2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
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PROUD OF POSSESSIONS?
AUGUST 8
Matthew 23:12
PROUD OF POSSESSIONS?
Timothy picked up a shoe from the display table. "This is the one I want, Mom,"he said.Mother looked doubtful. "They’re the best,"insisted Timothy. "All the guys are buying this brand. The TV ad says this special sole reduces the pounding you get from the gym floor."Timothy shut his eyes, imagining what his friends would say if he arrived at practice wearing these shoes. He looked hopefully at his mother, but she was moving away.
"How about this one?" asked Mother, showing him a shoe almost like the one Timothy held.
"Yuck," protested Timothy. "Nobody buys that brand."
Mother spoke quietly. "I want to buy shoes you like, but you know I won’t pay a lot of extra money for a brand name."
"But I don’t want any other shoe," wailed Timothy, thinking of his friends. He began to complain loudly.
Mother looked unhappy. "Then you can just get along with your old ones," she said firmly, and she hurried him out of the store.
At dinner that night, Dad asked, "Who was at the door a while ago?"
"It was John – that old show off," answered Timothy with a scowl. "He just came to brag about his new skateboard. He got a new one only a few months ago, and now he bought another one just to impress the guys. It’s disgusting."
Mother looked surprised. "But weren’t you begging for a certain brand of shoe because you wanted to impress your friends?" she asked. Timothy stared at her. "Just think about it," continued Mother gently. "Do you really need that particular brand of shoe, or are you – like John – trying to use possessions to build yourself up in the eyes of your friends?"
Timothy chewed his food slowly. It was true. He had wanted his friends to notice his shoes. He knew he was acting like some men he had learned about in Sunday school – his teacher had shown the class how the Pharisees had tried to impress others, too. "I guess John and I have a lot to learn," he admitted.
Thought: Do you nag your parents for clothing with popular brand names?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me not to nag parents for clothing with popular brand names. Or plead for certain things just because "everybody else"has them.Teach me to examine my heart.Teach me never to be proud of possessions but to be contented with a simple life. This I pray in Jesus’ name – Amen.
Posted in Junior
Matthew 23:12
PROUD OF POSSESSIONS?
Timothy picked up a shoe from the display table. "This is the one I want, Mom,"he said.Mother looked doubtful. "They’re the best,"insisted Timothy. "All the guys are buying this brand. The TV ad says this special sole reduces the pounding you get from the gym floor."Timothy shut his eyes, imagining what his friends would say if he arrived at practice wearing these shoes. He looked hopefully at his mother, but she was moving away.
"How about this one?" asked Mother, showing him a shoe almost like the one Timothy held.
"Yuck," protested Timothy. "Nobody buys that brand."
Mother spoke quietly. "I want to buy shoes you like, but you know I won’t pay a lot of extra money for a brand name."
"But I don’t want any other shoe," wailed Timothy, thinking of his friends. He began to complain loudly.
Mother looked unhappy. "Then you can just get along with your old ones," she said firmly, and she hurried him out of the store.
At dinner that night, Dad asked, "Who was at the door a while ago?"
"It was John – that old show off," answered Timothy with a scowl. "He just came to brag about his new skateboard. He got a new one only a few months ago, and now he bought another one just to impress the guys. It’s disgusting."
Mother looked surprised. "But weren’t you begging for a certain brand of shoe because you wanted to impress your friends?" she asked. Timothy stared at her. "Just think about it," continued Mother gently. "Do you really need that particular brand of shoe, or are you – like John – trying to use possessions to build yourself up in the eyes of your friends?"
Timothy chewed his food slowly. It was true. He had wanted his friends to notice his shoes. He knew he was acting like some men he had learned about in Sunday school – his teacher had shown the class how the Pharisees had tried to impress others, too. "I guess John and I have a lot to learn," he admitted.
Thought: Do you nag your parents for clothing with popular brand names?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me not to nag parents for clothing with popular brand names. Or plead for certain things just because "everybody else"has them.Teach me to examine my heart.Teach me never to be proud of possessions but to be contented with a simple life. This I pray in Jesus’ name – Amen.
Posted in Junior