Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

May 16
Saturday


THE GIFT OF
SELF-INDULGENCE

READ:
Ezekiel 16:48-57
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She and her daughter
had pride, fullness of
food, and abundance
of idleness; neither did
she strengthen the hand
of the poor and needy.
__Ezekiel 16:49
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An upscale London department store launched a new gift card with the slogan, "The Gift of Self-indulgence." Throughout the store, signs, slogans, and even nametags called attention to the cards. According to one employee, sales of the gift cards during the first weeks of the promotion had been very strong, far exceeding company expectations. Generosity may prompt a person to give a luxurious gift to someone special, but too often we find it easier to purchase what we want for ourselves.

The prophet Ezekiel sheds light on an ancient city whose people suffered God's judgment, in part, because they embraced a self-indulgent lifestyle. "This was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit" (Ezek. 16:49-50).

Historically, the Lord has dealt harshly with His people who became arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned (v.49). The antidote to the poison of self-indulgence is the desire to please God and serve others, not ourselves (Phil. 2:4).

Self-indulgence is a gift we don't need. __David McCasland
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`````````````Some are discouraged and weary in heart,`````````````
``````````````````````Help somebody today!````````````````````
````````````Someone the journey to heaven should start,```````````
``````````````````Help somebody today! __Breck````````````````
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The more we serve christ, the less we serve self.

****************Today's Bible reading __ Ezekiel 16:48-57*********

48 "As I live," says the
Lord God, "neither your
sister Sodom nor her
daughters have done as you
and your daughters have
done. 49 Look, this was the
iniquity of your sister
Sodom: She and her
daughter had pride, fullness
of food, and abundance of
idleness; neither did she
strengthen the hand of the
poor and needy. 50 And they
were haughty and
committed abomination
before Me; therefore I took
them away as I saw fit.

51 "Samaria did not
commit half of your sins;
but you have multiplied
your abominations more
than they, and have justified
your sisters by all the
abominations which you
have done. 52 You who
judged your sisters, bear
your own shame also,
because the sins which you
committed were more
abominable than theirs;
they are more righteous
than you....

55 "When your sisters,
Sodom and her daughters,
return to their former state,
and Samaria and her
daughters return to their
former state, then you and
your daughters will return
to your former state. 56 For
your sister Sodom was not
a byword in your mouth in
the days of your pride,

57 before your wickedness
was uncovered."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Among the sins of Sodom was their pride in their self-sufficiency
(vv.49-50). Believers who possess material wealth should not trust
in it for security. Instead, the biblical balance is relying on God as
the giver of all things good and using one's resources to help those
in need. "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be
haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who
gives us richly all things to enjoy" (1 Tim. 6:17). __Dennis Fisher