(a) What did Jesus teach about any of the following during His sermon on the mount? (i) Earthly possessions; (ii) Anxiety. [10 marks]
(b) In what five ways can the misuse of wealth lead to serious consequences for a nation? [5 marks].
(a) Matthew 6:19-34:
(1) Worldly possessions:
(i) Jesus taught his followers not to lay their treasures on earth where moth consumes and robbers steal.
(ii) They should lay their treasure in heaven where it would be safe.
(iii) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
(vi) Jesus also said that the eye is the lamp of the body; thus if the eye is sound, the whole body would be full of light.
(v) If the eye is not sound, the whole body would be full of darkness.
(vi) Thus if the light in the body is darkened, then, the darkness is great.
(vii) "No one can serve two masters" said Jesus; for either he would hate one and love the other.
(viii) Or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.
(ix) Jesus then concluded by saying that no one can serve God and mammon.
(2) Anxiety:
(i) Jesus taught that people should not be anxious about life; what to eat or drink.
(ii) Or about their body, what they shall put on.
(iii) According to Jesus, life is more than food and the body is more than clothing.
(iv) He also said that birds neither sow nor reap or gather, but are fed by God.
(v) Human beings, according to Jesus are of more value than birds.
(vi) Jesus then asked, which of them, by being anxious can add a cubic to his stature?
(vii) He wondered why they should be anxious about clothing.
(viii) The lilies do not toil or spin, but are better arrayed than Solomon.
(ix) God who clothes the grass will clothe them.
(x) Jesus asked them to seek God's kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto them.
(b) Consequences of the misuse of wealth:
(i) Earthly wealth is synonymous with mammon, thus if misused, it can lead to extreme poverty.
(ii) Lack of concern for others and the nation doing evil.
(iii) Pride and arrogance.
(iv) Worship of materialism/worldliness.
(v) Widening of gap between the rich and the poor.
(vi) Oppression of the poor by the rich/greedy.
(vii) National underdevelopment, famine, scarcity.
(viii) Crisis and war.
(ix) Anger of God.
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