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A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language: Lesson 45c(b)

Topic: The Seven Deadly Sins III: Gluttony II - Money And Prestige With A Side Of Selfishness

Series: DuckTales

Episodes: Robot Robbers (Duck Tales), Down And Out In Duckburg (DuckTales)

Lesson PDF link: 45c(b).pdf

**Note Because of the many video clips of this lesson our readers need to be patient with this lesson and quite probably will need the "Direct Link" button that is around every individual clip.

Introduction

For the next part of our lesson, we will switch to money and prestige. What is your opinion of the rich and well-to-do? Now, to be perfectly fair, not all the rich are considered selfish or greedy, so for some people some of this will not apply as much. However, we are focusing on the pitfalls of being wealthy.

Now, honestly, we have been here before with these cartoon lessons, but we are going to put a refreshing spin on this using a series we haven't used here in our ministry before and we will use some well known scripture that you have studied before - if not with us then probably in other bible study courses, church etc. If you look at this lesson and you haven't seen this type of lesson before, we hope you enjoy.

Money and prestige are sought the world over, but can be considered what people today call a slippery slope, in this case, it means that it looks harmless enough until you start finding that it is a losing battle when you can't get enough and there is always someone that is better.

We are using the series called "DuckTales" for this part of the lesson.

Clip # 1: "Robot Robbers" (DuckTales):

DuckTales: "Robot Robbers": Direct link for video/webm Using IE? Video not working? Download Windows HTML 5(WebM) video support: WebMProject.org

What do you see in this clip? The only things that we need to see here is that we see Scrooge is very wealthy with a huge mansion and even a butler. In the newspaper scene we see that Scrooge is looking at the business section about himself and is very pleased. You see, Scrooge is the wealthiest in the world and wants to stay that way (this is according to the series' storyline itself). However, we see that Scrooge loses a major construction bid to his rival. To Scrooge, this is scary. Why? The loss of a bid like this could threaten Scrooge's position of richest one in the world. Riches and prestige are very important to him. In this next clip, we will see just how far this goes.

For the next clips, we are going to be watching an entire episode of this series in clip form and we will have a discussion after each clip.

To watch the whole thing if preferred this is the cartoon link:

Ducktales: "Down and Out in Duckburg" (entire episode): Direct link for video/webm

Clip # 2 DuckTales — Down And Out In Duckburg:

Ducktales: "Down and Out in Duckburg" Clip #2: Direct link for video/webm

What do you think about Scrooge's attitude? Scrooge has a lot of money and obviously a lot of power. He knows this too and he leverages this power to the point of coming off as a jerk. He also waves a $1000 bill in front of a Salvation Army type of outfit trying to feed the poor (it is called Salvation Mary in this series), offering $10 of it probably knowing that this humble non-profit doesn't have much money to break change. He is totally oblivious of the fact that the poor need help unless he gets profit. In other words, he will take and never give without a "What's in it for me" attitude.

Clip # 3 DuckTales — Down And Out In Duckburg:

Ducktales: "Down and Out in Duckburg": Direct link for video/webm

What do you see in this clip? The way Scrooge treats poor people looks like it has come home to roost by unforseen circumstances and no one right now is helping him. The suit store's owner can't help because his rent is raised (by Scrooge's hand) and the fancy restaurant is now making the family do dishes because they can't pay for their meal. I personally take it that most likely, Scrooge is also being laughed at by the community that he wouldn't help when he could have. Scrooge even admitted himself that he treats the poor badly and Duckworth adds to his guilt with blistering analogies (Scrooge probably deserves this). Meanwhile Mr. Fritter Away is doing everything he can to make his name be truthful. He is wasting the money and assets that Scrooge has built up over the years.

Clip # 4 DuckTales — Down And Out In Duckburg:

Ducktales: "Down and Out in Duckburg": Direct link for video/webm

What do you see in this clip?

Scrooge has a bad dream about being poor and being interviewed by Robin Lurch (a Robin Leach parody). He then is so desperate for money that he starts begging for help. Failing that, he actually tries to rob the kettle of the Salvation Mary worker he wouldn't help when he could and almost gets arrested.

What do you think of this attitude?

Scrooge now feels the sting of poverty and being without where he didn't before and it's a whole new world for him. He is learning a lesson that he shouldn't ever forget. However, he isn't very humble yet.

Clip # 5 DuckTales — Down And Out In Duckburg:

Ducktales: "Down and Out in Duckburg": Direct link for video/webm

What do you see in this clip?

Scrooge still doesn't get what he needs to learn, but Louie (the one in green) does. This captain is willing to help out when Scrooge wouldn't help him and it looks like the boat is barely seaworthy because the family is bailing water so they won't sink.

Clip # 6 DuckTales — Down And Out In Duckburg:

Ducktales: "Down and Out in Duckburg": Direct link for video/webm

What do you see in this clip? Evidently, Scrooge is in shark-infested waters at the Cape Of No Hope. Scrooge fights valiantly, but one of the sharks bites his air hose and soon Scrooge won't be able to breathe and now Scrooge needs a miracle to just stay alive.

Clip # 7 DuckTales — Down And Out In Duckburg:

Ducktales: "Down and Out in Duckburg": Direct link for video/webm

What do you see in this clip? Scrooge gets what he is after, only to have more trouble on the way because the boat they're on is really leaking and Scrooge realizes that it's because he didn't help. The next clip shows a hurricane is forming where they are as well. This doesn't look good. Maybe Scrooge shouldn't have been so mean. At least Scrooge should kmow where his true friends are.

Clip # 8 DuckTales — Down And Out In Duckburg:

Ducktales: "Down and Out in Duckburg": Direct link for video/webm

What do you see in this clip? The Radio Host releases information to Scrooge's whereabouts and Fritter wants to make sure Scrooge is lost and/or killed. Fritter chases after Scrooge only to get out maneuvered by the storm and then a quick-thinking Scrooge. Scrooge gets his fortune back and learns his lesson. He gives the $1000 bill that he only tried to give $10 of to Salvation Mary. He also gives his yacht to the fisherman that he didn't help before but helped him.

Now, before we go any further, we will have a couple of passages of scripture that will work for this cartoon.

The first scripture that we will see is that of Job. It is a well known passage of scripture that most of us if not all in ministry and teaching and most Christians will know. We are talking about especially the first chapter of this book. Let's take a look.

The Bible states in Job Chapter 1 and 2:1-10:

1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.

2 He had seven sons and three daughters,

3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.

4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.

6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them.

7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied.

10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.

11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

12 The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s

house,

14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing

nearby,

15 and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house,

19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship

21 and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”

22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

1 On another day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him.

2 And the LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

3 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

4 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life.

5 But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

6 The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”

7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

8Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.

9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”

10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

What do you see in the scripture that will help in our cartoon study? What I see, is that Scrooge is the exact opposite of Job because he is arrogant while Job is humble. Scrooge goes nuts to the point of trying his hand at theft, while Job praises God (although in mourning for his family, health, servants and things). If you read on in this book, Job never cursed God for what he was going through, although he ended up cursing the day he was born. However, Job might have fallen into bad company because his three friends were trying to convince him that he had sinned to cause all of the calamity. Scrooge didn't lose near as much as Job did. He lost his money and house, but nothing more. Job lost his wealth, house, servants, and most of his family, and as stated above, his health — this also includes his power, prestige and what many people would think of as dignity (even though dignity is very relative and it doesn't come necessarily from physical things). Even his wife tried to convince him to curse God and die (which Job didn't do).

The next scripture that we are looking at is obvious. Louie (the one in green) quoted Luke 6: 31.

The Bible States In Luke 6: 27-36:

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.

30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.

31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.

33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.

34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.

35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

What do you see in this scripture that helps with our cartoon study? Note Louie's quote (verse 31). Let's look at the character of Captaim Jack. He was willing to help even though he was one of Scrooge's victims — lack of rendering aid. It is amazing that he was willing to risk safety. As you know, the boat was barely seaworthy because of the leaks. I think that the Captain was willing to risk his life for someone that didn't want to help him.

Scrooge through almost all of this cartoon was only focused on his own money — how much or little he had and downplaying the poor. Scrooge was wrong here. At least he forgave Fritter Away for what he did. So, at least there is some good in Scrooge here. Money and prestige are not everything. In fact, in God's economy, they mean really nothing. These are blessings that some people have, however there is much responsibility. Money is a good tool to help God's kingdom here, but this doesn't make the man; God does.

Now we are going to look at two more scripture passages to close this area out. We must remember these words of The Lord Jesus Christ and then of Paul.

The Bible States In Matthew 6: 19-24; Philippians 4: 10-13:

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.

23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

What have we learned to sum things up? A person like Scrooge (and I believe they exist) needs to be schooled on these passages and others like them. People like this will not think of God's economy and plan much, but need to. "Poverty is the pits" Scrooge says. He is right, however, humility is one of the things that runs God's plans. Whether you are rich or poor, you need to always remember where your blessings come from in whatever form they turn up.