1. How is Satan like a hunter?
CAPTURE or kill its prey: that is the goal of every hunter. To do this, he can use various traps, such as those mentioned by one of Job's false friends (Job 18: 8-10). And how do you manage to lure an animal into your trap? Studying it to find out where it moves, what it likes, and what may take it by surprise. Satan does the same. He looks at us and studies us to see where we move and what we like. So he sets us a trap, with which he hopes to take us by surprise. Still, the Bible tells us what to do to avoid falling into its traps. And, if we fall into one of them, what to do to free ourselves.
ILLUSTRATION:
Series of images: 1. With a proud attitude, a brother rejects an advice given to him by two elders. 2. A man who has stepped on a trap is hung upside down. 3. A sister carrying several shopping bags looks longingly at a store window.
Pride and greed have been two of Satan's most effective traps. (See paragraph 2). *
2. What are two of Satan's most effective traps?
Two of Satan's most effective traps are pride and greed. * They have been working for thousands of years. He is like a birdcatcher who lures his prey into a trap or net (Ps. 91: 3). But we need not be fooled by their tactics, for Jehovah has revealed what they are. --2 Cor. 2:11.
ILLUSTRATION:
Series of images: Examples of pride and greed. Satan, King Uzziah, Eve, King David, and Judas Iscariot. The scenes are repeated in paragraphs 4, 7, 9, 10 and 12.
The Bible contains examples that help us avoid or escape the Devil's traps. (See paragraph 3). *
3. Why did Jehovah include in the Bible examples of people who gave in to pride and greed?
What is one of the ways in which Jehovah warns us of the dangers of pride and greed? Registering real life experiences so that we can learn from them. In the examples that we are going to analyze, we will see that Satan managed to trap even very experienced servants of Jehovah. Does that mean that we are doomed to fail? Of course not. Jehovah included these accounts in the Bible “as a warning to us” (1 Cor. 10:11). He knows that we can draw lessons from them and thus avoid the Devil's traps or free ourselves from them.
THE TRAP OF PRIDE
ILLUSTRATION:
Satan watching Adam and Eve enjoy life in the Garden of Eden.
(See paragraph 4).
4. What can pride lead us to?
Satan wants us to become proud. He knows that if this feeling dominates us, we will be like him and lose eternal life (Prov. 16:18). Thus, Paul warned that if someone is filled with pride, they will receive “the same condemnation that the Devil received” (1 Tim. 3: 6, 7). This can happen to any of us, whether we have been serving Jehovah for a few years or many.
5. According to Ecclesiastes 7:16, 20, how does the proud person behave?
The proud person is selfish. Satan tries to make us think of ourselves more than Jehovah, especially when we are in trouble. For example, have we ever been accused of something we have not done? Have we been victims of an injustice? Satan would love for us to blame it on Jehovah or our brothers. In addition, he wants us to think that the only solution is to do things our way instead of following the guidance that Jehovah gives us in his Word. --Read Ecclesiastes 7:16, 20.
6. What does what happened to a sister from the Netherlands teach us?
Let's look at the case of a sister from the Netherlands who could not bear the imperfections of her brothers. It got to the point that he no longer wanted to be around them. She says: “I felt very lonely. He was unable to see the brothers in any other way. So I told my husband that we had to change the congregation. " Then he watched the March 2016 JW Broadcasting® show, where suggestions were given for dealing with other people's imperfections. The sister explains: “I understood that I had to be humble and acknowledge my own mistakes, instead of trying to change the brothers in the congregation. The program helped me focus on Jehovah and his sovereignty. " The point is clear: when we have a problem, let's not forget Jehovah; Let us ask him to help us see the brothers as he sees them. Our heavenly Father sees your mistakes; even so,
ILLUSTRATION:
King Uzziah carrying a censer in his hands while the chief priest and other priests try to stop him.
(See paragraph 7.)
7. What happened to King Uzziah?
Pride led Uzziah, a king of Judah, to reject correction and do something for which he was not allowed. He was a very capable man. In fact, it successfully carried out military campaigns, construction works, and agricultural development programs. "The true God made things good for him" (2 Chron. 26: 3-7, 10). But the Bible says that, "as soon as he became strong, his heart became arrogant and he sought his own ruin." Jehovah had said that only the priests were allowed to offer incense in the temple. But that's exactly what the proud King Uzziah tried to do. Then Jehovah struck him with leprosy. Uzziah remained a leper for the rest of his days (2 Chron. 26: 16-21).
8. How does 1 Corinthians 4: 6, 7 help us avoid pride?
Could we too fall into the trap of pride and commit a sin, just like Uzziah? Take the example of Joseph, who was doing very well in business and was a highly respected congregation elder. He gave talks at assemblies, and was consulted by circuit overseers. But he acknowledges: “I was confident in my ability and my experience. I put Jehovah aside. I thought it was strong, so I ignored Jehovah's warnings and advice. " Joseph ended up committing a serious sin and was expelled. A few years ago he was readmitted. He explains: "Jehovah has taught me that the important thing is to do what he asks us to do, and not what title we have." Let us always remember that all of our talents and responsibilities in the congregation come from God (read 1 Corinthians 4: 6, 7).
THE TRAP OF GREED
ILLUSTRATION:
Eva listening to the Devil, who is using a snake to speak to him from a tree.
(See paragraph 9.)
9. What did both Satan and Eve do because of greed?
When we talk about greed, we may think of Satan. While he was one of Jehovah's angels, he surely enjoyed many very good privileges. But he wanted more. He longed to receive the worship that only Jehovah deserves. Satan wants us to become like him, and so he makes sure that we are not happy with what we have. The first time he tried to do this was with Eva. With love, Jehovah had allowed her and her husband to eat from all the trees in the garden except one until they were satisfied (Gen. 2:16). But Satan tricked Eve into believing that she needed to eat from the forbidden tree. She was not grateful for what she had; wanted more. And we know how it all ended: he sinned and eventually died (Gen. 3: 6, 19).
ILLUSTRATION:
King David watching from his rooftop at dusk.
(See paragraph 10).
10. How did King David fall into the trap of greed?
Let's look at the case of King David. Jehovah had given him many, many things, such as wealth, prestige, and victory over many of his enemies. David was very grateful for this and said that all that God had given him was more than he could count (Ps. 40: 5). But at a certain point, he became greedy and forgot what Jehovah had given him. I wanted more. Although he had several wives, he began to desire another man's wife, something that Jehovah condemned. The woman's name was Bat-Sheba and the husband was a Hittite named Uriah. David was selfish, committed adultery with Bat-Sheba and got her pregnant. As if all that wasn't enough, he managed to get Uriah killed (2 Sam. 11: 2-15). What was I thinking? Did you think that Jehovah was not seeing you? After so long being faithful to Jehovah, he ended up giving in to selfishness and greed, and he paid dearly for it. Fortunately, in time David confessed his sin and repented. And how grateful he was that Jehovah had forgiven him! (2 Sam. 12: 7-13).
11. According to Ephesians 5: 3, 4, what is the antidote to greed?
What do we learn from what happened to David? That the antidote to greed is to always be thankful for all that Jehovah has given us. --Read Ephesians 5: 3, 4. We should be happy with what we have. We teach our Bible students to think about something beautiful in their lives and then thank Jehovah for it. If you do this for a week, by the end you will have talked about seven different things in your prayers (1 Thess. 5:18). Do we do something similar? If we meditate on all that Jehovah has done for us, we will be more grateful and happy with what we have. Then we will not fall into the trap of greed.
ILLUSTRATION:
Judas Iscariot stealing a coin from the money box and putting it in a bag.
(See paragraph 12).
12. What did Judas Iscariot do because of greed?
Let's talk now about Judas Iscariot. We know that he became a despicable traitor, but he was not always a bad person (Luke 6:13, 16). Ultimately, Jesus chose him to be one of his apostles. Without a doubt, he trusted him, because he put him in charge of the box in which they kept the money they used for the expenses of the preaching. It could be said that it was like donations for today's world work. Jesus had warned them many times to beware of greed (Mark 7:22, 23; Luke 11:39; 12:15). But Judas ignored it and, after a while, he started stealing.
13. At what point did Judas show that he had become greedy?
Judas showed that he had become greedy on one occasion shortly before Jesus' death. Simon the leper had invited Jesus and his disciples to his home, including Mary and his sister Martha. While they were eating, Mary got up and poured a very expensive perfumed oil on Jesus' head. Judas and the other disciples were outraged. The disciples may have thought that the money could have been used in the ministry. But Judas was upset for another reason: "He was a thief" and wanted to steal money from the safe. Soon after, greed led Judas to betray Jesus for the price of a slave (John 12: 2-6; Matt. 26: 6-16; Luke 22: 3-6).
14. How did a married couple apply the words of Luke 16:13?
Jesus reminded his followers of this basic truth: "You cannot be slaves to God and to Riches" (read Luke 16:13). This is still true. Let's see how a couple from Romania applied these words of Jesus when they were offered a temporary job in a richer country. They acknowledge: “We had to pay a large loan to the bank. So at first we saw that job as a blessing from Jehovah. " But there was a problem: the work would take time away from their service to Jehovah. After reading the article “Stay Loyal with a Unified Heart” in The Watchtower of August 15, 2008, they made a decision. They say: “If our motive for working in another country was to earn more money, we would be putting our relationship with Jehovah in second place. We were convinced that our spirituality would be damaged ”. So they rejected the offer. And what happened? He found a job in his country that met his needs. She says: "Jehovah's hand never falls short." They are both very happy that their master is Jehovah and not money.
AVOID SATAN'S TRAPS
15. Why are we sure that it is possible to escape the traps of Satan?
What if we discover that we have fallen into the traps of pride or greed? Is there a way to escape? Yes, of course, for Paul said that those who have been caught alive can escape the Devil's trap (2 Tim. 2:26). That's what David did: he listened when Nathan corrected him, repented of his greed, and regained his friendship with Jehovah. Let us never forget that Jehovah is more powerful than Satan. If we accept their help, we can escape any trap the Devil sets for us.
16. What will help us avoid Satan's traps?
Of course, rather than having to escape Satan's traps, it is preferable to avoid them from the start. This is only possible with God's help. Now, let's not get confused. Even long-time servants of Jehovah have become proud or greedy. So let us pray to Jehovah every day to help us see if such unpleasant attitudes have begun to influence our thinking and acting. --Ps. 139: 23, 24. May we never fall into their nets.
17. What will soon happen to our enemy, the Devil?
Satan has been the hunter for thousands of years. But he will soon be bound and eventually destroyed (Rev. 20: 1-3, 10). How we hope that day comes! In the meantime, let us remain vigilant so as not to fall into their traps. Let's do everything possible to prevent pride or greed from dominating us. Let us be determined to follow this advice: "Oppose the Devil and he will flee from you" (James 4: 7).
WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?
What does King Uzziah's example teach us about pride?
We do not want to trust our abilities like those we had for war, these can make us think that we do not need jehovah or that we can do things that we are not authorized to do and that when we are advised to correct wrongdoing we avoid such advice If we don't act like this, we won't have problems like his aunts had, which cost him his life.
What do the examples of King David and Judas Iscariot teach us about greed?
That we must be grateful with what Jehovah gives us that is the case of King David and in the case of Judas we must weigh situations that arise and move away from the greed of wanting to have more and more as happened in the case of Judas and that He committed an unforgivable sin.
Why are we sure that we can escape Satan's traps?
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