GOOD INTENTIONS WILL GET YOU NOWHERE! Good intentions without follow-through are harmful. Good intentions alone are not enough to achieve positive outcomes. While it may be a good starting point, positive results require concrete honest actions. The root cause of failing to follow through is often covetousness. And in most cases, it is harmful to us and others. Now, how is that?
In our previous lessons, we talked about how to be successful with money by wisely managing the resources God has given us. We agree that to be successful at managing money and the possessions God has given us; we must put God first God in our finances and in all that we do.
Now we will look at something that is a serious matter – covetousness. Covetousness is when we are never satisfied with what we have and are always wanting more. The root of covetousness is selfishness and greed.
It can take us into dangerous territory.
We have been looking at the pitfalls of covetousness and its potential to lead us down a path to destruction.
Review any of our previous lessons @ SabbathSchoolDaily.com.
Also, you can obtain the study guide to these lessons @ Sabbath.School or ssnet.or
Inviting God’s Presence
Dear God, please help us to have good intentions that are grounded in your love and guided by your wisdom. Give us the strength and perseverance to follow through on our intentions. May we be mindful of our actions and always seek to do what is right and just in your sight. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Covetousness is that nagging selfish desire that has led many a soul done a bad road, even if they have good intentions to start off. When someone fails to follow through on their good intentions, it can lead to disappointment, frustration, as well as harm. For example, if someone intends to help a person but fails to act, the person may suffer because they did not get the help they were expecting.
Another example of this is a story in the Bible about a husband-and-wife team, Ananias and Sapphira.
There had been a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. The apostles, men of God teaching and preaching about Christ, were preaching the gospel with great power. Because of the work of the Holy Spirit, thousands were joining the church daily. It was an exciting time to be a part of the church of God.
In Acts 4:31-32, we find that people were enthusiastic about the work and growth of the Church.
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. (Acts 4:31-32)
Among those excited were Ananias and Sapphira. They were husband and wife. They saw the church growing. They saw the manifestation and work of the Holy Spirit poured out in a mighty way. The manifestation of the Holy Spirit was so great that the Bible in Acts 4:34-35 tells us
34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. (Acts 4:34, 35).
It was under these circumstances that Ananias and Sapphira became excited. They were impressed by all the wonderful things they had observed happening in the church, and they wanted to be a part of it.
So, they decided to sell some property they owned and give the money to the church. They started off with good intentions. But then things take a strange and dreadful turn. That turn is found in Acts 5:1–11
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?
4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.
6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.
7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.”
10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things. (Acts 5:1-11)
WOW! What happened? Where did Ananias and Sapphira go wrong?
Ananias and Sapphira did two wrong things.
(1) They held back part of the money they had promised to give.
(2) Then, on top of that, they outright lied to God, the Holy Spirit
From the start, it appeared that Ananias and Sapphira really wanted to give toward the work of God. But here is what the Book Acts of Apostles says about their good intentions:
“afterward, Ananias and Sapphira grieved the Holy Spirit by yielding to feelings of covetousness. They began to regret their promise and soon lost the sweet influence of the blessing that had warmed their hearts with a desire to do large things in behalf of the cause of Christ.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 72.
In other words, Ananias and Sapphira had good intentions. They started out with good motives, but their heart of covetousness caused them to pretend and put on a front before the others. But on the inside, their hearts were filled with selfishness.
You see, their covetousness caused them to put on a front and pretend to be what they really weren’t.
Here is what the book Acts of Apostles further says about the incident:
God hates hypocrisy and falsehood. Ananias and Sapphira practiced fraud in their dealing with God; they lied to the Holy Spirit, and their sin was visited with swift and terrible judgment. ..
Infinite Wisdom saw that this signal manifestation of the wrath of God was necessary to guard the young church from becoming demoralized. Their numbers were rapidly increasing. The church would have been endangered if, in the rapid increase of converts, men and women had been added who, while professing to serve God, were worshiping mammon, money. This judgment testified that men cannot deceive God, that He detects the hidden sin of the heart, and that He will not be mocked. It was designed as a warning to the church, to lead them to avoid pretense and hypocrisy, and to beware of robbing God.—The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 72, 73.
We can be sure that the people became more careful about keeping their promises to God after what happened to Ananias and Sapphira.
This is a compelling story about good intentions, covetousness, and selfishness.
The point is, when we repeatedly fail to carry out our good intentions, it has some serious effects. It affects those expecting us to come through, and it also affects our credibility. Others may begin to doubt our sincerity or ability to follow through on our promises. This can damage our relationships with others and destroy trust overall.
Therefore, it’s important to remember that intentions alone cannot cause positive change, it takes sustained effort and action to achieve meaningful results.
How often have you failed prey to good intentions? How often have you yielded to the temptation of covetousness? How can we overcome such evils? Find out Day 6: Overcoming Covetousness
If you wish to return tithe
or give an offering
consider giving online,
@ Adventistgiving.org
my local Church:
Hebron Seventh-day Adventist Church
7902 Wheatly Street
Houston, TX 77088
Watch Past and Present Lessons at SabbathSchoolDaily.com
