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Wicked: Don't Waste your Life • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Greed: “an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food”
I. Delilah’s Influence on Samson
a. Delilah emotionally manipulatedSamson. (Judges 16:4-5)
b. Delilah nagged Samson. (Judges 16:6-16)
c. Delilah exploited Samson. (Judges 16:17-21)
II. Dangers of Selfish Gain
a. It leads to a love of money instead of to a love of God. (Judges 16:5; 1 Timothy 6:10)
b. It leads to the use of deception instead of truth. (Judges 16:15; Psalm 52:1-7)
c. It leads to causing pain instead of offering encouragement. (Judges 16:16, 19;
1 Thessalonians 5:11)
III. Prioritize People Over Possessions.
Prioritize people over possessions.
GENERAL LESSON INSTRUCTIONS
Teacher’s Note: Prior to teaching the lesson, you will need to set up a few props for the lesson.
1. Print the fake check that has been provided at the end of this lesson. Write a leader’s name on the check ahead of time, put your signature in the signature line, and place the check in the envelope. For consistency with the series, consider using the same leader from the candy illustration in the first lesson of this series. Do not seal the envelope because you will pull the check from the envelope during the lesson.
2. Place a paper shredder and trash can at the front of the room. If you are not using a paper shredder during the lesson, use a regular trash can instead. In instances where the paper would be shredded, rip the paper by hand and adjust the lesson content as needed.
3. Print the three danger signs and hang them on the wall close to where you have the paper shredder. Tape a blank sheet of paper over the text on the bottom half of each sign. You will remove these pieces of paper during the lesson to reveal each of the dangers of selfish gain. These signs can be found at the end of the lesson.
4. Write the name “Delilah” on a notecard and the name “Samson” on a sticky note. Once the names are written, place the sticky note on top of the notecard so the name “Delilah” is hidden.
5. It may also be wise to recruit a few adult leaders to be ready to volunteer to take the one-dollar bill during the Hook so if all of the students opt for the envelope, you will have at least one person to call on.
HOOK
Teacher’s Note: Have the envelope with the check in it and the one-dollar bill in your hand at the beginning of the lesson. Also, make sure the paper shredder is plugged in and ready to use. If you do not have a paper shredder available, have the volunteer rip the envelope and check instead. Remember, you are not calling on anyone to shred the dollar bill, but you will be calling on someone who is willing to take the dollar bill and shred the envelope.
[Hold up the envelope and the one-dollar bill.] As we begin, we are going to give you a choice to make. Here we have a one-dollar bill and an envelope with something inside. We are going to give someone the opportunity to take the guaranteed $1.00 or what is in the envelope. It is a simple choice, but here is how we will do it.
If you take one, you have to shred the other. Got it? What would you do if you were given the option? Would you take the guaranteed $1.00 or the envelope? Who would take the envelope? [Allow students to raise their hands.] You may put your hands down. Now, raise your hand if you would like to take the one-dollar bill.
Teacher’s Note: Allow students to raise their hands, then call on someone with their hand raised.
[Insert the name of the person with their hand raised], please come forward and receive your one-dollar bill. Congratulations on adding an extra dollar to your net worth! Now, let’s see what you gave up. [Pull out the check from the audience and hold it up for everyone to see.] Oh no! You have to shred a check made out to [Insert the leader’s name.] for a whopping $416,000! How could you do such a thing?
[Place the check back into the envelope and hand it to the student.] Okay, well, nothing we can do now; the rules are the rules. Since you took the dollar bill, now you must shred the envelope and the $416,000. [Allow the student to shred the envelope and ask them to be seated.]
Well, as sad as that seemed for [Insert leader’s name.], you probably realized by now that they were not actually going to receive that amount of money; the check was a fake.
But, something similar to this happened on the game show called Deal or No Deal [Show the PowerPoint slide of the Deal or No Deal logo.], except the guarantee was $416,000 not $1. Honestly, someone turned down a guarantee of $416,000 in exchange for a mere one-dollar bill!
Any guesses as to why the contestant turned down such a large amount of money? [Allow a couple of students to respond.] The reason could be summed up in one word: greed. [Show the PowerPoint slide with the definition of the word “greed.”] “Greed”is “an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food.”
The contestant, Richie Bell, allowed greed to get the best of him after having two options at the end of the show. Either keep the case he had, which either had one dollar or a million dollars, or take the guaranteed $416,000. So, he sought counsel from his family. His own mother, who sat in the audience, said to him, “Don’t be greedy. Be sensible.” Unfortunately, he did not take his mother’s advice.
Now, before we judge Richie too quickly, think honestly about what you would have done. He had a chance at $1 million, but what if the potential winnings were two million, ten million, or one hundred million? At some point, the allure of more money would have probably tricked you into making a foolish decision. It’s the same reason why, in 2022, (according to a Wall Street Journal article) gamblers in the United States lost over $34 billion dollars on slot machines alone!
The desire to gain more for ourselves—the desire for selfish gain—is a temptation for all of us. Think about the video game upgrades you want, the newest name brand clothes you must have, the collection of trading cards that keep piling up, or the number of “good deeds” you keep trying to add to your college application. While none of those are wicked or evil within themselves, the desire to keep gaining more for self can lead to wicked behavior. It can cause harm to others, ourselves, or, worst of all, our relationship with God.
As you may or may not know, this lesson is a continuation of our four-part series called Wicked: Don’t Waste Your Life.[Show the PowerPoint slide with the module title.] We are learning about four different women in the Bible who lived selfish, wicked lives. In this series we are learning that a life given over to wickedness is a wasted life, and that we all have the capability of giving in to wicked ways. The goal of this series is to learn from the mistakes of others so we don’t repeat those mistakes.
In the first lesson of this series, we learned to avoid selfish ambition through the life of a wicked woman by the name of Jezebel. This second lesson’s focus is on the dangers of selfish gain. [Show the PowerPoint slide with the lesson title.]
Today we are examining the life of another woman given over to wickedness through her selfish deeds. Her name is Delilah, and we can find the account of her life story in the Old Testament Book of Judges. Please turn to Judges 16 in your Bibles or find it on your Bible app.
LESSON CONTENT
When a man by the name of Samson was the judge in Israel, his greatest enemy was the Philistine Nation. On many occasions, Samson used his great strength to wreak havoc on the Philistines (Judges 13-16). Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, and as most guys know, when you fall in love with a girl, she can influence you fairly easily. It was no different for Samson.
As we study the 16th chapter of the Book of Judges, we will see several ways in which Delilah’s desire for selfish gain caused her to influence Samson in negative ways. Then we will look at the dangers of selfish gain that come from living this type of lifestyle.
Let’s begin by looking at… [Show the PowerPoint slide with the first point of the outline and read it to the students.]
I. Delilah’s Influence on Samson
While the focus of this lesson is not on Samson, we cannot talk about Delilah without talking about Samson. The only mention of Delilah in the Bible is in Judges chapter 16, which also happens to be titled in most of your Bibles “Samson and Delilah.” Raise your hand if you see that title at the top of this chapter. [Allow students to raise their hands.]
The reason for this is because this chapter records a series of interactions between Samson and Delilah, which ultimately lead to Samson’s death. Samson had been Israel’s judge for twenty years (Judges 16:31), but he allowed Delilah’s influence to cost him his life. Delilah’s influence on Samson was fueled by selfish gain, more specifically a desire for wealthy selfish gain.
So, in what ways did Delilah influence Samson? Let’s begin with Delilah’s emotional manipulation. [Show the PowerPoint slide with the first subpoint of the outline.]
a. Delilah emotionally manipulated Samson. (Judges 16:4-5)
Who is willing to read Judges 16:4-5? [Choose a volunteer and allow time for Judges 16:4-5
After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.”
While we do not know much about Delilah’s background, one thing we do know is that Samson fell in love with her. Their relationship was no secret to outsiders, especially to the leaders of Israel’s enemy, the Philistines.
While we do not see any manipulation take place quite yet, it is clear that Delilah’s actions going forward were not done out of love, but out of a desire for selfish gain. She was asked to entice Samson, or, as other Bible versions put it, seduce, persuade, or lure him. She was asked to emotionally manipulate him into a trap for the Philistines to capture him and take his life.
Because Samson was Israel’s judge and a strong enemy who had already killed at least a thousand Philistines (Judges 15:14-15), they wanted him dead no matter the cost. They each offered her 1,100 shekels of silver (Judges 16:5). Since there were five Philistine lords (Judges 3:3), Delilah’s payment would have been 5,500 shekels of silver. The exact amount, in today’s money is difficult to pinpoint, but it would probably be about $82,000.
So, how did this play out? Deal or no deal? Well, she took the deal. And while we know it is always better to [Show the PowerPoint slide with the Sticky Statement.] prioritize people over possessions, she chose the opposite; she chose the possession of money over Samson’s life. This led to constant nagging from Delilah that became too much for Samson to handle. And that is another way she influenced Samson. [Show the PowerPoint slide with the next subpoint of the outline.]
b. Delilah naggedSamson. (Judges 16:6-16)
Raise your hand if you know someone who is very blunt and right to the point. No pointing fingers! [Allow students to raise their hands.] While most of us know someone who can be described that way, not too many compare to Delilah. Let’s read Judges 16:6. [Read Judges 16:6
So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.”
Imagine in today’s world that Delilah was leaving Samson a voicemail. It might go something like this. [Speak in a dramatized voice while acting like you are on the phone.]
“So…um...Samson…can you like... [Say quickly.] tell me everything I need to know that will cause you to become weak and ultimately lead to your utter destruction? That’s all, thanks. Bye! Oh, love you, Shmoopy!”
She did not beat around the bush. She asked him, point blank, how he could be captured. If you read Judges 16:7-14, you will see that they went back and forth several times as Samson lied to her about how to capture him. It is a strange set of events, but let’s see what eventually came of it. Who is willing to read verses 15-16? [Choose a volunteer and allow time for Judges 16:15-16
And she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies.” And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death.
We read that daily she pestered him with her words and nagged him to give in, until eventually his soul could not take it anymore. She made it seem like their love was at stake unless he told her what she wanted to know.
Maybe some of you can relate when a boyfriend or girlfriend asks you to do something inappropriate in order to prove your love for them. Maybe you have found yourself feeling like Samson, whose soul was annoyed or vexed to death. It was at this point that Delilah exploited his weakness. [Show the PowerPoint slide with the next subpoint of the outline.]
c. Delilah exploitedSamson. (Judges 16:17-21)
Who is willing to read verses 17-21? [Choose a volunteer and allow time for Judges 16:17-21
And he told her all his heart, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.”
When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison.
Samson’s strength was found in the Lord, but his long hair was a symbol of God’s call on his life. Delilah was able to influence Samson to the point that the Lord’s anointing on his life was gone, and therefore, his strength was gone as well.
We don’t know what happened to Delilah after this, but her influence on Samson was because of her desire for selfish gain—5,500 silver shekels of gain! We do know, however, what happened to Samson. Shortly after this event, Samson became a slave to the Philistines. While being mocked in public, he pushed on the temple pillars, causing the building to collapse. This not only caused his own death but also the deaths of many Philistines.
So, now that we have seen a snapshot of Delilah’s influence on Samson, let’s examine more closely the dangers of selfish gain as evidenced by her life. [Show the PowerPoint slide with the second point of the outline.]
II. Dangers of Selfish Gain
While it may not always seem like it, selfish gain is dangerous. About as dangerous as this paper shredder. [Walk over to the paper shredder used earlier and point at it.]Okay, so maybe this one isn’t that dangerous, but how about the Shred-Tech ST-400 industrial shredder? [Show the PowerPoint slide of the Shred-Tech ST-400 shredder.]
Now, that is dangerous. That would need some warning signs all around it, saying “Danger!” Sort of like the ones hanging here on the wall. [Point to the danger signs on the wall.]
We’re going to take a moment to talk about three dangers of selfish gain. As we do, we will remind everyone to [Show the PowerPoint with the Sticky Statement.] prioritize people over possessions. Let’s start with the first one. Why is selfish gain dangerous?
Teacher’s Note: Walk over to the wall and remove the piece of paper covering the text of the Danger Sign A, then read the text on the paper, which coincides with the next point in the lesson outline. After reading it, show the PowerPoint slide with the first subpoint of the outline.
a. It leads to a love of money instead of to a love of God. (Judges 16:5; 1 Timothy 6:10)
What was Delilah offered for giving up Samson? [Allow students to respond.] Yes, that’s right! She was offered 5,500 shekels of silver from the Philistine leaders. [If desired, re-read Judges 16:5
And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.”
Just like Richie from Deal or No Deal was tempted by the potential earnings of a million dollars, so was Delilah tempted by a great deal of money. While gaining money is not wicked, God tells us that the love of money can lead to all kinds of evil.
Who would be willing to read 1 Timothy 6:10 for us? [Choose a volunteer and allow time for 1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Do you notice what the love of money is the root of? All kinds of evil. It leads to a wicked, greedy way of living; it always has and always will. Unfortunately, selfish gain has caused some to walk away from God and fall into greater sin.
But it doesn’t always have to come in the form of immediate cash. For example, you may be tempted to get a job to earn more and more money, but the hours the boss wants you to work would mean that you would have to miss church, youth group, or Bible study. This could lead you to loving money instead of loving God. But, make no mistake, selfish greed [Point to Danger Sign A.] leads to the love of money instead of the love of God.
Let’s look at the second danger of selfish gain. Why is selfish gain dangerous?
Teacher’s Note: Walk over to the wall and remove the piece of paper covering the text of the Danger Sign B, then read the text on the paper, which coincides with the next point in the lesson outline. After reading it, show the PowerPoint slide with the next subpoint of the outline.
b. It leads to the use of deception instead of truth. (Judges 16:15; Psalm 52:1-7)
Let’s re-read Judges 16:15. [Re-read Judges 16:15
And she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies.”
Delilah did not really care about Samson’s love for her. She only cared about using his love as a tool against him. So, she used crafty words to deceive him and get him to spill the truth about the source of his strength. She made it seem like she was interested in his heart when, in truth, she was only interested in herself.
Who is willing to read Psalm 52:1-7? [Choose a volunteer and allow time for Psalm 52:1-7
Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man?
The steadfast love of God endures all the day.
Your tongue plots destruction,
like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.
You love evil more than good,
and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah
You love all words that devour,
O deceitful tongue.
But God will break you down forever;
he will snatch and tear you from your tent;
he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
The righteous shall see and fear,
and shall laugh at him, saying,
“See the man who would not make
God his refuge,
but trusted in the abundance of his riches
and sought refuge in his own destruction!”
While this Psalm we just read was written by King David about a man named Doeg, it has a strikingly similar parallel to the life of Delilah. We saw the following descriptions about Doeg in the Psalm that were true in Delilah’s life as well:
● She used speech that devised destruction.
● She loved evil more than good.
● She lied rather than spoke righteousness.
● She did not make God her strength.
● She trusted in the abundance of her riches.
● She found strength in wickedness.
Deception and wickedness go hand-in-hand, and a desire for selfish gain or greed can trick anyone into deceiving others for their own benefit. Instead, we should always prioritize people over possessions.
Let’s look at the third and final danger of selfish gain. Why is selfish gain dangerous?
Teacher’s Note: Walk over to the wall and remove the piece of paper covering the text of the Danger Sign C, then read the text on the paper, which coincides with the next point in the lesson outline. After reading it, show the PowerPoint slide with the next subpoint of the outline.
c. It leads to causing pain instead of offering encouragement. (Judges 16:16, 19;
1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Let’s read Judges 16:16 and 19. [Read Judges 16:16
And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death.
She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him.
During the back-and-forth interaction between Samson and Delilah, there was daily nagging and pestering from her. She tormented him with her words and then physically tormented him by tying him up to be captured. Since she was only concerned about herself and what she would gain from Samson, there was no concern for how he felt.
Is this the model that we as believers in Jesus Christ should follow? Should we use our words to beat others down? Of course not!
Let’s see what the Apostle Paul said to the church of Thessalonian believers. Who is willing to read 1 Thessalonians 5:11? [Choose a volunteer and allow time for 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Just as Paul encouraged the early church to comfort or encourage one another, especially in the midst of persecution, we need to encourage others as well. The way we can live that out and avoid the wicked lure of selfish gain is to… [Show the PowerPoint slide with the third point of the outline and read it to the students.]
III. Prioritize People Over Possessions.
Delilah prioritized money over Samson and became rich at the cost of his life. To her, he was no better than this trash can. [Point to trash can.]He was just an object to be used to get what she desired.
Teacher’s Note: Grab the notecard/sticky note with Samson’s name on it. Show everyone, then walk over to the paper shredder.
While Delilah thought that she could throw Samson’s life away [Lower the notecard towards the paper shredder, but then pull it back.], it was really her own life that she was wasting.
Teacher’s Note: Pull the sticky note with Samson’s name on it off of the card to reveal Delilah’s name. Show everyone, then put it in the paper shredder.
You see, when we prioritize possessions over people, we end up using others for our own gain. When we use people for our own gain with the intent of causing harm to their lives, whether that is physically, emotionally, sexually, financially, socially, or spiritually, that is wicked. We end up throwing our own lives away in endless pursuits that never satisfy or gain God’s favor in our lives.
But when we prioritize people over possessions, we live as God intended us to. We end up being an example of God’s goodness for others to see and glorify Him.
CONNECTION
So, ask yourself this question, “What am I trying to gain in life right now?” Is it good grades? A boyfriend or girlfriend? A driver’s license? A new car? More money? More clothes? More friends? To be the best? To stand out among the crowd? To fit in with the crowd? To break the rules? To keep the rules?
Whatever it may be, ask yourself a few questions. First, am I making anything more important than my relationship with God and others?
Second, am I using others and causing harm to them so that I can gain something for myself? If so, what have you been willing to do to get there?
Maybe you used one friend and neglected them just so you could get closer to someone else. Or maybe you have sought to gain a higher rank on the newest video game while neglecting to spend time with your siblings. Maybe you have sat next to someone smarter than you so you could copy their papers in order to gain better grades.
Remember, selfish gain is dangerous. It is a wicked way to live. As we discovered with Delilah, it can lead to a love of money, the use of deception, and pain for others.
Don’t fall for that trap. Take the better deal and live for God’s glory by prioritizing your relationship with Him and other people rather than living for your own selfish gain. Choosing people over possessions is always the better choice.
Now, some of you here may have been on the other side of that equation. You know firsthand what it is like to be like a “Samson” in the constant presence of a “Delilah”—to be used for someone else’s gain at the expense of your well-being.
You may think that your life is wasted because of someone else’s selfish gain. Or you may be holding on to hatred for those people and wishing them harm. If that is you, please know that you are not alone. Please know that Jesus loves you and has prioritized you over His own life. He loves you so much that He died for you.
If you have been in a situation where someone has prioritized possessions over you and would like someone to hear your story and pray for you, please talk to one of the adults here in the room before you leave.
CHOICE
For now, if everyone could bow your heads and close your eyes. [Allow a few seconds for students to bow their heads and close their eyes.] Will you choose to make people a priority in your life over possessions?
While it is easy to prioritize the people who help us gain more, will you choose to think about the people who can offer nothing to you in return? Maybe it is the people in your life who are not the easiest to love but are the easiest to identify by their need for God’s love. If you are making that choice today, talk to God right now about that decision. You could pray something like this:
“Dear God, I confess to You that I occasionally place priority on possessions in my life more than people. Help me to be more focused on those You have placed in my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”
NEXT STEPS
[Recruit a leader to hand a blank piece of paper and writing utensil to every student.]
Now that everyone has a blank piece of paper and a writing utensil, go ahead and fold the piece of paper in half. It doesn’t matter which way you fold it, just as long as there are two sides. Then unfold the paper so there is a crease in the middle. On one side, write down something that you have been trying to gain, something that has become a priority in your life over people and possibly over your relationship with God as well.
Then, on the other side, write the name of someone you need to make more of a priority in your life. Maybe it is someone you have been using for your own selfish gain. If the Lord has put someone on your mind, write their name on that side of the paper.
As you go to your small groups, you will have an opportunity to take a step forward and demonstrate that you are putting aside selfish gain and instead are going toprioritize people over possessions.
So, right now, gently rip your paper into two parts, separating the two sections along the fold you made a moment ago.
If you are committing to the Lord to put aside selfish gain and instead, focus on prioritizing people for His glory, just as Jesus did, then listen closely.
After we pray, take your piece of paper with something you are trying to gain written on it and shred it in the paper shredder.
Then, with the other half, take it to your small group to be ready to share with everyone else how you will begin to prioritize that person. Prioritizing people over possessions is a daily commitment, and we need the Lord’s help every single day. Let’s pray. [Close in prayer and dismiss to small groups allowing time for students to shred their papers.]
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. If you won a million dollars on a gameshow today, what would you do with the money? (This question offers a way to break the ice and allows you to gauge where students’ priorities are. Try to encourage everyone to give at least one thing they would buy.)
2. What are some dangers of trying to gain more for ourselves? (Follow up by asking, “What are some potential results of living a lifestyle of selfish gain?” If students are having a hard time thinking of potential dangers or results, refer to the lesson notes. It can lead to love of money, deceiving others, and causing pain.)
3. Whose name did you write on your paper, and how will you begin to prioritize that person more in your life? (You may consider asking the students why they chose that person. If they have used that person for their own gain, encourage them to confess to God and to the person they have potentially sinned against.)
