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Gluttony: Sin of Lust and Greed (Part One)

Article by Martin G. Collins

America has grown fat, and the sin of gluttony plays a part in it. Obesity is dangerous physically, but it also has a spiritual side.

Are All Forms of Gambling or Games of Chance Sin?

Bible Questions & Answers

Any activity that is based upon covetousness is sin. A Christian should not desire to increase his own wealth by depriving someone else.

Gambling: A Question of Motive

Commentary by Martin G. Collins

The addiction of gambling comes from the lure of effortless profit and the way of get, motivated by covetousness, which militates against contentment.

Spiritual Satisfaction

Sermonette by Martin G. Collins

The Parable of the Rich Fool illustrates that, when one has all the material possessions he could want, he may still not be rich toward God.

Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twelve)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Corruption in the courts is a fact of life. We should not be surprised by this curse, realizing that God is aware and is allowing it for a purpose.

Covetousness

Sermonette by Martin G. Collins

Covetousness—wanting something with a deep, greedy, envious burning—has reached epidemic proportions. Covetousness is also idolatry.

Biblical Finance

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Bible is not an economic text, but it does include financial principles that all should know and follow as well as they are able. Here are a few.

A Telling Juxtaposition

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

One day we acknowledge the lovingkindness of our Creator, and the next we engage in no-holds-barred materialism, illustrating the nation's self-indulgence.

A Warning from Jude (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Blinded by greed, Balaam used whatever mental gymnastics necessary to arrive at the answer he wanted. He turned the grace of God into a license for evil.

The Philosophy of Black Friday

Sermonette by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Black Friday stirs up greedy, materialistic, covetous attitudes. When a nation reaches a materialistic mindset, it is on its way to oblivion.

The Tenth Commandment

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Coveting begins as a desire. Human nature cannot be satisfied, nothing physical can satisfy covetousness, and joy does not derive from materialism.

A Prophecy for Our Time

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The 'change' that was promised has turned out to be national bankruptcy as we plunge into insurmountable debt, leaving us at the mercy of others.

Coming Home to Roost

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

At the root of American industry's troubles are policies and practices that will result in conflict, injustice, and the demise of many companies.

The Tenth Commandment (1998)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

One commentator said all public crime would cease if this one law was kept. Another said every sin against one's neighbor springs from breaking this commandment.

The Eighth Commandment

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

There is more to the eighth commandment than the act of stealing. This Bible Study explores other ways of stealing and how to avoid Satan's way of get.

America's Mercenary Culture

'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Sociologists are concerned that the mercenary attitude pervades American culture. What does the Bible about this 'each man for himself' way of life?

Breaking Israel's Pride

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Modern Israel has not yet learned that 'there ain't no free lunch.' The reality of the depth of this crisis has not really hit the national psyche.

Strategies for Interfacing with Babylon Without Becoming Assimilated (Part Two)

Sermon by David F. Maas

There are three basic causes for discontentment and three strategies to contentment, enabling us to emulate the apostle Paul's content state of mind.

The Present and Future Crisis (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The United States' enormous debt, coupled with its escalating trade deficit, is inevitably leading to what economist call economic Armageddon.

Who Owns Water?

Commentary by Martin G. Collins

Fascist governments would like to put a lock on the world's water supply, making everyone dependent on an unholy alliance between government and business.

The Handwriting is on the Wall (2008)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

We must allow God to change our lives. The blessings and cursing principle of Deuteronomy 28 remains unchanged, applying to all who have made the covenant.

Back to Life (Part Three)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Jesus' deliberately delayed His return to Bethany until Lazarus had died so that He could bolster the faith of Martha and His other disciples, then and now.

Why Things Won't Change

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Only by a massive returning to God will the political landscape change for the better. The culture will only change for the worse if mobs get their way.

Balaam and the End-Time Church (Part 2)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Balaam, motivated by self-interest, believing that the ends justify the means, willing to do anything to get his way, is spiritually inferior to a donkey.

The Love of Money

Sermonette by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The context for the oft-misquoted 'money is the root of all evil' is a warning against ministers who wish to enrich themselves using the pretext of God's Word.

Deceived by His Eyes

Sermonette by John W. Ritenbaugh

Abram learned that God gives material prosperity to those who are not seeking it. Those who seek riches are destined to fall into a snare.

Habakkuk: A Prophet of Faith (Part Three)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Habakkuk was frustrated that God would use an evil people to punish Israel, yet he resolved to cease fretting and to become a responsible watcher.

Balaam and the End-Time Church (Part 1)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Balaam illustrates the paradox of someone who knows God's will, but willfully and deliberately disobeys, presumptuously thinking he could manipulate or bribe God.

God's Rest (Part 4)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Coveting—lust—is a fountainhead of many other sins. Desiring things is not wrong, but desiring someone else's things promotes overtly sinful behavior.

Cleansing the Temple and Economics

CGG Weekly by Charles Whitaker

Violently, Christ responded to the corrupt, moneymaking establishment, overturning tables, driving away people and animals. But why did He do so twice?

Daily Thanksgiving

'Ready Answer' by Staff

Too many confine their giving of thanks to one day a year. Answering these four questions will help us to evaluate our approach to this spiritual duty.

A Gift Opens Doors

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The bribe seems to be the magic elixir designed to turn a moral man into a pragmatic amoral man.

Maintaining Good Health (Part 5)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

In the Bible, eating can be a symbol of fornication. Like Jacob and Christ, we must learn to curb our appetites, learning to distinguish holy from profane.

Maintaining Good Health (Part 4)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

While drunkenness and gluttony show self-centeredness and lack of discipline, often leading to poverty and ill health, moderation is the way to glorify God.

Decide Now How You Will Respond!

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

God's chosen saints should realize that while Satan designs temptations to exploit human weakness, Almighty God allows trials to perfect faith and prove loyalty. Consequently, every temptation provides a choice between life or death, blessing or curse. In James 1:13-15, we learn that dealing with temptation is a process, beginning with raw desire, resulting either in resistance and growth or in sin and death. God sets limits on the work of Satan, the accuser, as seen in the positive conclusion of Job's trials. We see a massive contrast between Adam and Eve's failure and Christ's victory. While Eve gave in to the lust of the eyes, Jesus overcame Satan's threefold test—hunger, faith, and power by prayer, fasting, God's Spirit, and Scripture, proving that yielding to legitimate desires becomes sin if pursued outside the will of Almighty God. While temptation is universal, it is not irresistible; no one is ever forced to yield. Furthermore, God promises to provide strength and a way to escape (I Corinthians 10:13). While society excuses sin as weakness or disease, Scripture contends that responsibility rests on the individual. Scripture provides examples of both failure and faithfulness. Failures include Lot, Achan, the rich young ruler (overtaken by greed and materialism), Saul, Absalom, Herod (overtaken by ambition), Peter (overtaken by self-preservation), and Israel (by idolatry). But victories include Job's endurance, Joseph's purity, David's restraint, and Christ's resistance. Temptation reveals whether our hearts will trust God or surrender to selfish desires. We can resist temptation only through deliberate preparation, guarding our hearts, setting boundaries, relying on God's spirit, and clinging to His Word. With God's strength, His chosen saints can endure, resist, and gain eternal life.

Forgiving, Giving, and Living

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

God possesses attributes that are His alone, like omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience. But there are other attributes that become part of our new nature.

Slavery and Babylon

'Prophecy Watch' by Martin G. Collins

We are all affected by the enslaving system of Babylon, as servitude comes in many forms: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, economic, and political.

The Eighth Commandment

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

The eighth commandment seems so simple: You shall not steal. Yet, it seems that just about everyone on earth has his hand in someone else's pocket!