From Discipleship Weekly

(a publication of the Presbyterian Church of Islip)

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A Word from Our Sponsor No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and riches. -- Matthew 6:24 The Heidelberg Catechism: Part 3 - Thankfulness Week 42: The Eighth Commandment 110. Q. What does God forbid in the eighth commandment? A. He forbids not only the theft and robbery which civil authorities punish, but God also labels as theft all wicked tricks and schemes by which we seek to get for ourselves our neighbor's goods, whether by force or under the pretext of right, such as false weights and measures, deceptive advertising or merchandising, counterfeit money, exorbitant interest, or any other means forbidden by God. He also forbids all greed and misuse and waste of his gifts. [Ex. 22:1; Deut. 25:13-16; Ps. 15:5; Prov. 11:1; 12:22; 21:20; 23:20-21; Ezek. 45:9-12; Mic. 6:9-11; Luke 3:14; 6:35; 12:15; 16:10-13; I Cor. 5:9-10; 6:9-10; Eph. 5:5; James 5:1-6] 111. Q. But what does God require of you in this commandment? A. That I work for the good of my neighbor wherever I can and may, deal with him as I would have others deal with me, and do my work well so that I may be able to help the poor in their need. [Is. 58:5-10; Matt. 7:12; Gal. 6:9-10; Eph. 4:28] Suggestions for discussion and review: 1. According to Q&A 110, what activities are forbidden by the eighth commandment? How could you apply these to your own daily life? 2. Read Psalm 24:1, and explain what it has to do with this commandment. 3. What kind of work ethic is described in Q&A 111 and Ephesians 4:28 4. Should a Christian ever have to ask, "How much should I give?" * * * * * * * * * * You've got to save your own soul first, and then the souls of your neighbors if they will let you; and for that reason you must cultivate, not a spirit of criticism, but the talents that attract people to the hearing of the Word. -- George MacDonald