By Joni Bell | 7 March 2023 | I may be the “queen of returns”. I am one of those people who expects to get exactly what is advertised. If I order it on Amazon and it isn’t the quality, color, or fit I expected, it will be returned. If that lettuce goes bad days […] Source: https://atoday.org/god-and-the-gumball-machine/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=god-and-the-gumball-machine
Giving Back – Hit the Mark Sabbath School
Is this True or False? Giving money to the cause of Christ is the most productive way to witness. Join us as we discuss Lesson 10, Giving Back.

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/giving-back-hit-the-mark-sabbath-school/
Wednesday: Deathbed Charity
What principles can we take from the following texts regarding how we should deal with money?
Money can have a powerful hold on human beings, a hold that has led to the ruin of many. Who has not heard of people who have done terrible things because of money — even when they already had a lot of it to begin with?
It doesn’t have to be that way, though. By God’s power, we can overcome the enemy’s attempt to take what was meant to be a blessing (material possessions) and turn them into a curse.
In the context of being a good steward in planning for death, one danger that people face is the temptation to hoard assets now, justifying that hoarding with the idea that, well, “When I die, I can give it all away then.” Though better than just spending it all now (one billionaire had said that he knew that he would be living right only if the check for his funeral bounced), we can and should do better than that.
“I saw that many withhold from the cause while they live, quieting their consciences that they will be charitable at death; they hardly dare exercise faith and trust in God to give anything while living. But this deathbed charity is not what Christ requires of His followers; it cannot excuse the selfishness of the living. Those who hold fast their property till the last moment surrender it to death rather than to the cause. Losses are occurring continually. Banks fail, and property is consumed in very many ways. Many purpose to do something, but they delay the matter, and Satan works to prevent the means from coming into the treasury at all. It is lost before it is returned to God, and Satan exults that it is so.” — Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 154.
Why must we be very careful in how we justify our use of whatever material blessings we have? |

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10: Giving Back – Teaching Plan
Key Thought: This week we want to review God’s counsel for our later years. What should we do, avoid doing, and what principles are involved.
March 11, 2023
1. Have a volunteer read Luke 12:16-21..
- Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
- What is the relevant message to us here?
- Personal Application: What does the message to the foolish man say to us regarding our attitude toward what we own? Share your thoughts.
- Case Study: One of your relatives states, “I’ve worked hard all my life and saved up for retirement so I can kick back and travel and enjoy life in ease and luxury. That’s my reward for working hard.” How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read Proverbs 27:23-27, Proverbs 30:8, and I Timothy 6:17.
- Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
- Why must we be very careful how we justify our use of our material goods?
- Personal Application: Though we can lay up treasure in heaven, why is that not the same as buying or earning salvation? Share your thoughts.
- Case Study: One of your friends states, “What plans have you made for God and family if you died suddenly? What would happen to your property? Would it go where you wanted it to?” How would you respond to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Psalm 24:1, Hebrews 3:4, Psalm 50:10, and Colossians 1:15-17.
- Ask class members to share a short
- What is the central point of the texts and how it impacts what we do with the material goods God has given us??
- Personal Application: How do you balance what you spend your money on that shows you are faithful in managing God’s money? In what ways could your spending be better? Share your thoughts.
- Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “Why does money have such a strong hold on people, rich and poor, who do many terrible things for money and because of money?” How would you respond to your relative?
4. Have a volunteer read Psalm 34:11, Psalm 49:17, James 4:14, and I Timothy 6:6,7.
- Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
- How are good works and generous offerings related to faith?
- Personal Application: Why is it important and a duty to draw up a will to designate where your goods go? Share your thoughts?
- Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.
(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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Adventist Medical Helicopter Disappears in Palawan, Philippines
6 March 2023 | A medical helicopter working for Philippines Adventist Medical Aviation Services (PAMAS) went missing on March 1, 2023 after attempting a med-evac mission in the Philippines. According to ANN News, the missing helicopter was piloted by Daniel Lui and carried nurse, Janelle Alder, and two others en route to a hospital in […] Source: https://atoday.org/adventist-medical-helicopter-disappears-in-palawan-philippines/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=adventist-medical-helicopter-disappears-in-palawan-philippines