Imitate the One Who Promises Everlasting Life - CONTROL WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT

A wise person controls what he is thinking about.  Our thoughts can help us or harm us, just as a fire can help or harm us.  When we are careful with a fire, we can use it to cook food. But if we are not careful a fire can burn down our house and even kill us. it is similar with our thoughts. When we think about things we learn from Jehovah, it is good for us. But if we keep thinking about sexual immorality and imagining yourselves  doing bad things, we will desire these things so much that we may actually do them.  That might end our friendship with Jehovah. -Read James 1:14, 15. 

We can learn from the example of the first woman, Eve.  Jehovah had commanded Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit from "the tree of the knowledge of  good and bad." (Genesis 2:16, 17)  But Satan told Eve:  "You certainly will not die.  For God knows that in the very day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad."  Eve imagined how much better her life would be if she could decide for herself what was good and what was bad.  She kept thinking about this and "saw that the tree was good for food and that it was something desirable to the eyes."  What happened then?  "She began taking of its fruit and eating it. Afterward she also gave some to her husband when he was with her, and he began eating it."  (Genesis 3:1-6) As a result, "sin entered into the world and death through sin." (Romans 5:12) Eve should not have kept thinking about doing what was wrong!   

(Note: Eve was thinking only of herself and not what the consequences would   be. She wanted what she wanted, and was determined to get it; like a lot of other women today, without thinking of the consequences)

Of course, Eve's sin did not involve sexual immorality.  But the Bible clearly warns us not to keep imagining yourselves doing anything sexually immoral. Jesus said:  "Everyone who keeps  on looking at a woman or a man so as to have a passion for her/him has already committed adultery withe her/him in the their hearts."  (Matthew 5:28 )  Also, Paul warned:  "Do not be planning ahead for the desires of the flesh." -Romans 13:14. 


Note: There should not be a double standard here. It is not alright with  a woman to  do wrong,and okay for a man  to do wrong.  They should make this clear here.   No one gender should do this.

The Bible also says that we should focus on pleasing Jehovah  and not keep thinking  about getting rich. Even if someone is rich, his money cannot really protect him. (Proverbs 18:11) Jesus said that a person is foolish if he stores up many treasures for himself but does not keep Jehovah first in his life.  He is "not rich toward God."  (Luke 12:16-21)  When we store up "treasures in heaven" by doing things that please Jehovah, we make him happy and we feel happy too.  (Matthew 6:20; Proverbs 27:11)  And a good relationship with Jehovah is more valuable than anything else. 

Next time: Imitate the One Who Promises Everlasting Life - DO NOT KEEP WORRYING

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