Hey Gang,
We had a great start to this month’s series on the biblical perspective towards our possessions. Yes, we live in a materialistic culture, but it's convicting to know that so many people – even Christians – are more concerned with comfort, self-gratification, and wealth than they are with godly pursuits and passions. Christians are not immune to the allure and trap of the rich and famous. And when you are hooked, you'll come up with all kind of excuses and explanations to say that you are not a slave to money.
Last week we were asked, What do you own? And it was humbling to realize that God owns and gives us everything we have. We learned that money is not what is evil, but the love of it is, so when we consider someone to be materialistic, we are talking about their attitude toward money and its importance. King David in his final prayer and public address gave us a great insight into the doctrine of stewardship. Everything we have is simply on loan to us to take care of while we are here on earth. God gives us everything we need to care for our family, to care for the needy, to serve God, to support the ministry and to pay our taxes. God will hold us accountable for how we manage the blessings He has given each of us in our time, talents and money.
This week we look at priorities and the real measure of wealth. Our lesson asks the question, Where is your treasure? Is there a line to cross before I fall victim to worshiping money as oppose to God? Am I a fool in my preparation for my financial future - is my treasure here on earth or in heaven? Can I be spiritual in regard to money matters and still be practical in financial security? What is truly valuable and why?
Everyone treasures certain things in his or her life. Write down something you particularly treasure in the following areas:
1. A Material Possession:
2. A Human Relationship:
3. An Activity:
4. A Spiritual Experience:
1. A Material Possession:
2. A Human Relationship:
3. An Activity:
4. A Spiritual Experience:
I. COLLECT THE RIGHT TREASURE – MATTHEW 6:19-21
A Life of God-Worship
"Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.
A Life of God-Worship
"Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.
When is wealth good? When is it bad? What is the difference between greed and preparation for the future?
II. SELECT THE RIGHT MASTER – MATTHEW 6:22-24
"Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have! "You can't worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you'll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can't worship God and Money both.
What are ways we become enslaved to money? How gradually do possessions come to own us if we are not careful?
III. REJECT SINFUL WORRY – MATTHEW 6:25-34
"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. "Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. "If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
What bit of advice about worry would you give your adult children? What have your adult children shown you about how to put worry aside for something more effective? What successes have you had with managing worry?
Have a blessed rest of the week as we continue in our biblical perspective of our possessions.
See you Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
