People
as God Sees Them
Today's
Three-minute Bible Study
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Study and Apply
Title:
People as God Sees Them
Keywords:
"giving”
“poor” “rich” “sacrifice"
Welcome
to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand
strong in the face of sexual temptation.
Passage:
Mark
12:38-44*
38. And in His teaching He
was saying: "Beware of the scribes who like to walk
around in long robes, and [like] respectful
greetings in the market places,
39. and chief seats in the
synagogues, and places of honor at
banquets,
40. who devour widows' houses,
and for appearance's sake offer long prayers; these
will receive greater condemnation."
41. And He sat down opposite the
treasury, and [began] observing how the
multitude were putting money into the treasury; and
many rich people were putting in large
sums.
42. And a poor widow came and
put in two small copper coins, which amount to a
cent.
43. And calling His disciples to
Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor
widow put in more than all the contributors to the
treasury;
44. for they all put in out of
their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all
she owned, all she had to live on."
Questions
1. In God’s eyes,
what is sacrificial giving?
2. How can someone view
pornography and still believe they are close to
God?
Practical
help
We have two groups of
people represented in today’s passage — the
haves and the have-nots. But don’t knee-jerk with
the assumption that the smart, rich ones are the
haves. According to Jesus’ judgment (speaking for
God), the widow who gives to God the little that she
has is the blessed one.
Now you might argue that, just
because she was blessed by God, this didn’t give
her a good life, and I would point out that the story
isn’t over. All of us have a relatively short
time on this earth and in this particular life. If
there is no God, our future is pretty pathetic. But
with the God who made us to begin with and maintains
our lives moment by moment, our view of the end and
His are completely different. On the other side of
this life, I want Jesus to be in my corner, just like
he was with the widow.
What does this have to do with
pornography? Are you truly living in reality or
illusion when it comes to viewing naked images on a
computer screen or in a magazine? You might think you
have legitimate excuses for your behavior because of
hard life circumstances, but I don’t think they
will wash with God who knows you inside and out. Put
your life in His hands just like the widow did, and
walk away from corrupting distraction. It’s the
smartest move you will ever make.
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Copyright
2003 by eXXit
*Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD
BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman
Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,
1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.
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