Advanced Level, Block 2, Week 17: Abraham—Not Being Attracted By Earthly Gain

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Advanced Level, Block 2—Result of Entering the Good Land

Week 17
Abraham—Not Being Attracted By Earthly Gain

Point to Emphasize: We must not be attracted by earthly gain.

Reference Reading: Genesis 14:1-17, 21-24, footnotes 231; 15:1

Memory Verse: Let your way of life be without the love of money, being satisfied with the things which are at hand… (Hebrews 13:5a)

Story Sample

What is your reaction when you find something on the bench at the park? Or, let’s say you are walking on the sidewalk and you see money lying on the ground. Do you immediately take it and put it in your pocket before someone sees you? Do you believe in the phrase “Finders keepers, losers weepers?” It means that if someone finds something, they are entitled to keep it even if it belongs to someone else. [Let the children answer and discuss with the children what they think.]

When I was growing up, my favorite chore was getting the clothes out of the dryer. Sometimes I would find money that my dad had left in his pants pockets! I would not tell anyone and keep it for myself. One day my dad noticed he was missing some money. I felt terrible. I went to my dad and returned the money. We had a good conversation about what it meant to keep something that does not belong to you. [Storyteller, insert a short story of being attracted to earthly gains.]

In Genesis chapter fourteen, there is a story of someone who refused to be attracted by earthly gain. There was a war where four kings fought against five kings. The four kings won the war. In this war, the city of Sodom was taken captive. At that time Lot was also in the city and was captured as well.

When Abraham heard that Lot was taken captive, he led his three hundred and eighteen men to pursue the kings who had won the war. He brought back all the possessions and all the people that were taken captive, including Lot. The king of Sodom was so grateful that he offered Abraham all of the goods that were taken forcefully from Sodom.

If you were Abraham, what would you have done? Would you have kept the goods offered to you? Maybe not everything, but at least some of them? Abraham could have said, “That is right and fair. I rescued your people and recovered everything that you lost. It is good that you have your people back and that everything else should be mine.” Abraham was not like that. Abraham was pure. He was not attracted by earthly gains. Abraham did not take ANY of the king’s goods for himself. Abraham’s response was, “I have lifted up my hand to Jehovah, God the Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:22). By saying this, Abraham was saying that God has no lack, everything is His. And as such, He will provide everything that you need.

These days, there are a lot of entertainment shows where people take home prizes and win lots of money. It is easy to be caught up in the desire to have more than what we need. Even at your age, you can be attracted to the things that money can buy. Some people waste their whole life in treasuring money and possessions. The Bible tells us that it is impossible for someone who loves money to love God. Abraham knew God, and he knew that God would take care of his every need. We can also make the decision today to be the same as Abraham, not loving earthly gain but loving God who will provide all that we need.

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