Another day Jesus told a story that shows clearly the failure of the man who raises his own self to a position where this is the only interest and concern in his life.

“A man’s life does not consist in having more possessions than he needs. And He told them a parable: `There was a man whose lands yielded a heavy crop; and he debated in his mind, What am I to do, with no room to store my crops in? Then he said, this is what I will do; I will pull down my barns, and build greater ones, and there I shall be able to store all my harvest and all the goods that are mine; and then I will say to my soul, Come soul, you have goods in plenty laid up for many years to come; take your rest now; eat, drink and make merry.

“And God said, `You fool, this night you must render up your soul ; and who will be master now of all you have laid by?’ Thus it is with the man who lays up treasure for himself, and has no credit with God” (Luke 12, 15-21).

That man relied on his own self. He thought he could plan everything, but forgot the very basic fact that no man-however rich or powerful – is the Lord of life and death. Only God is that. Hence the wise man bows before his true circumstances and faces up to facts.

Now it is time again to sit quietly alone with your thoughts. We are not studying mathematics or geography. We are studying religion–which is a personal question to ask oneself here: our relationship with God. Is God speaking to me in these events from the life of Christ? Is there a message for me from God in all this?

A PRAYER

Lord Jesus, in these pages, You have said to me, “ Come and see.”

I am trying to do that with an open mind, and honest mind.

I prefer to be like Zacchaeus who climbed a tree to see You than to be like those Pharisees who criticized You for mixing with sinners.

You showed Yourself interested in ordinary family matters at that marriage.

Help me in my family and in my work.

You praised the Good Samaritan.

Help me to think not of self, but of others.

Show me the true path that leads to the Father.

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Question Paper 3 : Booklets 5 & 6