Text:    Genesis 3:6-7

By:       Bro. Ekaragha Isaac D.

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DEFINITION OF TERMS

Gold is a yellow precious or valuable metal used for making jewellery, coins, ornaments, loved greatly by people but expensive. Glitter means something having shinning, attractive or exciting qualities that something or somebody seems to have.

INTRODUCTION

“All that glitters is not Gold” is a phrase or an idiomatic expression which means that not everything, situation or anyone that seems to have extrinsic good or attractive qualities is actually good after all. In other words, the proof of the pudding is in the eating meaning to say that you can only know whether something, situation or somebody is good or bad after having been evaluated or tasted. However, I would like to make a slight modification to this expression to be some to be ‘’All That Glitters is not Always Gold’’ because these might be some rare exceptions to this well-known phrase.

Right from thee inception of creation to this present day, mankind has been known to be grappling with one form of sin or the other, greed inclusive. Christians are therefore, biblically enjoined to shun worldliness as clearly contained, amongst others, in the book of I John 2:15-17. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, if any man love the world the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the father, but is of the world.

And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abide forever’’ it is of utmost importance in loving God in our decision-making process to avoid flaws and disappointments.  Christians should always endeavour to allow God direct their actions for divine results. Often times, we do think we can always do things our own way.

Greed is the instrument of destruction according to the scripture; He that is greedy of gain trouble his own house, but he that hate gift shall live– Proverbs 15:27, I Timothy 3:3,8. Using Adam and Eve as the first case study, their fall was borne out of disobedience through greed. Eve, having been deceived by the serpent and demonstrated a compulsive desire to eat of the forbidden fruit caused by his tantalizing appearance, decided to eat of it and give some to her husband. Almost immediately, their lifestyle changed to a state of despondency.

Changed to a state of despondency. That singular development marked the fall and anguish to mankind even till date.

Case study 2: People looking for greener pastures abroad. Although a worthwhile venture, it is also possible for one to make it well at home here with God’s intervention. We often read about some adventurous youths seeking greener pastures abroad getting frustrated and dying in their hundreds along the Mediterranean Sea.

Elimelech – Naomi’s husband, an Ephrathite of Bethlehem – Judah, having decided to seek greener pastures in the land of Moab due to famine in his home country, cost him and his only two (2) children their lives. Ruth 1:1-7.

Case Study 3: King Solomon loved and married many foreign women against God’s will and his wives distracted his attention from Almighty God to other gods when he became old. He had married and maintained 700 wives and 300 concubines respectively. His disobedience to God’s command against foreign polygamy cost him his kingdom and kingship. 1 Kings 1:1-4, 11, 31.

Case Study 4: Lot, a nephew to Abraham whom the latter had mentored, for selfish reason, chose for himself the better part of the land wherein they were grazing their herds when they arose some disagreement between their subordinates. Gen. 13:6-10, 14.

Case Study 5: Warrior Goliath due to his war prowess and great stature was seen as the gold that glittered in battle by a naïve David. 1 Samuel 17:50-51.

Case Study 6: On God’s instruction to Samuel to anoint David King in the stead of King Saul after his disobedience and rejection by God, Samuel had wanted to anoint the first son of Jesse King became of his fine physical features. But God said he see other way round of a man by looking at the heart and not the physical appearance. 1 Sam. 16:6-8, 12