Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading – Saturday, January 5, 2019

Theme: GREED

Text: “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.” – Luke 18:9-11

Comment: Greedy people have the habit of tearing down other people and promoting themselves. They want to always shine among people.  The text for today is taken from a parable of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave to warn those who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:” The Pharisee,  prayed using the words in the text, adding for good measure, that he fasted twice a week, and gave tithes of every income. Though the Pharisee accused the publican of being an extortioner, the Bible says that the Pharisees were a covetous lot. (Luke 16:14) In contrast to the self-justification of the Pharisee, the publican acknowledged his sins, and in the spirit of penitence, begged for forgiveness, for which reason, his prayer was heard. – Luke 18:9-14.

Following the rebellion of Absalom, Ziba, the servant of Mephiboshet, manifested his covetous spirit by presenting a very bad picture of his master to King David – apparently to grab all his inheritance. It was later, when Mephiboseht presented himself to King David, that David knew Ziba had not spoken the truth and reversed his order. (2 Samuel 16:1-4; 19:24-30). “He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.” – Proverbs 28:22.

Leave a Reply