First Church of Christ, Scientist, La Cañada Flintridge

Wednesday Meeting Readings

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Thou shall not covet
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
The Bible
  1. Heb. 13:5 (to :)

    5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:

  2. Deut. 5:1-4, 5-7 saying, 21, 32, 33

    1And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.

    2The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.

    3The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.

    4The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire,

    5 ... saying,

    6I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

    7Thou shalt have none other gods before me.

    21Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

    32Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

    33Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.

  3. II Sam. 11:2-5, 14, 15, 26, 27

    2And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

    3And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath–sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

    4And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

    5And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

    14And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.

    15And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.

    26And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.

    27And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.

  4. II Sam. 12:1-7 (to .)

    1And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

    2The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

    3But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

    4And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

    5And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

    6And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

    7And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.

  5. Ps. 51:1-3

    1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

    2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

    3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

  6. Ps. 119:33-37

    33Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

    34Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

    35Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

    36Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

    37Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

  7. I Kings 21:1-4 (to 1st .), 7, 13, 15, 17, 19 thou (to ?), 20

    1And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.

    2And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.

    3And Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.

    4And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers.

    7And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

    ... 13And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.

    15And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.

    17And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,

    19 ... thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession?

    ... 20And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee; because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the Lord.

  8. I Cor. 12:1, 4, 7-10 the, 11 all, 27, 31 (to :)

    1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

    ... 4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

    7 ... the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

    8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

    9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

    10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

    11 ... all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

    ... 27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

    ... 31But covet earnestly the best gifts:

  9. Gal. 5:1, 13, 14, 19 (to ;), 21-23, 25, 26

    1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

    ... 13For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

    14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

    ... 19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;

    ... 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

    22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

    23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

    ... 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

    26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

  10. Rom. 13:1, 7-10, 12 let, 13 (to ;)

    1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

    ... 7Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

    8Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

    9For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

    10Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

    12 ... let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

    13Let us walk honestly, as in the day;

  11. James 1:12, 13, 16, 17

    12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

    13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

    ... 16Do not err, my beloved brethren.

    17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

  12. Luke 15:11 A, 25-31

    11A certain man had two sons:

    ... 25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.

    26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

    27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

    28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.

    29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

    30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

    31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.


Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures
by Mary Baker Eddy

  1. SH 64:8-10

        Pride, envy, or jealousy seems on most occasions to 9be the master of ceremonies, ruling out primitive Chris-Benevolence hinderedtianity.

  2. SH 462:25-30

    The anatomy of Christian Science teaches when and how to probe the self-in-27flicted wounds of selfishness, malice, envy, and hate. It teaches the control of mad ambition. It unfolds the hallowed influences of unselfishness, philanthropy, spir-30itual love.

  3. SH 327:17

        To the physical senses, the strict demands of Christian 18Peremptory demandsScience seem peremptory; but mortals are has-tening to learn that Life is God, good, and that evil has in reality neither place nor power in the human or 21the divine economy.

  4. SH 289:9

    To suppose that sin, Wickedness is not manlust, hatred, envy, hypocrisy, revenge, have life abiding in them, is a terrible mistake. Life 12 and Life’s idea, Truth and Truth’s idea, never make men sick, sinful, or mortal.

  5. SH 404:26-11

        Healing the sick and reforming the sinner are one and 27the same thing in Christian Science. Both cures require Sin or fear the root of sicknessthe same method and are inseparable in Truth. Hatred, envy, dishonesty, fear, and so forth, 30make a man sick, and neither material medi-cine nor Mind can help him permanently, even in body, unless it makes him better mentally, and so delivers him 405 405:1from his destroyers. The basic error is mortal mind. Hatred inflames the brutal propensities. The indulgence 3of evil motives and aims makes any man, who is above the lowest type of manhood, a hopeless sufferer.

        Christian Science commands man to master the pro-6pensities, — to hold hatred in abeyance with kindness, Mental conspiratorsto conquer lust with chastity, revenge with charity, and to overcome deceit with hon-9esty. Choke these errors in their early stages, if you would not cherish an army of conspirators against health, happiness, and success.

  6. SH 234:9-12, 17-3

    9    We should become more familiar with good than with evil, and guard against false beliefs as watchfully as we Hospitality to health and goodbar our doors against the approach of thieves 12and murderers.

        If mortals would keep proper ward over mortal mind, 18the brood of evils which infest it would be cleared out. Cleansing the mindWe must begin with this so-called mind and empty it of sin and sickness, or sin and sick-21ness will never cease. The present codes of human systems disappoint the weary searcher after a divine theology, adequate to the right education of human 24thought.

        Sin and disease must be thought before they can be manifested. You must control evil thoughts in the first 27instance, or they will control you in the second. Jesus declared that to look with desire on forbidden objects was to break a moral precept. He laid great stress on the 30action of the human mind, unseen to the senses.

        Evil thoughts and aims reach no farther and do no more harm than one’s belief permits. Evil thoughts, lusts, and 235 235:1malicious purposes cannot go forth, like wandering pollen, from one human mind to another, finding unsuspected 3lodgment, if virtue and truth build a strong defence.

  7. SH 241:1-11, 13-14

    241:1    “Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth.” He, who knows God’s will or the demands of divine Science and 3obeys them, incurs the hostility of envy; and he who refuses obedience to God, is chastened by Love.

        Sensual treasures are laid up “where moth and rust 6doth corrupt.” Mortality is their doom. Sin breaks in The doom of sinupon them, and carries off their fleeting joys. The sensualist’s affections are as imaginary, 9whimsical, and unreal as his pleasures. Falsehood, envy, hypocrisy, malice, hate, revenge, and so forth, steal away the treasures of Truth.

        The Bible teaches transformation of the body by the renewal of Spirit.

  8. SH 242:9-20

    9    There is but one way to heaven, harmony, and Christ in divine Science shows us this way. It is to know no The one only wayother reality — to have no other conscious-12ness of life — than good, God and His reflec-tion, and to rise superior to the so-called pain and pleasure of the senses.

    15    Self-love is more opaque than a solid body. In pa-tient obedience to a patient God, let us labor to dis-solve with the universal solvent of Love the adamant 18of error, — self-will, self-justification, and self-love, — which wars against spirituality and is the law of sin and death.

  9. SH 407:6-20

    6    Man’s enslavement to the most relentless masters — passion, selfishness, envy, hatred, and revenge — is con-Universal panaceaquered only by a mighty struggle. Every 9hour of delay makes the struggle more severe. If man is not victorious over the passions, they crush out happiness, health, and manhood. Here Christian 12Science is the sovereign panacea, giving strength to the weakness of mortal mind, — strength from the immortal and omnipotent Mind, — and lifting humanity above 15itself into purer desires, even into spiritual power and good-will to man.

        Let the slave of wrong desire learn the lessons of Chris-18tian Science, and he will get the better of that desire, and ascend a degree in the scale of health, happiness, and existence.


From the Christian Science Hymnal
Hymn 237: “O may we be still and seek Him”
Hymn 264: Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war”
Hymn 225: “O Lord, I would delight in Thee”