VIEW MONEY PROPERLY SESSION 7. The Point. The Bible Meets Life. The Passage. The Setting GET INTO THE STUDY. 10 minutes

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1 GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes GUIDE: Call attention to the contents page (PSG, p. 3). Note that today the group begins a six-session study on money management from a biblical perspective. Review the titles. (LEADER PACK: Note the session titles on Item 6: Re-Finance. ) Note the picture (PSG, p. 82). DISCUSS: Question #1 (PSG, p. 82): What do you like best about money? GUIDE: Direct attention to The Bible Meets Life (PSG, p. 83). Note the story of the man who found $45,000 in the attic of his new home and refused to keep it for himself. Note The Point (PSG, p. 83): Contentment and security rest in God, not in money. Explain that in today s session we learn from the Book of Proverbs to have the right perspective on our money and to look to God for the security we need. 86 Session 7 SESSION 7 VIEW MONEY PROPERLY The Point Contentment and security rest in God, not in money. The Bible Meets Life In our current economy, no one is guaranteed a sure thing. The economy can falter. A secure job this year may not be so secure next year. All these reasons can motivate us to build as large of a financial nest egg as possible. Nothing we try to do, though, offers us complete security. The Bible directs us to have the right perspective on our money and look to God for the security we need. The Passage Proverbs 23:4-5; 30:5-9 The Setting Proverbs 23:4-5 is part of a larger unit of sayings that primarily gives admonitions in regards to wealth (Prov. 22:22 23:11). These sayings warn against gaining wealth through injustice and illegitimate means, against greed, and against associating with fools. Proverbs 23:4-5 focuses on the danger inherent in the desire to become rich. Proverbs 30 is identified as the words of Agur son of Jakeh (30:1) about whom nothing is known. Verses 2-6 emphasize reliability of God s Word. Verses 7-9 are a prayer for humility. This is followed by the main section of sayings, which includes warnings on greed, immorality, slander, and arrogance (vv ). The chapter concludes with an admonition that those who make trouble will receive trouble themselves for their efforts (vv ).

2 Proverbs 23:4-5 4 Don t wear yourself out to get rich; stop giving your attention to it. 5 As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky. Riches are fleeting. Verses 4-5. Every day we make all kinds of decisions. Many of those decisions concern how we make and handle money. The most important factor in how we make decisions about money is how closely our view of money lines up with God s view. How do we know what God thinks about money? God wants us to know what He thinks so He has given us sufficient guidance in the Bible. The historical record of humanity shows that from ancient times people have struggled to determine wise principles for acquiring and using money. In the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament God has given us clear, specific, and helpful counsel that can guide us in how we view and use the money He provides. For centuries Jews have divided their Scriptures what we as Christians call the Old Testament into three sections: the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. The Law (or Torah) consists of the first five books of the Old Testament (Genesis Deuteronomy). The Prophets include the Books of Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the 12 minor prophets. The Writings are made up of Psalms, Proverbs, the Song of Songs, Job, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1 and 2 Chronicles. Another way to describe the Writings is Wisdom Literature. The Book of Proverbs is part of this grouping. This book is a collection of wise sayings that often involve contrasts or comparisons. The book opens with the words The proverbs of Solomon son of David (Prov. 1:1), while Proverbs 10 begins with Solomon s proverbs. However, other sections are ascribed to various sources. For example, chapter 23 is part of the collection of 30 sayings (22:17 24:22) under the heading the words of the wise (22:17). Chapter 30 tells us that this material comes from Agur son of Jakeh (30:1). The aim of the entire book is to impart godly wisdom and to challenge its readers to live according to the guidance this wisdom provides. Our two focal passages provide guidance on how to view money wisely. STUDY THE BIBLE Proverbs 23: minutes READ: Invite a volunteer to read Proverbs 23:4-5. GUIDE: IN ADVANCE, set up a stack of coins. Call for volunteers to name examples of the ways money (riches) is fleeting. With each reason members name, discard a coin from the stack. Stress that no matter how much or how little money we have, we find no permanent security in our money our true security comes from God. READ: Invite a volunteer to read the poem, Present Tense (PSG, pp ), which captures the discontent found in the desire to always have something more. Following the reading, draw attention to the final two lines: I was retired, but it was middle age I wanted the presence of mind without limitations. My life was over I never got what I wanted. SUGGESTED USE WEEK OF JULY 17 87

3 THE POINT Contentment and security rest in God, not in money. GUIDE: Acknowledge that none of us wants those words to describe us at the end of our lives. Return to the Scripture passage. Note the biblical writer warned against the emptiness and frustration of giving in to the lure of riches and possessions. Direct attention to the bold headings on PSG page 86 as ways to stop giving our attention to fleeting riches. Recognize God is your source. He is your Provider, and He cares for every detail of your life. Remember the temporary nature of wealth. We will hold wealth and possessions loosely when we remember they are only temporary. Rest contentedly in the Lord s provision. Resting securely in the Lord frees you from the worry and stress of this world s unquenchable thirst for more. Refocus on eternal things. Spend your energies focusing on building God s kingdom. 88 Session 7 Verses 4-5 are part of a section (23:1 8) that deals with the need to discipline our appetites. Verses 1 3 and 6 8 focus on the physical appetite while verses 4 5 deal with our desire for money. Much of the wisdom of the Book of Proverbs reflects the theme of our need for self-discipline in order to guard against uncontrolled desires. Self-discipline is of such importance that many New Testament passages also focus on this subject (Gal. 5:23; Jas. 4:1-5; 1 John 2:15 17). In speaking about money, the writer began, Don t wear yourself out to get rich; stop giving your attention to it (Prov. 23:4), warning against being controlled by the desire to acquire wealth. Our human nature energizes us with passion. Some of us are passionate about sports, some about good food, and others about music. Some are passionate about work or family or recreation. Others are passionate about serving certain groups of people, such as military veterans, abused women and children, or those enslaved by various physical addictions. None of these passions are sinful in themselves. The sin comes when we allow anything to replace our focus on God. Jesus said that No one can be a slave of two masters You cannot be slaves of God and of money (Matt. 6:24). The wisdom of Proverbs warns against making the goal of getting rich our life focus. Perhaps the saddest account in the Gospels is Jesus encounter with a rich young ruler (Matt. 19:16-22; Luke 18:18-23). This man seemed genuinely interested in knowing how to please and honor God. However, he rejected Jesus counsel and sadly walked away from the Source of eternal life because he refused to put following God ahead of his wealth. The writer in Proverbs urged those who had this unwise focus to change direction and to stop being slaves to the desire for money. The writer then provided a good reason to get rid of the unwise desire to be rich. He described how those who focus on acquiring wealth are constantly looking around for things that are measures of wealth. In ancient Israel these things would have included large houses, fancy clothes, or costly jewelry. Today our media constantly streams messages that urge us to acquire various signs of wealth. However, both then and now, as soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky (Prov. 23:5). Proverbs 27:24 says, wealth is not forever. We have heard the stories of the professional athletes who once earned millions of dollars and are now bankrupt. Most of us know someone whose

4 life savings have evaporated due to the financial strain of a severe illness. Many of us have had to use our savings and retirement funds to survive when our company had to downsize or close its doors. Regardless of how hard we work or how much money we accumulate, we cannot know how long our financial resources will last. Proverbs 30:5-6 5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 6 Don t add to His words, or He will rebuke you, and you will be proved a liar. Look to God s Word. Verse 5. Since we would be foolish to place our security in wealth that can disappear in an instant, where should we turn? Agur tells us to rely on every word of God. Why should we trust that everything God tells us is truth? Agur gives us three reasons. (1) The knowledge comes from God, who makes everything (Eccl. 11:5) and who is your Creator (12:1). Surely, the wisest thing we can ever do is to trust the one, true God who made us and everything else. (2) God s Word is pure. The imagery refers to metal that has been purified by fire so that no other substance remains. The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times (Ps. 12:6). (3) As we learn and trust God s instructions, He becomes a shield for us. Psalm 119 uses the same image to describe God s Word: You are my shelter and my shield; I put my hope in Your word (119:114). For ancient armies a shield was their primary defensive weapon as it blocked arrows, spears, and other dangerous objects. In Ephesians 6 the apostle Paul wrote that the only way we can stand against the tactics of the Devil is to put on the full armor of God (Eph. 6:11). This armor includes the shield of faith (v. 16). Paul went on to encourage believers to take the sword of the Spirit, which is God s word (v. 17). We will be protected from the Devil s evil schemes as we put our faith in the Word of God. The message from Agur and from Paul are the same: use your faith to stand strong on the Word of God. When we rely on God s Word, then we will know the wise way to look at wealth and material possessions. DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 86): When have you seen money sprout wings and fly away? (Alternate: How would you summarize our culture s view of money?) TRANSITION: Display a dollar bill and a Bible. Acknowledge that there are times when we might be tempted to place our trust in money (show the dollar bill) instead of fully trusting in God s Word (show the Bible). Note that the Bible provides secure, trustworthy guidance in a very uncertain world. STUDY THE BIBLE Proverbs 30:5-6 5 minutes READ: Invite a volunteer to read Proverbs 30:5-6. GUIDE: Note that more than 1,400 verses in the Bible deal with issues like money, riches, wealth, debt, greed, and borrowing. Explain that Jesus taught much about money and the importance of being good stewards of what God has entrusted to us. 89

5 THE POINT Contentment and security rest in God, not in money. Yet too many Christians waste the Lord s resources because they do not follow the teachings of God s Word. DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 87): Since God s Word is reliable, why do we sometimes struggle to follow its teachings about money? (Alternate: How have you seen Scripture twisted to justify materialism?) State that many people err in one of two ways regarding Scripture and finances. 1. Some hold fast to their favorite passages while disregarding those that do not fit their lifestyle. Verse 6. Agur then added a warning about how we use the Word of God as our shield. The warning is to avoid adding anything to what God says. This was the same warning that Moses gave the children of Israel before they entered the promised land: You must not add anything to what I command you or take anything away from it, so that you may keep the commands of the Lord your God I am giving you (Deut. 4:2). What did Agur mean? Certainly, he meant we should be careful how we interpret and apply God s truth. Perhaps he was cautioning us to avoid going beyond the true meaning in order to try to force the Word of God to say what we want it to say. If we start with our own desires and assumptions about what is true, then we won t be able to hear and understand the message of God s truth. Agur went on to add to his warning by saying that God will rebuke those who try to turn His truth into false teachings. John wrote in his first letter to Jesus disciples, Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1). In Old Testament times God often sent His prophets to rebuke the false teachers who claimed to speak for Him. One example is Amos, the prophet whom God sent to rebuke a false prophet named Amaziah (Amos 7:10 17). Today God s Spirit speaks boldly through many pastors, writers, and leaders to rebuke the false teachers and to encourage believers to remain focused on God s flawless Word. In God s own way and time He will show that the false teachers are liars as He did with Amaziah. 2. Others try to force the Bible to say what they want it to say about our finances. Review the example on PSG page 88. TRANSITION: When we apply God s wisdom, we can learn to be content with what God provides. 90 Session 7

6 Proverbs 30:7-9 7 Two things I ask of You; don t deny them to me before I die: 8 Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor wealth; feed me with the food I need. 9 Otherwise, I might have too much and deny You, saying, Who is the Lord? or I might have nothing and steal, profaning the name of my God. Be content with what God provides. Verse 7. Agur began this section by humbly confessing his limited understanding of God (30:2 4), while stressing the wisdom of taking refuge in the Word of God (vv. 5 6). Verses 7 9 contain Agur s prayer which he offered before sharing a collection of his wise sayings (vv ). He began his prayer with what could be termed an introduction: he wanted to ask God for two things, and he wanted God to keep giving them to him throughout the remainder of his life. The implication is that by God s answering his prayer, when the time of Agur s death came near, he could look back on his life with a clear conscience. Verses 8-9. Agur s first request was that God would enable him to follow his own statement of wisdom regarding God s Word (vv. 5-6). Perhaps Agur was asking God to set a limit on the amount of temptation that came from others who would urge him to abandon his loyalty to the Word of God. Perhaps Agur s request was that God would remove all falsehood and deceitful words that were already present in his mind and heart. Either way, his desire was that God would enable him to make God s Word his shield and refuge (v. 5). One of Satan s primary weapons is to urge us to focus our thoughts and our effort on obtaining wealth. Then when we have an abundance, Satan tries to persuade us that we need still more. The writer of the Book of Hebrews warned his readers, Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have (Heb. 13:5). Jesus urged His disciples, Watch out and be on guard against all greed because one s life is not in the abundance of his possessions (Luke 12:15). The apostle Paul testified, I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am (Phil. 4:11). The writer of Hebrews went on to explain why believers should always be content and satisfied with what God has STUDY THE BIBLE Proverbs 30:7-9 READ: Invite a volunteer to read verses minutes DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 89): Whom do you know who lives out the truth in these verses? GUIDE: Stress that Satan is an expert at getting people to listen to his lies about money. Review the numbered paragraphs on PSG page 89: 1. When we gain or inherit material wealth, the devil will try to convince us we don t need God. 2. The enemy also plants lies when we may find ourselves lacking. He whispers that God doesn t care about our need or He is unable to help us in times of trouble. 91

7 THE POINT Contentment and security rest in God, not in money. READ: Direct attention to the text of Hebrews 13:5-6 on PSG page 89. Ask a volunteer to read the passage: Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. Therefore, we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 90): How would you describe a lifestyle of godly contentment in today s culture? (Alternate: When do we cross the line from having enough to having too much?) 92 Session 7 given them. He quoted Moses words as he reminded the children of Israel of God s continual presence: I will never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5; see Deut. 31:6). The writer also added the testimony of the psalmist: The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid (Heb. 13:6; see Ps. 118:6). Paul echoed the same theme in Philippians 4:19: my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. The consistent message of Scripture is God will always take care of our needs. However, the Bible does not teach, as some suggest, that He will give us anything we want and claim as ours. God only promises to provide for our needs, not our wants. Agur s wisdom led him to ask God for a healthy balance in his life: Give me neither poverty nor wealth; feed me with the food I need. In His model for how to pray, Jesus told His disciples to ask God for their daily bread (Matt. 6:11). This phrase means to ask God only for the amount of bread you and your family need today, not a storehouse full. Agur was concerned that the extremes of both too little or too much could lead him to dishonor God. He was asking God to enable him to be content with what he already had. Agur had seen that some of those whom God had blessed with great wealth became proud and arrogant. They began to think their own wisdom and effort had enabled them to become rich. In effect, they were saying, Who is the Lord? as if God had nothing to do with their wealthy status. This was the same attitude Moses warned the children of Israel to avoid after they had settled in the promised land (Deut. 8:7-17). Instead, Moses urged the people to remember that the Lord your God gives you the power to gain wealth (v. 18). Agur was afraid that having too much wealth might lead him to develop this same kind of self-centered attitude. Agur was also concerned about the other extreme, that he might have nothing. In that situation he might be tempted to think that God did not care about him. He might feel so desperate that he would steal. Agur knew that stealing is a clear violation of God s commands (Ex. 20:15). The Ten Commandments begin with God s reminding the people, I am the Lord your God (v. 2). As their Lord and God, He has the divine right to command them not to steal or murder or lie. He also has the right to demand they be holy because He is holy (Lev. 11:44). To a Jew, a name was much more than a word to distinguish one person from another. A name was a symbol of that person s character. For example, the name

8 Jesus means, Yahweh saves. The angel told Joseph to name Mary s child Jesus because He will save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). To disobey God s commands was more than being disobedient; it was profaning or mocking God s name, His holy character. That was the last thing Agur wanted to do, profaning the name of my God. That s why he asked God to keep him from the extreme of poverty. Our human nature craves security. Feeling a sense of peace and well-being is a sign of emotional security. One of the ways we try to satisfy this need is through acquiring enough wealth and possessions. This approach has two problems: (1) Though we may feel secure for the moment, we never know when what we thought was guaranteed may take wings and fly away. (2) When we start reaching our financial goals, when we ve got more than our parents ever had, when we are doing better than our friends or neighbors, then suddenly we may decide it s not enough. Satan and the world always tempt us to want more. That s why John warned his readers Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world (1 John 2:15). The reason was the world with its lust is passing away (v. 17). There s only one thing we can always rely on: God and His pure Word. God wants us to feel secure and to be secure, but the answer isn t in wealth or fame or power or any of those things of the world. The only lasting source of peace and security is found in the wisdom of God. In His perfect wisdom God assures us that contentment is the right view of wealth, not a growing desire for more stuff. And He provides us with specific counsel on how to acquire and use the financial and material resources He provides. Only as we grow in the knowledge of God s Word and allow the Holy Spirit to apply His truth to our lives will we find the peace we so deeply desire. DO: Invite volunteers to share their responses to Reflect Contentment (PSG, p. 90). OPTION: IN ADVANCE, gather hymnals and locate the hymn, I d Rather Have Jesus. Conclude this segment by leading the group to sing or recite the hymn together. If you have a member of your group who is a soloist, consider enlisting him or her IN ADVANCE to sing the hymn for the group. Stress that only as we grow in the knowledge and grace of Christ will we find the contentment and security we truly desire. 93

9 THE POINT LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes Contentment and security rest in God, not in money. LIVE IT OUT What is your response to this study? How will you express your contentment and security in God this week? GUIDE: Emphasize The Point: Contentment and security rest in God, not in money. Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 91; see text to the right). Invite group members to think about which application speaks most to their needs. Wrap It Up GUIDE: Comment that money does not control either our present satisfaction or our future security. PRAY: Ask God for the strength to turn away from any trust we may have in material wealth to provide contentment. Thank Him that in Christ alone we find true contentment and security. > > Seek the Lord. If you are dissatisfied, restless, or anxious, stop wishing for more money or different circumstances. Spend some time each morning this week with God. Express your heart honestly to Him about your struggle with discontentment, and ask Him to make you content in Him only. > > The Bible and money. Using a study Bible or concordance, find passages related to finances. List the principles given and how they speak against any of the principles taught by the world. Commit to using this study to get your finances in line with the teaching of Scripture. > > Become a mentor. Meet with two or three friends from your Bible study group for a meal or coffee. Discuss ways seniors might be able to mentor younger people in your church to develop financial habits that promote contentment in God instead of putting faith in money. Share your ideas with your pastor. 94 Session 7

10 ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/BRENT BRUCE Tel Rehov in southern Israel; here was uncovered the first beehive honey manufacutring facility. The following excerpt is from the article Trade and Wealth in the Ancient World (Win ), which relates to this session and can be purchased at com/biblicalillustrator. Israel and its neighbors in the ancient Near East measured material wealth with a different yardstick than most any American would use today. At no time in most of the Old Testament period, coinage was not present in any culture. Greeks and Lydians, in about 650 B.C., were the first to mint coins, about 200 years before the last events of the Old Testament. Besides lacking coins and currency, stocks and bonds were also absent from the ancient financial landscape. In the absence of coinage or financial instruments, people often purchased items using a barter system trading quantities of food products, animals, or metal for what they wanted. Previous articles Wealth, Trade, Money, and Coinage in the Biblical World (Win ), Refuge: The Meaning (Fall 2000), and Ancient Shields (Sum. 1982) relate to this session and can be purchased at biblicalillustrator. Look for Biblical Illustrator for Bible Studies for Life. SHARING THE GOOD NEWS The world wants us to put our trust in money and wealth. But contentment and security is found only in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Each week, make yourself available either before or after the session to speak privately with anyone in your group who wants to know more about becoming a Christian. See the article, Leading Someone to the Greatest Decision of All, on page 2 for guidance in leading a person to Christ. Remind group members that page 2 in the PSG offers guidance in how to become a Christian. Encourage believers to consider using this article as they have opportunities to lead others to Christ. the Old Testament Era did Israel mint coins or make use of paper currency; in fact, throughout Subscribe to Biblical Illustrator at or call > > Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid (MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesFor Life). >Grow > with other group leaders at the Groups Ministry blog (lifeway.com/groupministry). > > Additional ideas for your group are available at BibleStudiesFor Life.com/blog. 95