4 Talent Turns Toxic

Key References: 2 Samuel 14:25-15:37; Partiarchs and Prophets, chap. 72, pp. 727-745; The Bible Story (1994), vol. 4,
pp. 103-106; Our Beliefs, nos. 8, 7, 14.
powertext DO Do the activ-

Sabbath
ity on page 33.
powertext
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If
either of them
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ow
thians 9:7, NIV). to one another’” (Zechariah 7:9, NIV).).

t
When your whole family is seated around the dinner
table and everyone seems to be talking at once and you We accomplish
want to say something, what do you do? How do you get more by working
their attention if you have something really important to with, rather
say? Here’s the sad story about a prince who used decep- than against,
tion to get his father’s attention. one another.

A bsalom had been waiting for two years to talk to his father, King
David, and still had not been called. He knew his father had been
unhappy with him ever since he had murdered Amnon, one of David’s
other sons.
Absalom had run away for a time, but was now back in Jerusalem
by the king’s permission. It was not like old times, though. He was not
allowed to live in the palace with all the princely privileges he had
once enjoyed.
So he called for Joab, David’s right-hand man. But Joab turned
away and did not come when Absalom called, even when he called
again. Finally Absalom decided to resort to drastic measures and set
Joab’s field on fire in order to get his attention.
He got it! Joab went in a hurry to see Absalom and asked him,
“Why have your servants set my field on fire?”

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4
Sunday

READ Read 2 Samuel 14:25, 26 and this week’s

“Look,” Absalom said, “I sent word to
you and said, ‘Come here so I can send
lesson, “Talent Turns Toxic.” you to the king to ask, “Why have I come
BUILD Think of a way to create 40 building blocks, from Geshur? It would be better for me
each with one word from the memory verse written on if I were still there!” ’ Now then, I want to
it (number 40 is for the reference). Arrange them with see the king’s face, and if I am guilty of
the words in order so they form an altar, a gate, or a wall. anything, let him put me to death”
Display your creation where you will see it often. Think (2 Samuel 14:31, 32).
about these words all week. Finally Absalom was able to appear
before the king. He bowed before
LEARN Begin to memorize the power text.
his father respectfully, and his father
PRAY Ask God to use the talent He has given you to
always do good for others.

Read 2 Samuel 14:27-33.

Monday

READ

LIST Make a list of the things that Absalom did

that show he knew the importance of planning and
organization.
TALK Talk with a friend about how you could be more
organized to accomplish some good things for God.
REVIEW Review the power text.

PRAY Ask God to give you the skills you need to work
for Him.

Read 2 Samuel 15:1-37.

Tuesday

READ
THINK Think about the gifts that God has given you.
Use one of those gifts today to help someone else.
REVIEW Review the power text.

PRAY Ask God to keep you humble, especially if He has

given you impressive gifts and talents.

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welcomed him back. On the surface it
seemed that everything was better in
their relationship, but there were still
some big problems.
Absalom had a root of bitterness held
deep within his heart. He felt that he had
never had the attention he deserved,
and now he decided to go out and get it
for himself. He hired a chariot and horses
and 50 men to run before him as he rode
about Jerusalem. He also began to stand
in the gate, where people would come
from all around the kingdom to bring
their legal problems before the king.
“Where are you from?” Absalom
would ask in a friendly voice. When
they had talked for a while, Absalom
would begin his campaign speech.
“Look, your claims are valid and
proper, but there is no representative
of the king to hear you.” Then he would
add, “If only I were appointed judge
in the land! Then everyone who has a
complaint or case could come to me and
I would see that they receive justice”
(2 Samuel 15:3, 4). With that, he would
kiss the person affectionately, a custom
among men in those days. He really
knew how to get people on his side!
Soon many of the people were ready to
follow him instead of David.
Pretending to go away for a religious
sacrifice, Absalom sent spies throughout
the land, saying, “As soon as you hear the
sound of the trumpets, then say, ‘Absa-
lom is king in Hebron’ ” (verse 10). The
bitter root in Absalom’s heart was now a
full-blown rebellion.
Word of Absalom’s rebellion soon
reached Jerusalem, where it was swiftly
carried to David’s servants.

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4
Wednesday

READ Read 1 Corinthians 14:40.

David knew it was time to run. More
than 600 people, along with David, left
FIND Look up the words “fitting” and “orderly” in a Jerusalem that day, running for their
dictionary. Write two or three synonyms for each word. lives. Some remained faithful, such as
the Levites, and some rebelled, joining
REVIEW Review the power text.
Absalom’s forces.
PRAY Ask God to help you live your life in a fitting and Our world is the stage of the great
orderly manner. cosmic conflict between God and
Satan. Absalom’s rebellion reminds us
of Lucifer’s rebellion against God. Much
READ Read Exodus 18:12-19, 24-26 to find out how
Thursday

like Lucifer, Absalom was not satisfied

Moses led 3 million people. with his royal status as a son of the king.
TALK Interview your pastor, youth pastor, Sabbath He conspired to take his father’s throne.
School leader, or church board chair. Ask them to explain Vain ambition rooted in selfishness led to
how the verses above apply to your home church. rebellion against God’s law and lead-
WRITE Compare a church building to a church family.
ership, as well as against David’s royal
Write a poem about it. (Example: The different groups leadership. Absalom used his influence
of people in my church are like the different parts of the to question David’s authority and to
church building. The juniors are like the lights, brighten- gradually lead people to disloyalty
ing things up with their energy . . .) toward the king just as Lucifer had done
in heaven. The great conflict between
REVIEW Review the power text. good and evil reveals significant lessons
PRAY Thank God for the diversity of people and talents about God’s character of love. In His
in your church.

Read 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17.

Friday

READ

THINK Think about the different gifts and talents in

your church from the poem you wrote yesterday. Which
of the parts of the church building do you think you are
most suited for? List two ways you can actively perform
the responsibilities of that part of the building in the
next week.
SAY Repeat the power text, Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10, from
memory.
PRAY Ask God to give you opportunities to work with
others to serve Him with the talents He has given you.

38
great love God did not destroy Lucifer
but gave him time to regret his sin and
return to God. During this time the entire
universe could witness God’s character
of self-sacrificial love in contrast with
Satan’s pride and selfish ambition that
led to his full-fledged rebellion against
God. When Satan deceived the first
human beings and sin entered into our
world, God revealed His infinite love for
the human race. He had a plan for
our salvation. God promised to send
His only Son into our world to save
everyone who would believe in
Him. All you have to do is accept
God’s amazing gift. His love will
change your life!

39
 PUZZLE

IN HIS
PUTSTRENGTH
ON LOVE
2
4
Instructions: Unscramble each word in boldface to reveal the complete Bible verse
about the fellowship of the community of believers.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly

loved, clothe yourselves with acimnoopss, deiknnss,
hiilmtuy, eeeglnnsst and aceeinpt.
Bear with each other and efgiorv one another if any
of you has a grievance against someone.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all
these eirstuv put on elov, which binds them
all eeghortt in ceefprt intuy”
(Colossians 3:12-14).

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