CONTENTS. C r S g. c 126 August 14 Find Freedom Through Forgiveness c 138 August 21 Stop the Harshness c 150 August 28 Build Harmony

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2 CONTENTS Put Possessions in Perspective r 6 June 5 Defer to the Owner r 18 June 12 Notice True Treasure r 30 June 19 Cultivate Contentment s 42 June 26 Determine to Be Generous Freedom: Make It Personal r 54 July 3 Personal Rights r 66 July 10 Personal Checklist c 78 July 17 Personal Relationship with God r 90 July 24 Personal Responsibility s 102 July 31 Personal Service One Anothering c 114 August 7 Show Love c 126 August 14 Find Freedom Through Forgiveness c 138 August 21 Stop the Harshness c 150 August 28 Build Harmony Apply the Bible Every Day devotions can be found on the second page of each learner session: pages 7, 15, 23, 31, 41, 49, 57, 65, 73, 83, 91, 99, 107. Encourage your learners to use them to both prepare for Bible studies as well as to live the Bible each day. C r S g You ll notice the CGSG spiritual development strategy logos throughout this resource. Connect, Grow, Serve, Go is a simple evaluation tool to assess your spiritual health. Spiritual health calls for an integrated balance of connecting, growing, serving, and going. PRODUCTION AND MINISTRY TEAM Karen Dockrey Content Editor Daniel davis Production Editor Stephanie Brent Bruce Graphic Salvatore Graphic Design Specialist Designer Brent ALAN RAUGHTON Lead Bruce Graphic Design Adult Specialist Ministry Specialist ALAN DAVID RAUGHTON Lead APPLE Adult Ministry Adult Specialist Ministry Specialist DAVID Christina APPLE Adult Zimmerman Editorial Ministry Specialist Project Leader Christina Zimmerman Editorial Project Leader MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT BRET ROBBE Director, PERSONNEL Leadership and Adult Publishing BRET Ken Braddy, ROBBE Director, RON KECK, Leadership Debbie and Adult Johnson Publishing Ken Managing Braddy, Directors, Leadership Ron Brown, and Adult Publishing RON KECK Managing DAVID Directors, FRANCIS Director, Leadership and Sunday Adult Publishing School DAVID BILL CRAIG Director, FRANCIS Director, Leadership Sunday and School Adult Ministry BILL GARY CRAIG Director, H. HAUK Director, Leadership Publishing, and Adult Ministry LifeWay GARY Church H. HAUK Director, Resources Publishing, LifeWay Church Resources VOLUME 5, Number 4 VOLUME 5, Number 1 Send questions/comments to Content Editor, Life Values, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN Send ; questions/comments or make comments to Content Editor, the Web Life at Values, One LifeWay Plaza Nashville, TN ; or make comments on the Web at Life Values Leader Guide (ISSN ; Item ) is published quarterly by LifeWay Values Christian Leader Resources, Guide (ISSN One ; LifeWay Plaza, Item ) Nashville, TN is 37234, published Thom quarterly S. Rainer, by LifeWay President. Christian 2011 LifeWay Resources Christian of the Southern Resources Baptist of the Convention, Southern Baptist One LifeWay Convention. Plaza, Nashville, For ordering TN 37234, or inquiries, Thom S. Rainer, visit President or LifeWay write LifeWay Christian Church Resources Resources of the Customer Southern Baptist Service, Convention. 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Values provides a guide through Scripture for boomers and empty-nest adults looking We believe for what s that really the Bible valuable has God and for what s its author; not so salvation they know for where its end; to and invest truth, their without lives. any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. We believe The that 2000 the statement Bible has God of The for its Baptist author; Faith salvation and Message for its is end; our and doctrinal truth, guideline. without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. The suggestions The 2000 in this statement resource of for The pronouncing Baptist Faith Bible and names Message are is from our doctrinal That s Easy guideline. for You to Say: Your Quick Guide to Pronouncing Bible Names by W. 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3 june UNIT r A Grow Lesson june 5 Where boomers are Economic problems in our country put my retirement funds in jeopardy. Yet if I m patient, they ll build back up. I m concerned about financial wisdom and accountability of those in high places whose decisions affect my finances. When helping others, I wonder the difference between generosity and good stewardship. What God Says (11) everything in heavens and on earth belongs to You. (12) Riches and honor come from You (14) we have given You what comes from Your own hand. (19) Give a whole heart to keep and to carry out all Your commands WHERE BOOMERS Can go I ll let God show me how to manage economic conditions. He knows what to do. I will follow His guidance in sharing my possessions. I will treat everything I touch as on loan from God. God knows my heart and evaluates my motives and intentions about possessions. Background Passage: 1 Chronicles 29:1-20 Lesson At-a-Glance Respect the Owner 1 Chronicles 29:10-11 Treasure God s Riches 1 Chronicles 29:12-16 Grow a Good Heart 1 Chronicles 29:17-20 Life Value Goal Find the freedom that comes from putting your possessions in perspective by recognizing God is the Owner and Giver of everything. How to Tie This Lesson Together Consider tying this lesson together with a will. Although we may not like to think about it, the will itself is a reminder that we won t be here forever; eventually all the stuff we ve worked a lifetime to get will go to someone else. Actually, though, all the things we call ours are never really ours to begin with. In this week s Bible study, we ll discover what that means and why it s significant. Read 1 Chronicles 29:10-20 in preparation for the first session in a new unit called Put Possessions in Perspective.

4 Introduce the Lesson Choose one or create your own WHAT IS THE biblical CONTEXT? Temporary residents (1 Chron. 29:15) dwell among another people in contrast to a citizen. The term often referred to persons who did not own property in the land where they lived. Thus, they had no personal security, relying instead on the employ and generosity of local citizens. They likewise needed protection. After possessing the promised land, Israel was to have the attitude of a temporary resident, aware that the land belonged to the Lord and they were dependent on His generosity and protection. Similarly, as God s people on earth, we are temporary residents. We are on a spiritual pilgrimage from this world to the next. Earth is not our home nor our source of security. We therefore should not get too attached to or too comfortable in this present world. But we do need housing, food, meaningful work, transportation, and clothing. So we are to find God s balance to live rightly while we live here. BUILD YOUR TEACHING PLAN: Choose the teaching options from the sidebars that fit your class. For more ideas, see the Pack CD-ROM or go to Intro Option: Discussion Do you have a will? Why or why not? What s the purpose of a will? What does the very nature of a will suggest about the permanence of ownership? Why study this passage? We live in a culture that prizes the accumulation of material possessions and operates according to the belief that What s mine is mine to do with as I please. This lesson challenges that way of thinking with a biblical perspective that says God owns it all and we are only stewards of the possessions He allows us to manage temporarily while we are here on this earth. This lesson will help learners adjust their view of all possessions as belonging to God and change the way they manage their possessions in response to that view. Intro Option: That s Mine! Use the story on learner page 6 to explore the origins of possession mismanagement and what to do about it. Explore greed and selfishness and what to do about both and how to keep them tamed rather than free. Ask: What adult tendency did Timothy s conduct reflect?

5 Respect the Owner 1 Chronicles 29:10-11 WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? Teach What Does the Bible Say? To read the passage interestingly, read and pause at what belongs to God. Sample: Yours, Lord, is the [pause] and the [pause] and the [pause] and the [pause] and the [pause], for [pause] in the heavens. The class fills in the blanks as you pause. In so doing, they focus on key words. Discuss What Does It Mean? Although the setting here was an inaugural ceremony with Israel s great King David presiding over the ceremony and installing his son Solomon as his successor, neither of them was the focus of attention. Who was, and why? Why do you suppose David did not seize the opportunity to herald accomplishments of his 40-year reign or to explain why his son Solomon, whom he had chosen to take his place, was worthy of that honor? What gives us motivation and courage to behave similarly? How does it help to mention that these belong to God: Wealth? Power? Greatness? Splendor? When are you tempted to claim them? How do you behave as though God is God and you re not? 10 Then David praised the Lord in the sight of all the assembly. David said, May You be praised, Lord God of our father Israel, from eternity to eternity. 11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to You. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? David: This king was near the end of life. He prepared to pass the torch to his successor and son Solomon. praised: The glad occasion was people had given generously toward building a temple for God (29:6-9). David responded by praising God, recognizing the One responsible for enabling them to give. in the sight of all the assembly: Context of these words was an elaborate formal inauguration with hundreds of officials in attendance who would serve under Solomon when he replaced David as king. from eternity to eternity: The knowledge that God is eternal and we are only on earth for a brief time reinforces the truth that He owns it all and we are only using what He loans us while we are here. everything belongs to You: This truth is the basis of biblical stewardship. We have a responsibility to use the resources He has entrusted to us time, talents, possessions, more in ways that honor Him. (For more detailed commentary see Commentary on the Pack CD-ROM.) My is one of the most misused words in our vocabulary. We are quick to declare my job, my money, my talents, my wealth, my belongings, my family, and even my life. But God owns it all, and we are managers of what He has entrusted to us during our brief stay on earth. This illustrates it: They cut down my trees! 8 june 5

6 a woman remarked. 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. We often treat our possessions as she viewed those trees. King David communicated in 1 Chronicles 29 that we are caretakers. David assembled leaders and presented his vision of a temple for the King of kings. This holy place would be recognized as God s dwelling place. TEACHING TIP Don t assume people know who King David was and what he accomplished. Instead, briefly review his story as a man who sometimes did well (bravely stepped forward to kill Goliath) and sometimes did poorly (slept with the wife of one of his soldiers and then arranged to have that soldier killed). No matter our former choices, we can choose to respect the Owner of our resources and use them His way. At this juncture in Israel s history, David was an old man about to die. His reign was ending. His son Solomon would succeed him. To Solomon, David presented a vision of building a magnificent temple and its furnishings for the worship of Almighty God. It would be the grandest building ever constructed. David aspired to honor God by building this palatial structure. To accomplish it, David spoke words of encouragement to his son, provided the workforce to complete the building project, and bestowed his wealth (along with the gifts of others) to pay for the construction. Like David, we need to understand the source of our wealth and to use wealth to accomplish God-given dreams. David acknowledged Solomon, his heir, was young and inexperienced (v. 1). Interestingly, God chose Solomon and not David to build the temple. David was a man of war with blood on his hands (28:3), whereas Solomon was a man of peace. David was the main benefactor, giving his personal fortune, amounting to 100 tons of gold and 250 tons of refined silver (29:4), toward the completion of this project. Like a great leader, he gave first (v. 2), then the leaders of Israel gave (v. 6), and finally the people gave (vv. 9,17). David s magnificent prayer is probably the best known passage in the Books of Chronicles. David praised God for His greatness and recognized that God owned everything. The invocation, May You be Can mine be a useful term? We ve heard before that everything belongs to God. What are keys to living like it? What mistakes are made in this process? Use the Discussion Starter on learner page 9 for strategies that put possessions in their place. How does respecting the Owner play into this? Teach What Does It Mean? Use the fun reading action in Pack Item 4: Three Streamers to show that putting possessions in perspective happens small action by small action. Now that learners grasp the potential fun of possessions management, introduce the session using the titles on learner pages 8, 10, 12 and the unit using the gray box instructions on Pack Item 3: June Poster. Focus particularly on why we continue to value stuff over responsibility or stuff over people and what to do about it. Guide learners to underline in the printed passage what is God s. Name ways people might assign those to possessions by naming advertisements, attitudes, and sayings. One saying is I deserve it. Recall that possessions are not bad, but we just need to use them as the Owner wants us to. Bring a shopping bag full of items from your house, and invite each learner to tell at least three ways God might want us to use them (samples: an adult child s heritage toy 9 june 5

7 DISCUSSION STARTER write a story about it to give to your adult child to enjoy while his children play with it, which accomplishes ties across the generations, a family closeness blessed by God; dollar bills make them stretch by getting baby clothes on clearance and then anonymously give to a young couple trying to do life rightly; pliers quietly fix up old cars that could help someone get a job). Enjoy the adventure of figuring out how to use our resources for God s honor. Let a learner read the title of the section on learner page 8: Respect the Owner. To give biblical context, use learner pages 8-9 to review who was speaking (King David of Israel). Use the center column commentary in this book to give further detail. Parable Option: See the Pack CD-ROM for a teaching plan using a car title. praised, Lord God, called for heartfelt worship and praise in both deed and speech. The word praised also means to bend the knee. David s words were a short course in theology. He blessed the Lord God of our father Israel, admitting His greatness power glory splendor and majesty. The phrase Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory has found its way into contemporary Christian usage as the close to the Model Prayer (Matt. 6:13). Everything belongs to God (1 Chron. 29:11); God is the ruler of everything (v. 12); everything comes from God (v. 14). These statements summarize the principle of biblical stewardship: God owns it all. We have a responsibility to manage well all He has entrusted to us. 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 and 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. 1 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). So, What Will We Do? r GROW: Point out that David was a role model for his people. Because he was God s anointed king of Israel, people looked to him for guidance. David was incredibly wealthy at this point, so the temptation would be strong to draw attention and splendor to himself. But greatness, splendor, and everything on earth belong to God. Because David recognized the greatness of God, the glitter of his gold and silver faded in the eyes of his people. More importantly, David was not just talk; he gave huge amounts of his wealth to build a house for God. In both word and action, David served as a role model of respect for God in the use of material resources. Use r Grow on learner page 9 to name ways we might similarly be a role model of how to handle possessions. Let each learner choose seven of the ideas, one to express each day this week. David pledged his personal treasure of gold and silver over and above all he had already given to this building project. The leaders of the people imitated David in giving. David rejoiced over this. n FOR DISCUSSION: What has a person done or said that made you want to give? How can you tell the difference between manipulation and leadership? Read 1 Chronicles 29:1-11. David offered a moving prayer. Notice the characteristics for which he praised God. David did not stroll into God s presence as if God owed him special privileges but instead showed huge respect. n FOR YOUR THOUGHT: How would it affect your prayers if you began each one by praising God for His ownership of all that you possess? (Matt. 6;13) SO, WHAT WILL I DO? r GROW: David s people looked to him for guidance. Because he believed that all he had was God s, he was able to teach that truth by example with his generosity in giving. Name at least seven actions, one for every day of the week, you could do to demonstrate you believe God owns everything. WHAT S MINE IS MINE! We know the answer to Who owns everything? But how do we live that out? When might each of these be true? Could there be a time each might be false? I can t own any physical possessions. I need to store up possessions. If you ask, I ll give you stuff or money. Possessions are bad. Possessions unite people. I need to get rid of some possessions. I need to acquire more possessions. I need to spend less. I need to spend more but earn more to do that spending. June june 5

8 Treasure God s Riches 1 Chronicles 29:12-16 WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 12 Riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and it is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we give You thanks and praise Your glorious name. 14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your own hand. 15 For we live before You as foreigners and temporary residents in Your presence as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 Yahweh our God, all this wealth that we ve provided for building You a house for Your holy name comes from Your hand; everything belongs to You. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Riches honor come from You: In truth, there is no self-made man; everything we have comes from God (Gen. 24:35; 2 Chron. 1:11-12; Eccl. 5:19; 1 Tim. 6:17). ruler of everything: History regards David as Israel s greatest king. He ruled for 40 years (1 Chron. 29:27-28). Yet David recognized his position before God. Your hand: Idiom signifying God s supreme and almighty power and authority. who am I: Humility is basis for generosity. Greed clings to prideful sense of entitlement. The humble refuse a false sense of importance (Mark 12:41-44). as this: 1 Chronicles 29:2-8 lists what was given. have given You only what comes from Your own hand: all we re doing is giving back what we ve been given from your generous hand (MSG); we give you only what you first gave us! (NLT); we have only given back what is already yours (CEV). temporary residents: We stay on earth briefly. All Teach What Does the Bible Say? As the passage is read, let learners underline in the Scripture on learner page 10 all forms of You. How does this put possessions in perspective? Discuss What Does It Mean? What is a self-made man? On what grounds could David have viewed himself this way? Why is there no such thing? What is the place of initiative, even knowing God is the source of power and success? If successful people were self-made, able to achieve by their own cleverness, strength, and determination, we would have solved the world s problems by now. So let s keep looking to God for cleverness, strength, and determination. He bestows such gifts and shows us how to use them. He can take away these gifts. God chose David to become Israel s king even as youngest in his family (1 Sam. 16:1-13; 2 Sam. 7:18). What s wrong with these lines of thinking: I earned my money; I ll do what I want with it or I can t earn as much money as I need; God will have to take care of it or It s mine!? What did David say to indicate that even being able to give is 11 june 5

9 a gift from God? How have you found this to be true? To illustrate David s point, cite the illustration in the commentary to the right about a child who asks a parent for money to buy the parent a gift. How did David contrast the nature of human life in verse 15 with that of God in verse 10? What s the best way to budget for, select, and use possessions in this brief life we have? This question relates back to the page 7 intro question about having a will. God s ownership of everything is directly tied to the truth that He exists from eternity to eternity while we are merely sojourners; we are temporarily managing things for the Eternal One. Teach What Does It Mean? Give each learner a length of measuring tape to bookmark 29:14 in their Bibles. List ways generosity is a measure not of our own greatness but of God s greatness. Plan anonymous ways to give to bring attention to God, not to us. Study how well people of wealth in both the Old and New Testaments measured their actions by God s standards. Some lived like God gives us what we have, and others selfishly insisted that they achieved their material success because of their own ingenuity. Start with the Discussion Starter on learner page 11. Then divide the class into trios, and let each group read about a Bible character who we possess we leave behind (Pss. 39:4-6; 49:10-20). like a shadow: See Job 14:1-2,5,7-12. Lives come and go. Let this prompt you to make the days count. for building You a house: See 2 Samuel 7:1-17. everything belongs to You: See Psalm 50:7-12. After David acknowledged that God is the Source of all wealth, David provided four manifestations of God s ownership: He is Creator (1 Chron. 29:11); He is King (see kingdom, v. 11; ruler, v. 12); from Him comes all human wealth (v. 12); and He is the Source of humanity s power and might (v. 12). God s hand is an idiom referring to His power and authority. Verses form the heart of David s prayer as he expressed thanksgiving and joy. David and the people had given back what had come from God s hand. David had this fundamental question: But who am I, [David asked this question two other times once of Saul, 1 Sam. 18:18, and once of the Lord, 2 Sam. 7:18; 1 Chron. 17:16] and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? David and the people could give generously because everything they had came from God. It s like a child purchasing a birthday gift for a parent with money obtained from the parent. Translated more literally, the latter part of verse 14 would read, and (what is) from Your hand we have given You. From Your own hand reinforces that concept. Again, we are the children; God is the Father. God gives us everything we have. Understanding this truth, we realize that we can t take pride in being self-made men or women. When we experience God s prosperity, we cannot take credit for our accomplishments. Without God, we have nothing. A great paradox exists here: We give back to God what God has given to us. Everything that we have, down to the last penny, ultimately will be returned to God. George Matheson presented an expansion of this thought in the hymn O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go : 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 12 june 5

10 DISCUSSION STARTER his people were like all other human beings, foreigners and temporary residents (see What Is the Biblical Context? p. 7). The patriarchs were often described with these terms since the land belonged to the Lord. Their position in the promised land is similar to our position on earth today. We are foreigners just passing through. Our time on earth is brief, like a shadow. And no one can prevent the inevitable reality of death. As David revealed, we are without hope without God, whether in this life or the next. Not even David s wealth delivered him from death. TEACHING TIP We tend to think of Old Testament events as situations and circumstances far removed from our contemporary needs. Some even say they are New Testament Christians. As you lead the class in exploring the verses in this section of the lesson, relate the verses to a spiritual or doctrinal truth equally relevant today. Samples: (1) Ultimate power and might are God s (v. 12). (2) God is always worthy of our thanksgiving and praise (v. 13). (3) God holds the days of our lives in His hand (v. 15). (4) We cannot boast in possessions (v. 16). Since all things come from God and life is short, manage things the way God would. David left a remarkable legacy by planning and providing for the temple. We can t take our money and our possessions with us when we die, but we can invest them in places so our gifts continue to advance God s kingdom. possessed wealth. Let them explore: (1) nature of the wealth; (2) attitudes toward wealth; (3) how well God was honored or ignored, and why. Samples: Job Job 1:20-22; Solomon Eccl. 12:13-14; young ruler Mark 10:21-22; Barnabas Acts 4:36-37; farmer Luke 12:16-20; Zacchaeus Luke 19:8-10. Use the commentary and For Discussion on learner pages to dig more deeply into 1 Chronicles 29: Refuse the temptation to declare all possessions bad or enjoyment of physical things as bad. Instead find God s perspective and God s many wise uses for possessions. Give each learner a marker to write on the measuring tape the inventory from 29:12 God wants to share with us: (1) riches; (2) honor; (3) power; (4) might; (5) greatness; (6) strength. Name ways that each informs possession selection and use. So, What Will We Do? s SERVE: Ask learners if they know someone with the Midas touch as described under So, What Will I Do? on learner page 11. Dream a bit about what we could do if we made money grow and acquired many possessions. Due to resources God has given (recall 29:12), we all can have the Midas touch by making the resources we have stretch and bless. God gives: (a) time; (b) talents; (c) influence; (d) ways to make money. Name ways to use each of these to their most bountiful. Go beyond typical answers of putting money in the offering plate (though that matters) and expand into many ways to use money and possessions for good (samples: drive old car to get the most n FOR YOUR THOUGHT: In what specific ways does God gives us everything we have? What is our role in work and in money management? THE WAY I SEE IT: Perspective is a person s point of view, basis for deciding, and value foundation. Two wealthy men in Scripture handled wealth differently: n FOR DISCUSSIOn: If possessions are Barnabas, from the island of Cyprus, short-lived, how should we feel about was active in the early church (Acts 4:36; also recall last week s May 29 them? What should we do with them? session). The other was an unnamed How long should we make them last? farmer in a story Jesus told whose barns overflowed so much that he determined to build bigger barns (Luke 12:16-21). Under David s reign, the kingdom of Each of these men saw his wealth from Israel had experienced great prosperity. a different perspective. Describe their Israel was the envy of the nations. attitudes toward their wealth. How do A lesser ruler would have basked in they compare to people today? self-glory because of such success. But David insisted that everything they had pledged to give toward the building project had come from God and belonged to Him. They could not give anything not already His. n FOR YOUR THOUGHT: How will genuine humility affect your attitude toward possessions? How faithful are you to express gratitude to God for possessions He has entrusted to you? So, what will i Do? s SERVE: Some people have the Midas touch, everything they encounter turns to gold. They are financially successful in most everything they do. Some of these people give God the glory, and His kingdom is blessed. Others selfishly use and misuse what they ve earned. List ways to give back to God besides putting money in a church offering plate. That is, how do you use the other 90 percent of your money and possessions for His glory? out of it; have contest among friends on ways to make money stretch; always spend less than made). JuN e june 5

11 Grow a Good Heart 1 Chronicles 29:17-20 WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? Teach What Does the Bible Say? Let learners circle each heart and share what each context teaches about good hearts. Discuss What Does It Mean? What example did David set? How did people follow? How was David s example helpful not only in amount but in attitude? Can we change attitudes? What is the opposite of giving to God willingly? How do you know what to give and when? What ways have you found to demonstrate that God owns everything? How has or could this help you to voluntarily loosen your grip on material things and use them in ways that please and honor Him? Why do you think David was concerned about the condition of his people s hearts? About good-hearted giving? How does a person s use of possessions reveals his or her heart? How are giving and worship intertwined throughout this passage and the events it describes? How are they related in general? In your life? Giving isn t just what we do with our tithes and offerings at church. It s also how we spend grocery money; what we 17 I know, my God, that You test the heart and that You are pleased with what is right. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You. 18 Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the hearts of Your people, and confirm their hearts toward You. 19 Give my son Solomon a whole heart to keep and to carry out all Your commands, Your decrees, and Your statutes, and to build the temple for which I have made provision. 20 Then David said to the whole assembly, Praise the Lord your God. So the whole assembly praised the Lord God of their ancestors. They bowed down and paid homage to the Lord and the king. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? You test the heart pleased with what is right: you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there (NLT); you test people s hearts. You are happy when people do what is right (NCV); You know what is in everyone s heart, and you are pleased when people are honest (CEV). upright heart: Motivated by integrity and sincerity. joyfully and willingly: See 2 Corinthians 9:7. hearts: Place of thought, will, decision. whole heart: Literally, a loyal heart. to build the temple: This prayer was answered. Under Solomon s leadership, the temple was completed in seven years (1 Kings 6:11-14,38). bowed down paid homage: they bowed low and knelt before the Lord (NLT); they worshiped reverently in the presence of God (MSG); they bowed 14 june 5

12 to the ground to give honor to the Lord (NCV). David planned for the temple (1 Chron. 28), provided for the construction (29:1-9), praised God (vv ), and then petitioned God (vv ). Notice how often heart is employed in this section. God examines the heart and is pleased when he finds integrity and sincerity. After praying for the people, David beseeched God, Give my son Solomon a whole heart, or a perfect heart (carries a sense of covenant loyalty as well), to faithfully follow His commandments, complete the daunting task of building the temple, and lead the nation of Israel. David identified working on the temple and providing resources for it as ways to show loyalty to God. Keeping God s commands decrees, and statutes (covenant language) led him, and such will lead us to many more ways to show loyal love to God. Giving is not about money but about the heart and relationship with God. The outer reality of proper giving follows the inner workings of the heart. David led the way by willingly offering his fortune to construct the temple. The people also gave joyfully and willingly. The same two signs joyfulness and willingness are found in us when our hearts are right. Our attitudes toward money and use of material possessions always reveal the true nature of our hearts. When our hearts are in sync with God, we give freely and use items well. We are not pressured, enticed, manipulated, or intimidated. Everything we have is on loan from God. He gives it to us for a little while and says, Take care of it, until either He wants it back or we die. When we acknowledge God s rightful ownership of everything, we loosen the grip on material things and use them in ways that please and honor God. TEACHING TIP Boomers are characterized as a mefocused generation that places highest value on personal benefit, quality, and ideals. While we would not object to sharing what we have for a legitimate cause, we would lean toward practicality and realism. These verses show just how to be practical in God s ways. As David concluded his prayer, he invited the whole assembly of people to praise the Lord their God. The congregation did just that as they bowed down and paid homage to the Lord and presented their gifts. Praise is the best way to not only begin our prayers but choose to buy or not buy; how we make things last; and much more. Name ways to worship God in the selection of and use of possessions. Name ways to worship God in giving money at church. How is giving worship? When is it not worship? Since God owns everything, why does He give stuff to us to manage and share? What is His purpose in entrusting it to us? Essentially stewardship began in the Garden of Eden when God created the first man and woman and entrusted to them the care of the world He had made: God also said, Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This food will be for you, for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth everything having the breath of life in it. I have given every green plant for food (Gen. 1:29-30). What do you enjoy about being a partner with God in using material things in the way He wants them used (Matt. 6:10)? We manage what belongs to God, not because He needs managers but because we need the lessons that we learn from that task. What are some of those lessons? Why else do we manage what God owns? Teach What Does It Mean? Review that David s dream was to build a house for God, a 15 june 5

13 DISCUSSION STARTER magnificent temple that would house the ark of the covenant that represented God s presence among His people. David gave the plans for the building to his son Solomon and encouraged him as things began (1 Chron. 28:11-21). David made arrangements for its construction and led a fabulous fundraiser among his people. God did not allow David to construct the temple (22:7-10) so he found these other ways to help. Take turns recalling times you did not get the coveted first place and how you managed it. Affirm that second place is not always a punishment but can be an opportunity to render a specific and very needed service. Encourage learners to pray Psalm 139:23-24, searching their own hearts and asking God to reveal to them attitudes and motives that please Him or displease Him regarding possessions. to end our prayers. David began this prayer in adoration. The prayer ended with the people bowed down. Once we recognize God as the Owner and Giver of all we possess, let us thank Him. Since God is God, He deserves all of our lives including our time and our money. Every use of our money reflects our stewardship. Our possessions house, car, retirement account, stocks may have our names on the title or the deed, but we are simply managers of what God owns. I remember one visit to McDonalds when my daughter was a toddler. She ordered French fries. You know how good McDonalds 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 fries. I m the one who brought her to McDonalds. I m the one who walked up to the counter and paid for the fries with my own money. She doesn t realize that without me she would have no fries. My second thought was I am bigger, stronger, and meaner. I could take them away from her. On the other hand, if I had wanted to, I could have bought her a truckload of fries. Then I realized, I could just as easily walk back up to the counter and buy myself some more fries. We all tend to act like toddlers when it comes to money and things money can buy. So let s grow up and become good managers. So, What Will We Do? r GROW: Discover how to get an A in a heart test by reviewing 1 Chronicles 29:17-20 and using the Heart Test Discussion Starter on learner page 13. To recognize what a good heart is, let the group name at least ten ways they see evidence of a good heart in somebody else (samples: person with good heart will value what s important to you rather than blabber on or ignore you; a good heart will enjoy simple things in life; a good heart laughs without ever making fun of someone; a good heart will do rightly even when nobody sees; a good heart gets along with small children; many more). Then use your car keys as described in So, What Will I Do? people. He simply recognized with humble gratitude what had happened. n FOR DISCUSSIOn: What s the difference between an upright heart and another kind of heart? Why does it matter so much? What would the effect be of saying verse 17 with the wrong kind of heart? In a touching addition to his prayer, David asked that God would give his son Solomon a heart dedicated to carrying out God s commandments. Earlier David had expressed concern about Solomon s youth and inexperience (1 Chron. 29:1). n FOR YOUR THOUGHT: Pray verse 19 for each of your adult children. Why do you want this for them? David yearned for Solomon to faithfully build and complete the temple for God and to powerfully inspire the people to follow His leadership. Concluding his prayer, David appealed to the people to praise the very personal God (v. 20). So, what will i Do? r GROW: Each time you see your car keys, imagine God handing you the keys and expecting the car back in good condition. What other illustrations show the heart attitude God wants you to have? Why do attitude and heart matter? life value applied: Avoid greed, jealousy, gluttony, and other pitfalls of assuming that what you have belongs to you. Instead enjoy the freedom of managing God s resources guided by God. HEART TEST: David was aware that God test[s] the heart. A test is a means of measuring, resulting in approval or a need for improvement. Most of us remember tests in school. Later tests became part of job applications or advancement. Medical tests may show the results of good or unhealthy practices. With these tests in mind, think of various ways God tests our hearts. How do we get an A? on learner page 13. Let learners use other items to show how they will be a trustee of everything in their possession and choose a good heart. JuN e june 5

14 Conclude the Lesson Choose one or create your own For even more commentary and plans Beginning with Summer 2011, Advanced Bible Study Commentary and The Herschel Hobbs Commentary will be available as downloadable resources, purchasable online at and Also for Summer, you ll find parable plans on the Pack CD-ROM. These parable plans will be available this last quarter as a gift for you while transitioning to the new LifeValues format. Conclusion Option: This Lesson s Bookends Ask the learners if anyone has a pair of bookends they cherish and to explain why. (Sample: My favorite bookends were given by my parents when my cabinet-maker uncle built me my first desk when I was 13 years old; my parents gave me the bookends, an ink blotter, and a fountain pen; the bookends were ceramic reproductions of a cowboy riding his horse and throwing his lariat over his head.) Bookends keep books straight. This lesson s bookends are the Life Value Goal and the Life Value Applied. Ask the class to read them in unison from learner pages 7 and 13 respectively. Ask what might be the books (what you learned today in the Bible about actions and attitudes to choose) to put between these bookends. Let each learner suggest a different book. TIP: Even rewording the same truth will help the class better grasp that truth. Conclusion Option: Discussion Have learners list important things they own (home, vehicles, furniture, electronics, money, clothing, books, etc.). Then have them pick one item from their list and answer how God s ownership of it should impact how they use, share, or give it. For each item or group of items, how would we show that it really belongs to God and we are just managing it for Him? Conclusion Option: Open-bible TEST Most people don t enjoy tests, whether they be academic, medical, or to evaluate employment skills. Tests challenge us, frighten us, and even threaten us. But they can be a learning tool. To demonstrate, inform the class that to review the final section of the lesson, you will give them an open-book test. They will be permitted to find the answers to the questions within 1 Chronicles 29: Give paper and pencils to write the answers, first numbering 1 to 7. A complete answer includes the verse where it is found. (1) What did David know for certain about God? (2) What pleases God? (3) How had David made his gifts to God? (4) How had the people given their gifts to God? (5) What did David desire for his son Solomon? (6) What did David request of his people? (7) How did the people respond to David s request? Repeat for the other two sections, letting learners write the questions for one other. Note that writing the questions is one way to learn; answering the questions is another way to learn because you search the Scripture to do each. And hearing the answers teaches again. 1. Ben Patterson, God s Prayer Book (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008), june 5