Chapter 38

Major Pitfalls

Sections

The “pitfalls” spoken of in this chapter are: pride, riches and sexual sin. These are three of the greatest dangers to one’s life as a believer. It is essential that we take to heart the Bible’s teaching about them.

Pride

Do not be proud or conceited

Don’t be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people.   Romans 12:16b CEV

Do not be wise in your own eyes

How horrible it will be for those who think they are wise and consider themselves to be clever.   Isaiah 5:21 GW

Instead of being proud, be humble

[Peter, to believers:] And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.   1 Peter 5:5b NET

Riches

Riches are a barrier to a relationship with God

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” … 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”   Mark 10:23, 25 NET

Riches are not secure

Tell those who have the riches of this world … not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches..   1 Timothy 6:17a GW

Hoarding riches will bring ill consequences in the afterlife

[Jesus:]  But how horrible it will be for those who are rich. They have had their comfort.   Luke 6:24 GW

So, do not love money and be content with what you have

Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.”   Hebrews 13:5 GNT

Sexual Sin

Avoid sexual sin

[Paul, to believers:] But there must be no sexual sin among you, or any kind of evil or greed. Those things are not right for God’s holy people.   Ephesians 5:3 NCV™

The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses brought in a woman who had been caught in bed with a man who wasn’t her husband. They made her stand in the middle of the crowd. 4Then they said, “Teacher, this woman was caught sleeping with a man who isn’t her husband. … 7They kept on asking Jesus about the woman. Finally, he stood up and said, “If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her!” 8Once again he bent over and began writing on the ground. 9The people left one by one, beginning with the oldest. Finally, Jesus and the woman were there alone. 10Jesus stood up and asked her, “Where is everyone? Isn’t there anyone left to accuse you?” 11“No sir,” the woman answered. Then Jesus told her, “I am not going to accuse you either. You may go now, but don’t sin anymore.”   John 8:3-4, 7-11 CEV

Sexual sin results in God’s judgment

[God, to John:] But I will tell you what will happen to cowards and to everyone who is unfaithful or dirty-minded or who murders or is sexually immoral or uses witchcraft or worships idols or tells lies. They will be thrown into that lake of fire and burning sulfur. This is the second death.   Revelation 21:8 CEV

Pray for persecuted Christians