render it sin is lawlessness, but the Greek word anomia refers to specific violations of the law rather than to habitual lawless behavior (see its use in Rom. 4:7Titus 2:14Heb. 10:17). The second definition is given in James 4:17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. We must therefore go beyond simply resisting temptation to do wrong. We are called to be children of light (Eph. 5:8) and to  let [our] light shine before others, so that they may see [our] good works and give glory to [our] Father who is in heaven  (Matt. 5:16, ESV, emphasis added).
Of course, one could get easily discouraged because, after all, who constantly does all the good they could possibly do every single day? But that's not the issue. Even Jesus' life was not a continual round of ceaseless activity. There were times when He withdrew to pray or simply to rest (Luke 5:16Mark 6:31). Most important, He sought God's will in everything He did (John 5:30). Jesus even compared doing God's will to eating:  My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work  (John 4:34, NKJV). Just as there are limits to how much we can eat at one sitting, so there are limits to how much we can do. That is why Jesus goes on to say that some sow while others reap but both rejoice together (vss. 36-38). As we work for the Lord, we will be encouraged to do more and will pray for a greater willingness to be used in every possible way.
How does prayer help us die to self and thus maintain an attitude of surrender to the will of God? Whatever your plans are, how can you learn to surrender them to the Lord?

FridayNovember 28
Further Study: Read about the value of time in Ellen G. White, Talents, Christ's Object Lessons, pp. 342-346, and share the points that impressed you with your Sabbath School class.
Let no one among you glory any longer against the truth by declaring that this spirit [of discerning the evil motives of others] is a necessary consequence of dealing faithfully with wrongdoers and of standing in defense of the truth. Such wisdom has many admirers, but it is very deceptive and harmful. It does not come from above, but is the fruit of an unregenerated heart. Its originator is Satan himself. Let no accuser of others credit himself with discernment; for in so doing he clothes the attributes of Satan with the garments of righteousness.-Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, pp. 936, 937.
He who is guilty of wrong is the first to suspect wrong. By condemning another he is trying to conceal or excuse the evil of his own heart. It was through sin that men gained the knowledge of evil; no sooner had the first pair sinned than they began to accuse each other; and this is what human nature will inevitably do when uncontrolled by the grace of Christ.-Ellen G. White, Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 126.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Look at the last Ellen G. White statement above. How can we protect ourselves from doing the same thing: judging and accusing others so that we try and feel better about ourselves and our own shortcomings?
  2. Dwell on the fact of just how fast life goes by. What should that tell us about what our priorities should be? Though we're told by the Special Theory of Relativity that time itself varies depending upon how fast we are moving in a frame of reference, one thing is certain: no matter how fast, or slow, time goes by, once a moment is gone, it is gone forever. How should this sobering thought impact what we do with our time?
  3. How do we deal with those whose sins need to be dealt with, and yet not fall into the trap that James has warned us about?

Not-So-Smart Solomon Wises Up

Dennis Rodrigues
As a teenager Solomon was not so smart. He let his peers influence his decisions and began smoking and taking drugs. He experimented with every drug he could get, and often he grew weak because he was not eating. Drugs were all he cared for.
Solomon and his friends were always together, smoking and taking drugs. They formed a gang and often fought with other teens. Once when he was high on drugs he picked up a machete, ready to strike his father. But a voice shouted to him, "Stop!" and he dropped the machete as if it were on fire.
"Help me, please!" he cried. His family took him to a mental hospital for treatment. But the hospital kept him for only a few days.
Solomon's grandmother prayed for him constantly and encouraged him to attend church with her and let God heal him. Solomon went, and there he felt God's love calling him. But he continued taking drugs for 10 more years. Then Solomon's grandmother and father died. The two people who had tried to help him were gone. Finally Solomon could run away from God no longer. He gave up and gave his life to God. It had taken him years to heed the voice of God.
Solomon did not know which church to attend. He tried several before he visited an Adventist church. There he watched the pastor baptize someone, and instantly he knew what he must do. He went to the pastor and asked for baptism. The pastor reviewed the doctrines with him and baptized Solomon.
Solomon's repentance was real. He serves his church and his God with joy and faithfulness as a deacon and an elder. Several members of his family have given their hearts to Christ because of his witness.
Recently he held his own evangelistic series and led seven people to Jesus.
He is trained as an accountant, but he has chosen simpler work that puts him in touch with people he can talk to about God. Solomon shares his faith on the bus, to strangers in the street. "For years I was compelled to take drugs; today I am by God compelled to preach," he says. He is eager to redeem the time he has left for God.
Dennis Rodrigues is a pastor living in Tegulcigalpa, Honduras.

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