DAILY TEXT, Today  Tuesday, October 3, 2023,  “Do not go beyond the things that are written.” This way they will not be filled with pride (1 Cor. 4:6).

Let us examine the scriptures every day 2023

Tuesday October 3

“Do not go beyond the things that are written.” This way they will not be filled with pride (1 Cor. 4:6).

Pride led Uzziah, a king of Judah, to reject correction and do something he did not have permission to do. He was a very capable man. In fact, he successfully carried out military campaigns, construction works and agricultural development programs. “The true God caused it to go well 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 brought about his own ruin.” Jehovah had said that only priests were allowed to offer incense in the temple. But that's what proud King Uzziah tried to do. Then Jehovah punished him with leprosy (2 Chron. 26:16-21). Could we too fall into the trap of pride and commit a sin, like Uzziah? Yes, if we believed ourselves to be too important. Let us always remember that all our talents and the responsibilities we have in the congregation come from God (1 Cor. 4:7). If we are proud, Jehovah will not use us. w21.06 16 paras. 7, 8.

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 coveted the worship that only Jehovah deserves. Satan wants us to become like him, and that is why he tries to make us not happy with what we have. The first time he tried to do this was with Eva. Jehovah had lovingly 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; she wanted more. And we know how it all ended: she sinned and eventually died (Gen. 3:6, 19) .

How did King David fall into the trap of greed?

Let's look at the case of King David. Jehovah had given him many things, such as riches, prestige, and victory over many of his enemies. David was very grateful for this and said that everything 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. He wanted more. Although he had several wives, he began to desire another man's wife, something that Jehovah condemned. The woman's name was Bath-Sheba, and her husband was a Hittite named Uriah. David was selfish, committed adultery with Bath-Sheba and got her pregnant. As if all that were not enough, he arranged to have Uriah killed (2 Sam. 11:2-15). What was he thinking? Did he believe that Jehovah was not watching him? After being faithful to Jehovah for so long, 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).

According to Ephesians 5:3, 4, what is the antidote to covetousness?

What do we learn from what happened to David? That the antidote to greed is to always be grateful 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 of something nice in his life 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 Thes. 5:18). Do we do something similar? If we meditate on all that Jehovah has done for us, we will be more grateful and content with what we have. Then we will not fall into the trap of greed.

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 preaching expenses. You could say it was like donations for the world work today. Jesus had warned them many times to beware of covetousness (Mark 7:22, 23; Luke 11:39; 12:15). But Judas did not listen and, after a while, he began to steal.

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