Freedom: Making It Personal

Transcription

1 Freedom: Making It Personal Putting Possessions in Perspective One Anothering

2 Dear readers, As you use this leader guide to prepare and lead Bible studies during the summer, we believe you ll find these studies to be especially relevant, engaging, and practical. We ve added elements of the Adult strategy (see p. 6) Connect, Grow, Serve, Go to some of the interactive features in the lesson commentary. We hope you ll find this helpful. We are grateful for you and we pray for you as you study God s Word. Thanks for your prayers for us, as well. B. Nathaniel Sullivan CONTENTS Summer 2011 Features 2 How to Become a Christian 4 Meet Your Writers 5 How to Use the Life Words Leader Guide 6 Adult Ministry Strategy 7 The Importance of the Door 30 Radical Teaching 96 Lust: A Word Study 108 How to Involve Members in Sunday School Evangelism Training 150 Department Suggestions 152 Leadership Meeting Suggestions 154 Coming Next Quarter KING JAMES LifeWords VERSION BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE FOR ALL ADULTS Leader Guide Putting Possessions in Perspective 9 June 5 What Do You Own? R 10 1 Chronicles 29:10-20 June 12 Where Is Your Treasure? R 20 Matthew 6:19-34 June 19 How Much Is Enough? R 34 Philippians 4:10-20; 1 Timothy 6:6-12 June 26 Why Be Generous? S 44 Luke 19:1-10; 2 Corinthians 8:3-4; 1 John 3:16-18 Freedom: Making It Personal 55 July 3 Personal Rights R 56 Philippians 3:17-21; 2 Peter 2:10b-19 July 10 Personal Checklist R 66 Galatians 3:1-3,10-14,19-26 July 17 Personal Relationship C 76 Galatians 4:1-7; 1 John 1:5-9; 3:1-3 July 24 Personal Responsibility R 86 Romans 6:8-18 July 31 Personal Service S 98 Galatians 5:13-16,22-26; 6:7-10 One Anothering 109 August 7 Love One Another C 110 John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:10b-12,16-18; 4:7-13,19 August 14 Forgive One Another C 120 Colossians 3:12-13; Philemon 8-22 August 21 Don t Criticize One Another C 130 Romans 14:1-12,19; James 4:11-12 August 28 Agree with One Another C 140 Genesis 13:1-12; Romans 12:16-18; 15:5-6 Evangelism Lesson Life WORDS KJV Leader Guide (ISSN , Item ) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, OneLifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. For ordering or inquiries visit call (800) , or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN For subscriptions or subscription changes subscribe@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, orderentry@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. Some Internet addresses provided in Life WORDS KJV Leader Guide are outside the LifeWay Internet domain. Addresses outside the LifeWay Internet domain are given for information purposes only and should not be construed as an endorsement. Moreover, because of the changing natureof the Web, editors cannot be held responsible for content on pages outside their control. At the time of this publication s printing, the specific pages mentioned have been viewed and approved by the editor. However, at the time of your viewing, the information on these pages may have changed. We cannot guarantee that links from the specific Web pages referenced will not link to inappropriate material. Mention of movies, television programs, and other media in this publication does not constitute an endorsement of them. Life WORDS KJV Leader Guide is designed for teachers of adults. We believe the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. The 2000 statement of The Baptist Faith and Message is our doctrinal guideline. The suggestions in this resource for pronouncing Bible names are from That s Easy for You to Say: Your Quick Guide to Pronouncing Bible Names, copyright 1997 by B&H Publishing Group. Used by permission. Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (back cover is an exception). Printed in the United States of America. LifeWords Leader Guide, KJV 3

3 M E E T Y O U R W R I T E R S Rick Ezell wrote the commentary for the June lessons. Dr. Ezell pastors the First Baptist Church of Greer, South Carolina. Rick and his wife Cindy have one daughter. Having lived just outside Chicago for 17 years, Rick pulls for the Bears, Bulls, and Cubs. While Rick was in college, he played on a tennis team that was recently inducted into the College Hall of Fame. Wayne Ozment wrote the commentary for the July lessons. Dr. Ozment is a former pastor and retired editor from LifeWay Christian Resources. He enjoys Alabama football and New York Yankee baseball. He and his wife, Martha, have two grown children and three grandchildren. The Ozments serve in First Baptist, Nashville, Tennessee, where Wayne co-teaches an Adult Sunday School class. Coye Still wrote the commentary for the August lessons. Dr. Still pastors University Hills Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Coye and wife, Sherra, are former International Mission Board representatives in Southeast Asia. They have five children and enjoy sports. Curtis Honts wrote the interactive elements for this quarter. Rev. Honts edits the commentary that is shared in Bible Studies for Life Leader Guides at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, Tennessee. Curtis and his wife, Toni, have 16-year-old twins and are members of Springfield Baptist Church, Springfield, Tennessee. Ronda Martin wrote the teaching plans and leader pack items for the June lessons. Ronda is a freelance writer and an educational assistant in Lebanon, Tennessee. She and her son, Samuel, are members of Immanuel Baptist Church in Lebanon, Tennessee. Ronda is a co-founder of PHOEBE Ministries, a ministry of widows reaching widows in Wilson County. Michelle Hicks wrote the teaching plans and leader pack items for the July lessons. Michelle is a freelance writer and conference leader who lives in Franklin, Tennessee. She and her husband, Joe, have three daughters and are members of Clearview Baptist Church. Robin Noland wrote the teaching plans and leader pack items for the August lessons. Robin, a freelance writer, writes a daily devotional and prayer blog (prayerforallofus.blogspot.com). She and her husband, Tom, recently moved to Benton, Arkansas, where Tom is the associate pastor of worship and music at First Baptist Church Benton. Robin and Tom have a son, Nick (12), and a daughter, Julie (22), who is married to Nick Akin. Robin became a grandmother in May! Bible Studies for Life: Life Words, KJV LEADER GUIDE for All Adults Volume 5, Number 4 Summer 2011 PRODUCTION AND MINISTRY TEAM Curtis Honts B. Nathaniel Sullivan Content Editors E. Lee Bailey Production Editor Min Xu Graphic Designer Alan Raughton Lead Adult Ministry Specialist David Apple Adult Ministry Specialist Christina Zimmerman Editorial Project Leader Send questions/comments to Content Editor: Life Words, KJV, for All Adults One LifeWay Plaza Nashville, TN Or make comments on the web at MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL Bret Robbe, Director Leadership and Adult Publishing Ken Braddy and Ron Keck Managing Directors Leadership and Adult Publishing David Francis, Director Sunday School Bill Craig, Director Leadership and Adult Ministry Gary H. Hauk, Director Publishing LifeWay Church Resources 4 Summer 2011

4 Life Words KING JAMES VERSION R What Do You Own? Week of June 5, 2011 Needed for the Session Bibles, Learner Guides, paper, and pencils or pens Step 1: Putting Possessions in Perspective poster (Pack Item 1) Step 1: A Pair of binoculars Step 3: Biblical Insights discussion guide (Pack Item 2), cut apart Step 4: One index card for each learner Step 5: Baptist Hymnal, 1991 or 2008 edition. Find EXTRA! help online at: Background Passage 1 Chronicles 29:1-20 Focal Verses 1 Chronicles 29:10-20 What This Lesson Is About This lesson is about the importance of and the need for recognizing God s rightful ownership of everything we have. Why This Lesson Is Important A right perspective of wealth and possessions begins when we recognize everything we have belongs to God and comes from God. We are accountable to Him for how we use whatever He entrusts to us. Such an attitude contrasts sharply to the world s prideful illusion of self-sufficiency. How This Lesson Can Impact Your Life This lesson can help you to put possessions in perspective by helping you recognize that God is the Owner and Giver of everything you have. Lesson Outline God Owns Everything (1 Chron. 29:10-11) God Gives Us What We Have (1 Chron. 29:12-16) God Examines Our Hearts (1 Chron. 29:17-20) 10

5 Preparing the Lesson I see the new owners made some changes to your old house, I remarked to a lady after driving by the house she recently sold. Yes, she replied, I can t believe they cut down my trees. Those were some beautiful oak trees, I responded gingerly, feeling I had hit a nerve. They will be missed. My grandfather planted those trees. I loved those trees. Can you believe they cut down my trees? I m confused, I said, Didn t you sell that house? Yes, she confessed, but those were my trees. This lady knew in her mind the trees were no longer hers, but she was responding emotionally she felt the trees were hers. We perhaps can understand how she felt, but her feelings didn t square with reality. We, too, often treat our possessions in a manner consistent with this lady s perspective on those trees. Even if we know in our minds that the things we own ultimately aren t ours, we act as if we own it all. And this is a mistake. Which of the following are you highly tempted to consider yours and tempted to feel wronged if you have to give it up? house car leisure time influence lifestyle job other God Owns Everything 1 Chronicles 29: Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. My is one of the most misused words in our vocabulary. Each of us is quick to declare: My job, my money, my talents, my wealth, my belongings, my family, and even my life. Yet biblically speaking, God owns it all, and we merely are managers of what He has entrusted to us during for our brief stay on earth. King David understood this principle and demonstrated it clearly in 1 Chronicles 29. Here we see David as a visionary, a steward who wanted to leave a great legacy. David assembled the leaders of his kingdom and presented his vision of building a palace a temple for the ultimate King the Lord God. This holy place would be recognized as God s dwelling place among Teaching Plan Step 1: Introduction Read the introduction to this lesson from the commentary on the left side of this page. Ask learners to think of examples of situations in which people treat items or assets belonging to others as their own. Here are some ideas that may stimulate discussion. A husband or a wife at times will treat money or items belonging to the couple jointly as his or her own personal property. In a college setting, an individual might treat clothing or other items belonging to his or her roommate as his or her own personal property. Teenagers sometimes treat their parents cars or other items as their own. Children also may disrespect other family members belongings. In some cases employees will call in sick when they re not really sick. They also may borrow office supplies such as pens, pencils, note pads, and so forth. People may refuse to get off the computer, stop watching TV, or stop doing whatever they enjoy doing and want to do. These people sometimes act as if they have no obligations to anyone. They treat the time and the items as if they are totally their own when they should be willing to share with others. LifeWords Leader Guide, KJV 11

6 Read the first paragraph of commentary in the first section of this study (begins with My is one of the most. Emphasize that all believers need to be reminded periodically that what they have really doesn t belong to them, but to God. Ask learners to reflect on ways believers misuse property that belongs to God simply by treating all God has entrusted to them as their own personal stuff. Make the point that even people who tithe often operate under the assumption that since they ve given God His 10 percent, they can use the remaining 90 percent any way they please. Ask: What s wrong with this attitude? Display the Putting Possessions in Perspective poster (Pack Item 1). (If this item is unavailable, write the study theme title, lesson titles, and lesson dates on a large sheet of paper.) Introduce the study theme and this lesson. Say: Our first lesson asks the question, What Do You Own? Ask the class to name some things members own and list them on the board. Display a pair of binoculars and act as if you are trying to use them to bring the image you re viewing into focus. Explain that you want this lesson to help everyone bring his or her possessions into proper focus. Explain: When we have a proper perspective His people. David shared his feelings and how God had worked in his heart. He knew neither the kingdom, this soon-to-be-built temple, nor the wealth he possessed were his; but rather, it all belonged to God. At this point in Israel s history, David was an old man about to die. These events were occurring in the final chapter of his welllived life. He knew his reign was ending. A successor his son, Solomon would follow. So David prepared abundantly before his death (1 Chron. 22:5). David presented to Solomon a great vision of building a magnificent temple and its furnishings for the worship of Almighty God. This would be the grandest building man ever constructed. David s fondest aspiration had been to honor his God by building this palatial structure. However, because David had shed blood abundantly and made great wars (22:6-10, 28:2-3), God would not allow him to oversee the temple s construction. Instead, the Lord appointed Solomon, David s son, to perform the task. David wanted to do all he could to help Solomon, so he spoke words of encouragement to his son and provided the workforce to complete the building project. i Two previous Biblical Illustrator articles David: His Life and Times (Fall 1980) and Solomon s Temple (Spring 2003) relate to this lesson and can be found on the Summer 2011 Biblical Illustrator Plus (CD-ROM). David s wealth, immeasurable by today s standards, is akin to considering the wealth of Americans in contrast to the rest of the world. Like David, we need to understand the source of our wealth and use it to accomplish God-given dreams. David acknowledged Solomon, his heir, was young and tender (1 Chron. 29:1) today we might say young and inexperienced. Solomon s task would be immense; the palace, after all, was not for man, but for the Lord God. So David took on a vital role in the project. He would be one of the main benefactors, giving extravagantly from his personal fortune gifts amounting to three thousand talents [100 tons] of gold, and seven thousand talents [250 tons] of refined silver (v. 4) toward this project. Apparently he gave first (see v. 2), as any great leader would; then the chief and the captains and the rulers of Israel gave (see v. 6); and finally the people gave (see vv. 9,17). David planned, then prayed, acknowledging the Lord owned everything. His magnificent prayer is surely one of the best known passages in the Books of Chronicles. David blessed the Lord; he praised God for His greatness. This is the meaning of the word translated blessed, used twice in verse 10. We typically read that God blesses us, not the other way around; but David s words remind us God deserves and desires to be blessed or praised. In this case, the invocation of Blessed be thou called 12 Week of June 5, 2011

7 for heartfelt worship and praise in both deed and speech. The word for blessed also means to bend the knee. As David prayed, he likely stood no longer but knelt as he expressed to God his deep adoration. He knew God had been extremely good to him. His words offer a short course in theology. He praised the Lord God of Israel our father, exalting His greatness, and power, and glory, and victory, and majesty. It seems appropriate to imagine David s mind racing for terms to express God s sovereign grandeur and might. The first 12 words of verse 11 have found their way into contemporary Christian usage as they parallel the closing of the Model Prayer (see Matt. 6:13). Let s follow David s example of praising God for His eternal greatness and power. I recall as a young person being taught the A. C. T. S. acronym as an outline for prayer. The letters stand for adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. David s prayer began as our prayers are to begin, by recognizing the greatness and the power of God. It is praise of God that opens the door into His presence (see Ps. 100:4). r Why do the prayers of many believers tend to be prayers of supplication rather than prayers of adoration and praise or at least lopsided expressions to God rather than prayers that reflect more balanced emphases? Note that David affirmed, All that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine (see also his affirmations regarding the things that come of God in vv. 12 and 14). Because God is the rightful Owner of everything we have, we have a responsibility to manage well all He has entrusted to us. Here we discover the essence of stewardship or management. God has furnished us resources we are to use for His purposes. Those resources include but are not limited to time, talents, and material possessions. r What are some reasons we might tend to forget that all we have is really God s? The late Bishop Edwin Hughes once delivered a rousing sermon on God s Ownership that upset a rich parishioner. The wealthy man took the bishop home for lunch, then took him on a stroll through his extravagant estate. Now are you going to tell me, he demanded when the tour was complete, that all this land does not belong to me? Bishop Hughes smiled and replied, Ask me that same question a hundred years from now. (Ben Patterson, God s Prayer Book [Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008], 88). The truth is, we own nothing. All we possess comes from God. He is the Source of all things. How aware of these truths are you in your daily life? What kinds of things can you do to affirm God s ownership of everything He s entrusted to you? on possessions, God blesses our lives and positions us to enjoy as we should all He has given us (see 1 Tim. 6:17). When our perspective on possessions is distorted, it s because we don t have a proper perspective on God and others either and we miss out on a great deal of enjoyment and fulfillment in life. Say: Today s lesson looks at a time in David s life when he held his possessions in proper focus. It explores how he used his wealth to honor God and to benefit others. Step 2: God Owns Everything (1 Chron. 29:10-11) Invite a volunteer to read 1 Chronicles 29: Use the commentary on pages to provide the biblical context, emphasizing that David gave the best he had for the temple s provision, even though he knew he himself would not oversee the temple s construction. Explain that David planned and gave his best. He also prayed. In so doing, he gave us an example to follow. Emphasize that David s stewardship of his possessions was based on his clear understanding that God owned everything, including all he David appeared on the surface to own. UUUUUU Learner Guide Ask learners to underline in their Learner LifeWords Leader Guide, KJV 13

8 Guides (p. 9) the portion of David s prayer that reflects his understanding that God owns everything. (In verse 11, David stated, All that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine. He also added, Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. ) Write these words on the board: Accountability Stewardship Discuss the meanings of these terms. Emphasize that since God is Owner, we are accountable to Him for how we use all He has entrusted to us. Therefore we are stewards or managers of assets that are not ours. Ask a volunteer to read Luke 19: Discuss stewardship and accountability in light of this parable and the implications of the parable for each of us as believers. Contrast David s attitude toward possessions (and the attitude promoted in the parable in Luke 19:11-27) to the attitude many have regarding their belongings. Brainstorm with learners ways believers might approach differently the following items and activities if they continually thought of themselves as managers and stewards over assets that belong to God. purchases of new and costly items such as a home and an automobile vacations entertainment giving to fund God s work God Gives Us What We Have 1 Chronicles 29: Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. 14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. 15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. 16 O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own. After David stated in his prayer that God owned everything and is the Source of all things, he then offered four manifestations of God s ownership: God s ownership of all and His exaltation above all (v. 11) remind us that these roles are His because He is the Creator of heaven and earth, and He sustains all that exists (see Gen. 1 2; Col. 1:16-17). He is the supreme King. The words kingdom (in verse 11) and thou reignest over all emphasize this. From Him we receive all material wealth: riches and honor come of thee. He is the Source of both divine and human power and might. God s hand is an idiom referring to His ultimate strength and authority. Verses form the heart of David s prayer as he expresses thanksgiving and joy. David and the people had only given back what had come from God s hand. The fundamental question David asked is But who am I [David asked this two other times once of Saul in 1 Sam. 18:18, and once of the Lord, recorded in 2 Sam. 7:18 and 1 Chron. 17:16] and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? David knew that he and the people could give generously only because God had blessed them (see Deut. 8:18). In a sense, they were only giving back to God what He had given to them in the first place. Like the daughter who purchases a birthday gift for her mother with money the mother gave her in the first place, we need to realize we cannot give to God anything that is not already His. 14 Week of June 5, 2011

9 Discover Deeper Meaning A sojourner is a temporary resident, one who dwells among a foreign people in contrast to a citizen. The term sojourners often referred to persons who did not own property in the land where they lived. Thus, they had no personal security; they relied instead on the employ or generosity of local citizens. They likewise were in need of protection. After possessing the promised land, the people of Israel were to have the attitudes of temporary residents, aware that the land belonged to the Lord and that they were dependent on His generosity and protection. Likewise, as God s people on earth, we also are temporary residents. We are on a spiritual pilgrimage from this world to the next. Earth is neither our home nor our source of security. Therefore, we must guard against growing too fond of this present world, or too attached to it. Translated more literally, the latter part of verse 14 would read and (what is) from Your hand we have given You. Again, we are the children; God is the Father. God gives us everything we have. Understanding this truth, we realize we can take no pride in being self-made men or women. In a sense, no one can ever be self-made. Having experienced prosperity from God s hand, we cannot take credit for our accomplishments. Without God, we have nothing; without Him, we are nothing. All that we are and all that we have come from God. Everything is a gift. Nothing is earned; everything is given. A great paradox exists here. You have noticed it already. We give back to God what God has given to us. Everything we have, down to the last penny, ultimately will be returned to Him. George Matheson presented an expansion of this thought in the hymn O Love That Will Not Let Me Go (No. 292, The Baptist Hymnal, 1991; No. 110, Baptist Hymnal, 2008) O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee; I give Thee back the life I owe, That in Thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be. Before the eternal God, David declared that he and his people were like all other human beings, strangers, and sojourners. The patriarchs often were described in these terms, since the land really belonged to the Lord. Their position in the promised land reminds us of ours on earth today. These terms describe who we are: We are strangers foreigners and investments food and clothing Brainstorm ways believers can remind themselves that God owns all that is at their disposal. Discussion Starters for 1 Chronicles 29: How does praise bring us into God s presence and influence our perspectives on material things? How does a recognition of who God is sharpen our thinking about ourselves and material goods? 2. Why do you think people often have difficulty giving God the glory He is due? 3. What things do you consider rightfully yours, such as things you earned or deserve (jobs, home, titles, possessions, family, savings, and so forth)? What would you find the most difficult to freely hand over to God without further claim to it? Why must you become willing to surrender it to the Lord? 4. Read 1 Corinthians 6:20. What does it mean for us as believers that God doesn t just own our assets, but us as well? Step 3: God Gives Us What We Have (1 Chron. 29:12-16) Invite a volunteer to read 1 Chronicles 29: Ask learners to note from this passage how David s keen insight of who God is was accompanied by a clear understanding of who he LifeWords Leader Guide, KJV 15

10 and his people were, as well as a wise perspective on possessions. UUUUUU Learner Guide Use Discover Deeper Meaning (p. 15; Learner Guide, p. 12) to explore the meaning and implications of the term sojourners. Note that the concept of being a foreigner on earth is a concept we highlighted in last quarter s Life Words materials during the March series of studies on 1 Peter. Divide the class into three groups and assign a section of the Biblical Insights discussion guide (Pack Item 2) to each group. Use the discussion guide to explore further the implications of the truth that a believer is a foreigner on earth because his citizenship is in heaven. Give groups time to discuss their assignments and to give brief reports. (If the pack item is unavailable, divide the class into three groups and give discussion assignments. Group 1: What do you think is the general attitude of our present culture toward a temporary resident? Does this have any parallels or implications for Christians? If so, what are they? Group 2: Why is it so easy for believers to forget they are temporary residents on earth? How can we as believers become more mindful of this reality? Group 3: If all Christians in our country understood sojourners temporary residents just passing through. Our days on the earth are brief, as a shadow. No one can make death inevitable. David revealed, there is none abiding. Interestingly, the word translated abiding carries the meaning of hope. Without God we have no hope in this life or the next. Not even David s great wealth and the security it brought him could deliver him from death. Life is the ultimate gift from God. We eventually give life back to God when we die; how much better to surrender it to Him by doing His will each and every day! r Do the people who know you best know your citizenship is in heaven? What clues do they have to make a judgment? Since all things come from God and life is short, the wisest thing we can do is give back liberally to God from what He has entrusted to us. When we give away our resources by investing in things that will last for eternity, we forge a legacy in much the same way David did when he planned and provided for the temple. We can t take our money and possessions with us when we die; but we can give them away while we re still living so that after we are gone, our gifts still will be advancing God s kingdom. David helped to build a temple for the glory of God, although he himself didn t oversee its construction. We can build churches and ministries for God s glory. Great things can be accomplished for the common good and for God s glory when each of us individually and all of us together give generously. Good stewardship also involves managing our estates wisely. Explain why having a will is important. Reflect on why excuses for not drawing one up are just that excuses. Do you have a will? If not, what steps do you need to take to make one? God Examines Our Hearts 1 Chronicles 29: I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee. 18 O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee: 19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision. 16 Week of June 5, 2011

11 Don t Let Your Possessions Possess You An old story tells of a businessman who started out making $50 a week. He asked God to bless his work and joyfully promised God he would tithe all of his life. Two years later the man was making $5,000 per week and tithing $500. He started to complain about the burden of giving so much. A friend heard his complaint and suggested, Why don t we ask God to decrease your income back to $50 per week? You didn t seem to have any trouble tithing then. Why is it often true that the more we have, the more we want? 20 And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the Lord your God. And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshiped the Lord, and the king. David planned for the temple (see 1 Chron. 28), provided materials for its construction (see 29:1-9), and praised the Lord with clarity and decisiveness (see vv ). Then he petitioned God in verses 17-20, our focal passage for this portion of our lesson. Note David s frequent use of the word heart in this section. David knew God tests or triest the heart and hast pleasure in uprightness and in the uprightness of one s heart, meaning a heart filled or controlled by integrity and sincerity. David asked God to keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee. Then David beseeched God, Give unto Solomon my son a perfect or a whole heart, (the word carries a sense of covenant loyalty as well) so that he would be faithful in following God s commandments, completing the daunting task of building the temple, and leading the nation of Israel. Foremost in David s mind was the inner quality of devotion. David knew that giving was not about money. It was, and it is, never about money. It was not about the temple. It was and it always is about the heart and faith and one s relationship with God. The outer reality of proper giving always follows the inner workings of the heart. Did you notice that David connected obedience to God s commands, testimonies, and statutes (covenant language) with building the temple? David knew that a temple without heartfelt obedience would be an empty symbol. David prayed that his people God s people might always maintain the present generosity, gratitude, and heartfelt joy, and that God might always prepare their heart unto Him. they are temporary residents and acted accordingly, what would be the impact on our country and culture?) Discussion Starters for 1 Chronicles 29: What clues do we have from these verses that David had a right perspective on God? on himself and his people? on his possessions and wealth? 2. Where lies the allegiance of the sojourners mentioned in verse 15? Explain your answer. 3. In view of 1 Chronicles 29:12-16, what might you say about the term self-made man? Of course, all of us should have drive and initiative but we can have these and still maintain a proper perspective with regard to ourselves. Discuss how we can maintain this balance. 4. Since our very lives are gifts from God, how can we effectively give ourselves back to God in worship? What does such giving do for us? In what ways can our giving potentially affect others? Step 4: God Examines Our Hearts (1 Chron. 29:17-20) Ask a volunteer to read 1 Chronicles 29: Verse 17 indicates that David gave generously and the people followed his example. Ask: What spiritual insights might other believers gain from your example in giving? Say: In his prayer in verse 18, David recalled to God how Israel was His covenant nation. LifeWords Leader Guide, KJV 17

12 David shuddered to think what would happen if the Israelites lost their desire for God. He asked God to keep forever in His people s hearts the willing, generous attitude the people exhibited that day. Ask: In verse 19, what did David pray for his son Solomon? Although construction of a temple is not in view for our offspring, what insights does David s prayer give us about praying for members of future generations, including our own children and grandchildren? Observe that in verse 20 David led the people to worship and praise God. They bowed down, displaying their full submission to Him. Ask: What are some ways you can show you have submitted and are submitting to God? Can a believer submit fully to the Lord and hold back any amount of wealth or other material possession? Explain. UUUUUU Learner Guide Use Don t Let Your Possessions Possess You (p. 17, Learner Guide, p. 14) to underscore that a struggle often occurs for believers with regard to their attitudes toward possessions. Give each learner an index card and a pen or pencil. Ask each learner to write down the three possessions they have that will be hardest to surrender to God, or about which they have the most difficulty keeping a proper perspective. Ask them also to Knowing that God examines your heart regarding material r possessions, what changes, if any, do you need to make in your attitude toward material goods? Consequently, David led the way by willingly, freely and without pressure, offering from his fortune to make possible the construction of the temple. As a result, the people also gave with joy and willingly to God. Following the model and example set by their king, they offered willingly (v. 9). Wholehearted giving means giving without reservation. Their hearts were right and their giving reflected it. The people wanted to give. The same two signs joyfulness and willingness are present in our hearts when we give as we should. Our attitudes toward money and the use of material possessions always reveals the true nature of our hearts. When our hearts are in sync with God we give freely and are not pressured, enticed, manipulated, or intimidated. And we give without reservation to God s work and His kingdom cause. This is the true response of a loyal follower who shows wholehearted devotion. Everything we have is on loan from God. The Lord gives it to us for a little while and says, Take care of it, until He either wants it back or He calls us to be with Him. If we are not careful, the longer we hold on to things, the greater the danger that we might begin to think the things are ours. So, afraid of losing them, we grasp them even more tightly. But sooner or later God pries our possessions and our money out of our hands. In the end He takes back that which belongs to Him in the first place, which is everything. When we acknowledge God s rightful ownership of everything, we willingly loosen our grip on material things and use them in ways that please and honor God. As David concluded his prayer, he invited all the congregation of people to praise the Lord God of their fathers. The assembly did just that as they bowed down their heads, and worshiped the Lord, and the king, and presented their sacrificial gifts. Praise is the best way, not only to begin our prayers, but also to end them. Worship and praise are always the right responses to God. When we understand the sovereignty of God, the graciousness of God, and the love of God, all we want to do is worship Him. David began this prayer in adoration. As he ended, the people bowed down their heads in worship of God. Once we recognize God as the Owner and Giver of all we possess, let us act on this knowledge. Let us acknowledge Him as God, giving Him the honor due His name. As His children, we should thank our Heavenly Father who is the Source of all we have. With our giving, we showcase the priority of our lives. Since God is God, He deserves all of our lives including our time and our money. In the end, every use of our money is a reflection of our stewardship. Giving is never just about money; it is about our relationship with God. 18 Week of June 5, 2011

13 In the end, we possess much but own nothing. Our possessions houses, cars, retirement accounts, stocks may have our names on the titles or the deeds, but in reality it is all God s. He alone is the Owner and Provider. We are merely the managers. Biblical Truths of This Lesson in Focus I remember one visit to McDonald s when my daughter was a toddler. She ordered French fries. You know how good those French fries smell. I watched her eat them. They were smelling so good that I instinctively reached over and grabbed one to eat. She slapped my hand and said, Dad, you can t have one! Those aren t your fries. They are mine! Three thoughts immediately went through my mind. One, I am the source of those fries. I m the one who brought her to McDonald s. I m the one who walked up to the counter and paid for the fries with my money. She doesn t realize that without me she wouldn t have any fries at all. My second thought was, I am bigger, stronger, and meaner. I could take them all away from her instantly. I could say, All right, that s it! No more fries for you. On the other hand, if I wanted to, I could buy her a truckload of fries. Then I realized, I could just as easily walk back up to the counter and buy myself some fries. Let s face it; we all tend to act like toddlers and even babies sometimes when it comes to money and the things money can buy. We need to remember that God owns everything, and we are simply to manage well everything He has entrusted to us. God doesn t just own our possessions; if we have committed our lives to Christ, He owns us as well. Since God owns everything, He has the right to whatever He wants whenever He wants it. God, the Owner, has rights; we, the stewards, have only responsibilities. Not only is every giving decision a spiritual decision, but every spending decision is a spiritual decision as well. We can t fake the quality of our stewardship; it is revealed in our checkbooks and on our calendars. People and churches don t have giving problems; they have heart problems. What is left over after we give is just as revealing of our hearts as the amounts we give. If you haven t already done so, acknowledge to God that you recognize He is the Owner and Giver of everything you have. write down what steps they need to take to live according to the reality that the things they listed belong to God, not to them. Discussion Starters for 1 Chronicles 29: What does God see when He looks at your heart? 2. How is every spending decision we make, in a sense, a spiritual decision? 3. How is every use of our money a reflection of our stewardship? Does this mean we never can spend money on amusements and things we enjoy? Explain. What should be our perspective on amusements and material goods we enjoy? 4. What actions could a believer take that would give evidence he or she genuinely believes God owns everything I have? Step 5: Conclusion Briefly discuss insights in the following hymns that can help believers have a right attitude toward possessions. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, (No. 144, The Baptist Hymnal, 1991; No. 234, Baptist Hymnal, 2008) I Am Resolved, (No. 301, The Baptist Hymnal, 1991; No. 378, Baptist Hymnal, 2008) Take My Life, and Let It Be Consecrated, (No. 277, The Baptist Hymnal, 1991; No. 534, Baptist Hymnal, 2008) Close in prayer, asking God for wisdom to be good stewards of all God has loaned us. LifeWords Leader Guide, KJV 19