In Lesson 2 of our Bible study on Honoring God With Our Money, we look at God’s warnings to the rich. We will consider the following questions:
Does God want Christians to be rich?
Doesn’t it seem that those raised in wealth have a difficult time finding their place in life and wind up frequently bored and in trouble?
Does wealth equate to happiness?
Opening Discussion:
If you won $1 million (ignore taxes), what would you do with the money?
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Discussion: What does 1 Timothy 6:10 tell us is the root of all evil?
Why is the love of money a problem for believers?
ReadEcclesiates 5:10: What love of money leads to what?
Read the story of The Rich Young Ruler: Matthew 19:16-30
Why was the rich ruler sad?
Why do you think it is so hard for the rich to be saved?
Additional Warnings to the Rich
Look up the following verses and fill-in the missing words. These verses are from the New International version (NIV) of the Bible.
1 Tim. 6:9 People who want to get rich fall into _______________ and a trap and into many foolish and ______________desires that plunge men into ruin and __________________.
Job 36:18-19 Be careful that no one entices you by _______________; do not let a large ____________ turn you aside. Would your ___________ or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in ______________?
Luke 6:24 Woe to you who are _____________, for you have already received your ___________________.
Luke 1:53 He has filled the _____________ with good things but has sent the rich away _________________.
James 5:1-5 Now listen, you _______ people, weep and wail because of the ___________ that is coming upon you…Your wealth has _____________, and moths have eaten your ____________. Your gold and silver have _____________…You have hoarded ________________in the last days..You have lived on earth in _____________ and self-indulgence.
Discussion: After reading these verses, why might you still desire to be rich?
Proverbs 22:7 provides one reason why we should desire to stay our of debt. It says, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.”
Life Application:
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
It is important to have a proper perspective on money. If money takes on more importance than it should, we begin to desire money above all else. This desire can lead people to engage in foolish, and often illegal, actions to obtain more money. Many murderers, thieves, and embezzlers have been motivated by greed and the desire for wealth to commit their crimes. Failure to place a proper value on money will lead to poor money management and the inability to meet the needs of our family.
Solomon provides us with a proper perspective on how much money we truly need. He wrote in Proverbs 30:8, “Give me neither poverty or riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say “Who is the Lord?” Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
Money is a necessary and important aspect of modern life. We should desire to have enough money to meet the needs of our family and assist those less fortunate than us, without feeling pressured to engage in illegal activities. We should also desire to never have so much money that we feel independent and self-sufficient. God wants us to recognize that He is our provider. He gives us talents and the ability to work and earn money. We need to acknowledge His help and His gracious provisions for us.
How has God provided for your needs this week? How have you seen His provisions for you in the past?
I wanted to share this blog written by our long-time friend Mike Patz, pastor of First Assembly of God church in Gainesville, FL. Mike writes about what constitutes real, lasting love and provides words to inspire us all to love our spouses with the same commitment we love our children.
Jesus told the parable of the prodigal son in the book of Luke. This parable often used to illustrate God’s amazing love and grace towards His children. However, it is a story that can teach us some important financial principles. A synopsis of the story is below, and you can read the complete story in Luke 15:11 – 32.
The story begins as, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.”
The son left home and engaged in wild living. He blew through his inheritance quickly. About the time he ran out of money, a severe famine struck the country. The son found himself without friends and in need of a job. The only job he was able to get was feeding pigs.
Eventually the son became so desperate that he decided to return home and throw himself on his father’s mercy. The father rejoiced to have his errant son home and threw a feast to celebrate. The older brother became angry and refused to join in the celebration. His father explained that he had to celebrate the younger son’s return and that the older son was entitled to anything that belongs to the father, all he had to do was ask.
From a financial point of view, this story illustrates the following principles:
1) Money was not the answer to the prodigal son’s problems and it is never the solutions to our problems. We do need money to buy the things we need, but money will not make us a better person or bring lasting happiness.
2) Sometimes the Father gives us what we demand, even when it is not in our best interest. I do not imagine the conversation between the father and the younger son requesting money to be a calm, cordial dialogue. Rather, I envision a son pestering his father for weeks or months to give him his share. Although the father does not think it is in his son’s best interest, eventually he gives in to his son’s demands. We like to think that God only gives us what is good for us; however, the Bible clearly states that God gave in to Israel’s desire for a king. God warned the Israelites that a king would oppress and tax them, yet they were undeterred in their demands. God yielded to their demands and allowed them to learn for themselves that God’s plans are the best plans.
3) Wealth that is not earned is not appreciated. The younger son did not value the money his father gave him because he didn’t work for it. It didn’t cost him many hours of labor, so he thought little of wasting it on frivolities.
4) You cannot buy true friends. Friends that like you for your money will scatter when the money is gone. Unfortunately, many celebrities have had to learn this lesson the hard way.
5) All that the Father has He shares with His children. If you are a child of God, all the riches of Heaven are available to you. This doesn’t mean that God is going to give them to you (reread point 2). It does mean, however, that you should make your needs known to God and ask Him to meet them. God does take care of His children.
I hope that you will take the lessons of the prodigal son to heart. God desires His best for you. Often we want things that are not actually in our best interest. Trust God and allow Him to give you those things that will help you to grow and mature in Him and to withhold those things that will lead you away from Him.
Have you ever greatly desired something and obtained it, only to find out that it didn’t live up to your expectations?
Before we can really consider how to honor God with our money, we need to consider the purpose of money.
Money serves to make transactions easier. Without money, we would have to barter for the things we need and want. Work is a form of barter. I go to work for you and give up my free time. While I am at work, I accomplish the tasks you assign to me. In exchange for my time and labor, you pay me an agreed upon sum. Without money, I would have to trade my services to you for products or services that I need and that you could supply. Money makes the whole process much simpler than a bartering system.
Most of us work hard to earn our money. We want to get the most for our money. We use money to meet our needs and to make life easier and more enjoyable.
Isaiah 55:2 provides a good framework for money management. It says “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labors on what does not satisfy?
In this verse, bread signifies necessities of life–food, shelter, clothing, and other things we truly need. If we spend our money to buy the things we need, we feel satisfied and content. When we waste our money on things that we don’t need, we feel regret and discontent. All of us have purchased things we thought we really wanted, only to have them sit in a closet unused for years before we decided to get rid of them. Our natural tendency to purchase items we don’t need has led to the rise of yard sales and thrift stores.
I believe we would waste much less money if we would stop and ask ourselves two questions before making a purchase:
1) Do I truly need this item?
2) Am I willing to trade ______ hour(s) of my labor to obtain this item?
This week I encourage you to pause before making any discretionary purchases and consider these questions.
I have just begun teaching a Sunday school class entitled Honoring God With Our Money. Earlier this year, I read Dwight L. Moody’s book Pleasure and Profit in Bible Study. It inspired me to do a word search on what the Bible says about money. That lead to searches on riches, wealth, poverty, giving, charity, tithing, and greed.
The Bible has quite a lot to say about money and finances. These teachings are still valid today and can be used as a guideline for how to live in financial freedom. As I studied, I felt impressed to write a Sunday school curriculum and teach these principals to some of my fellow church members. In this space, I will also share this information with my readers.
At the beginning of each week, I will post the student worksheets. Then, throughout the week, I will post the teaching notes. This study is for anyone who is experiencing financial difficulties and for everyone who wants to know more about what the Bible says about money and finances.
Please feel free to post comments, regardless of whether you agree or disagree with me. I hope that you will find this study useful and that it will give you a better understanding of how we can honor God by the way we earn, spend, give, and share our money. May God richly bless you, financially and spiritually, as you begin to apply these godly principals to your life.
Week 1: Purpose of Money, Overview of Class
Think About: What purposes does money serve?
Read Theme Verse: Isaiah 55:2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labors on what does not satisfy?
In this verse, what does bread signify?
When have you spend your money on things that brought no satisfaction?
Activity: Make a list of a few of your biggest money mistakes.
Why did you regret spending your money on these items?
If you could have back the money you spent on those items, what would the money allow you to do?
Read Luke 15:11 – 32—The Parable of the Prodigal Son
Think About: What does this parable teach us about money?
Read Proverbs 22:1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
According to this verse, what is the measure of true wealth?
In this Bible study, we are going to consider how we can Honor God with our money. Honoring God with money involves
(1) earning money honestly,
(2) spending money wisely,
(3) giving back to the work of the Lord a portion of our earnings, and
(4) sharing with those less fortunate than us.
Accomplishing all four of these goals requires understanding how God views money and having a plan for managing our money.
Life Application:
Proverbs 30:8 Give me neither poverty or riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say “Who is the Lord?” Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
Yesterday a man was released from prison in California after a judge determined he had been falsely convicted. Daniel Larsen was sentenced to 27 years to life in 1999 under California’s “three strikes” law after being convicted of illegally carrying a concealed weapon. Larsen claimed that a knife found under a car at the scene of a fight was not his but was thrown under the car by another man. No one actually saw Larsen with the knife. Larsen served more than 13 years of his sentence before a judge ruled that Larsen is “actually innocent” of the charge, thus freeing him. For more detail on the story, please go to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/20/daniel-larsen-freed_n_2916889.html
While Daniel Larsen was not guilty of the crime for which he was imprisoned, he is a twice convicted burglar. The previous convictions resulted in Larsen receiving a much harsher sentence than one would expect for a concealed weapons violation. Still, Larsen was not guilty of the crime he was charged with and I am thankful that he has been rightly released.
I have been thinking a lot about wrongful convictions in the past few weeks since I watched the movie ‘The Next Three Days.’ In this movie, Russell Crowe plays the husband of a woman convicted of murder on the basis of circumstantial evidence and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Crowe is absolutely convinced of his wife’s innocence and exhausts all his resources and legal options in an attempt to have her conviction overturned. When all his efforts fail, he decides to break her out of prison. I won’t reveal any spoilers–the movie description tells you everything I have mentioned. It’s an intense, dramatic movie, and I highly recommend it.
Watching ‘The Next Three Days’ got me wondering how I would cope if I were falsely convicted of a crime. I’m certain that I would not want to my loved ones to attempt to break me out of jail. Committing a crime and risking innocent lives is not the way to right a wrong. Of course, I would want my family to exhaust all legal options to secure my freedom, and I would pray that God would intervene on behalf. But, what would my atttitude be? I would hope that my attitude and my behavior would point others to Jesus Christ.
The Bible is full of examples of godly men who were imprisoned, enslaved, or murdered when they had done nothing to deserve those fates. Joseph comes to mind as an exemplary role model. Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and later imprisoned after being falsely accused by his master’s wife of making inappropriate advances. Yet, Joseph honored God in prison. We read in Genesis 39:21 -23 “The Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.”
Because Joseph honored God, God honored Joseph. Eventually, Joseph was released from prison and elevated to the second highest position in the land. Joseph could look back later in his life and tell his brothers that he forgave them and that his imprisonment was part of God’s greater plan. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20)
Of course, I hope and pray to never have the experience of being falsely convicted of a crime and imprisoned. However, if it did happen, would have the faith and trust in God to view it as part of His larger plan? Would I use that time to share God’s message of mercy and His plan of salvation with other prisoners? Would I be able to focus my attention on heavenly goals, knowing that what happens on earth is but for a moment, but that which glorifies God has eternal value and significance?
I don’t know the answers to those questions, and I truly don’t want to find out. However, every day I have the opportunity to find myself in circumstances that are less than ideal. I need to view every circumstance as an opportunity to share the love of Christ with those whom God puts in my path. Whether I am confined to a jail cell or a hospital bed or a desk at a job I don’t like, I am free to be all that God has called me to be in my present circumstances.
I rejoice that Daniel Larsen has found earthly freedom. I pray that while he was in prison that he had a real encounter with Christ and that he experienced true freedom even while still incarcerated. Today we all have the opportunity to chose true freedom in Christ or bondage to sin. If we know Christ as our Savior, we have the opportunity to look at every circumstance as a chance to share Christ.
How do you think you would respond if you were falsely convicted of a crime?
Historically, charity has been the duty of the church, yet today much of that responsibility has been abdicated to the government. A large portion of the federal budget, and hence of the taxes we pay, is allocated to social programs, such as providing assistance to the poor. Yet, Jesus made it clear that caring for those in need is a primary responsibility of His church.
In Matthew 25: 31 – 46, Jesus talks about the end times. He tells His disciples that at the judgment He will separate the sheep and the goats. The sheep will be rewarded with eternal life and the goats will be condemned to eternal punishment. Who are the sheep? The sheep are described as those who have provided food and drink to the hungry and thirsty and clothing to those in need, those who extended invitations to strangers, those who cared for the sick, and those who have visited prisoners. The goats are the people who did not do these things.
This teaching taken by itself seems to indicate salvation by works. Yet, we know from a thorough reading of the Scriptures, that we cannot achieve salvation by our works. Salvation is a free gift bestowed on those who will accept it through belief in Jesus Christ’s redemptive work on the cross. We can never do enough good works to be ‘good enough’ for Heaven. Only if we acknowledge our sin and inadequacies and allow the blood of Jesus to pay the price for our sin can we be saved and receive the gift of eternal life.
Food pantry ministry
What then was Jesus trying to tell His disciples? I believe that He was emphasizing how serious it is for His church to carry out His work of ministering to those in need. As a church, the body of Christ must: (1) feed the hungry, (2) provide clothing to those in need, (3) reach out to strangers and make them feel welcome, (4) care for the sick and lonely, and (5) visit those who are incarcerated. These actions are not voluntary; Jesus mandated them as the primary work of His people.
Visiting the sick
Jesus came to minister to those in need. When the Pharisees criticized Jesus for eating with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17) Jesus went out of His way to interact with those who were in need, whether the need was physical, financial, or spiritual. After their immediate needs were met, they were receptive to Jesus’ message of grace and redemption.
The church should do no less than Jesus did. Charitable outreach cannot be something we do randomly or haphazardly. It must be done regularly and with a plan. To paraphrase a popular saying “no one cares what you believe until they believe you care.” We will only be able to reach the lost, the hurting, the lonely, and the needy if we reach out to them with the love of Jesus and minister first to their physical needs. If the church truly fulfills this mission, sinners will flock to churches and many, many people will receive salvation.
I am happy to be a part of a church that believes in ministering to those in need. We do this specifically by providing food to anyone who calls us and asks for help. Most of the people we assist do not attend our church. We are happy to share Christ’s love through providing food for them. It is our prayer that many of these people will want to fully experience Christ’s love and will seek out a Bible-believing church to attend. We also visit visit the sick and elderly in the hospital and nursing homes. And, of course, many other churches in our community do their part to fulfill Christ’s mandate to serve the poor and needy. Still, there is more that needs to be done.
Each church needs to step up and take primary responsibility for the needy in their communities. If they did, the government could reduce or eliminate many social programs and the church would have the influence it should rightly have in the world.
What are you and your church doing to share Christ’s love with those in need?
In Matthew 20:1-16 Jesus tells the story of workers in a vineyard. In the parable a landowner goes out to the marketplace to find workers for his vineyard. Those he chooses agree to work all day for a fair day’s wage. Later the landowner goes out and finds others who have not been hired. He sends them to work, promising to pay what is fair. Three more times throughout the day, the landowners returns to the marketplace and hires additional workers. At the end of the day, he pays them each the same amount–a fair day’s wage. Those who had worked the longest grumbled that they should have been paid more than those who had worked only a portion of the day. The landowner responds that he is not being unfair, as he paid them the agreed-upon wage.
Many scholars interpret this parable as having to do with salvation. Eternal life is promised to those who accept Jesus as their Savior, regardless of whether they make that decision early in their life, later in life, or at the very end of their life. As a parable reflecting salvation, I am thrilled that Jesus continues to offer the free gift of salvation to people throughout their lives, particularly as I don’t find ‘laboring’ for Jesus to be hard work. I find that living for Jesus makes my daily life rewarding, fulfilling, and more meaningful. I am glad that Jesus allows people to make the decision to follow him even up till the time they take their dying breaths.
Taken literally, however, I would be equally bothered as the first workers were. This parable violates our sense of fairness. If I’d been toiling hard for many hours, I would feel that I deserve more pay than someone who only worked for a few hours and particularly those who only worked one hour.
Yet, as Jesus pointed out, all the workers got the pay they agreed to accept when they were hired. The owner of the vineyard paid those who worked all day a fair day’s wage. He simply chose to be more generous with those hired later. Of course, this wouldn’t be permitted in our society today, unless the employer did it clandestinely. Those workers who had labored all day would file a lawsuit and the landowner would be forced to pay them more or those hired later less.
As I read this story this week, God opened my heart and I envisioned this story in the present day with the workers as unemployed people (and perhaps homeless) who have been waiting all day for an opportunity to work as day laborers. My attitude toward the workers changed. Many day laborers wait all day hoping and praying for the opportunity to work. Their need to provide for their families and pay their bills is no less great than the laborers who get hired. These men and women want to work and they want to meet their obligations.
So, how can I feel indigent if a kind employer shows mercy to them by paying them for more time than they worked?
Jesus demonstrated once again that God’s thoughts are higher than ours and that He cares deeply for each individual. I pray that as I study God’s word and spend time in prayer that I will come to see people through Jesus’s eyes. The world would be a much better place if we all worried less about what is “fair” in our own eyes and considered how we could show Christ’s love and compassion to our neighbors.
Last week a couple in our community won the lottery in the amount of $217 million. They took a one-time payout of $135 million. I’m not sure if that is their before-tax, or after-tax, winnings. Either way, it is a lot of money. The husband and wife were reported to be planning to retire early, buy a large retirement home, pay off debts, and give money to charity. The husband bought a quick pick ticket on the spur of the moment as he was preparing to board a plane in Richmond to go on a business trip. It was certainly a fortuitous decision.
It got me to wondering what I would do if I were to win the lottery. It’s not going to happen, as I don’t play the lottery. However, it’s interesting to think about. I bet most of you have at least thought about how such a staggering sum of money, or even a mere few million dollars, would change your life. I think most of us would agree in general with the decisions this winning couple announced–early retirement, vacation home, debt elimination, and charitable giving.
But what would I do specifically with that amount of money? This is what I have come up with:
1) The first ten percent would go to my church and like-minded Christian ministries to share the gospel and love of Jesus Christ. God asks that we return a tithe, or ten percent, of all that He gives us to support the work of the church and spread the gospel throughout the world. A big chunk would go to my local church and to support Assembly of God missionaries. Another portion would go to the Assembly of God’s emergency relief ministry, C0nvoy of Hope, and to organizations such as Samaritan’s Purse. Based on the one-time payout of $135 million, the tithe would be $13.5 million. Let’s round that up to $15 million, leaving $120 million for other things.
2) A large vacation home at the beach would definitely be on my list. And perhaps a second vacation home in the mountains. I would love to have a place large enough for my children and grandchildren, as well as my parents and siblings to all gather together in one place. And, of course, with all those people in one house, I would gladly spend money on a cleaning service. It is hard to imagine spending $1 million or more on a home, but for the sake of this exercise, let’s budget $10 million on vacation homes, leaving $110 million.
3) Donations to my college alma maters would be another priority. It would be nice to give back in a substantial way to the institutes of higher learning that played a prominent role in my education My father taught at my undergrad college, now the University of Mary Washington, for 32 years. It would be very satisfying to donate several million dollars and have a building named in Dad’s honor. Let’s assume that $5 million goes to each institution, with $100 million left.
4) I would spend another large portion, perhaps the largest, to provide first-rate care for my mother-in-law. She is in a nursing home and, while she is more than adequately cared for, she longs to be in a real home of her own. However, she needs round-the-clock care and the socialization afforded her by being with other people. It would be very satisfying to provide her a warm, homey environment with the care she needs. I can envision spending $20 million to build a nursing home in which each patient would have a private room and a personal staff to attend to their needs. After building a nursing home, about $80 million would remain.
5) I would set up college funds for my grandchildren and a nest egg for each of our sons. Conservatively, these savings funds might consume another five million. $75 million remains.
Beyond these five expenditures, I think I would set aside a rainy day fund for Steve and I and would donate the rest to charities. Of course, it would be a chore to decide which charities to support. The Bible teaches us that “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.” (Luke 12:48) I believe I would feel burdened to do the most good I could would the money. Therefore, I would target organizations that help the homeless and our wounded veterans to get back on their feet.
Winning such a staggering amount of money is really beyond my comprehension. While this couple is free to spend, save, and share this money as they wish, they have a moral obligations to use the money wisely. History has demonstrated, however, that many lottery winners frequently wind up broke or in debt in a few years. They aren’t prepared to handle such a tremendous sum of money and they spend it lavishly and donate to any and all groups that asks for a donation. I don’t expect that to happen to this couple. I hope that the money brings them happiness and that with this money, they help many other people to have better lives.
Have you thought about what you would do if you won the lottery? I bet you have. What would be your top priorities for the money?
February 26, 2013
Follow up to blog post: I just read a post about a couple who last year won half of the largest powerball jackpot ever. This couple, Mark and Cindy Hill, have remained true themselves and are generously using much of thei $136 million lump-sum payout to improve their community. The article states that this is unusual and that history shows that 70 percent of all lottery winners will spend or lose it all within a few years. To read the entire articles, go to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/25/missouri-powerball-winner_n_2749795.html?1361825691&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl3%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D275177
Susan's Reflections 
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