2. What messages does our culture send about money and contentment?

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1 GRACE CHURCH DECISIONS: FROM BAD TO GOOD HOW DO I OVERCOME BAD DECISIONS REGARDING MONEY? SESSION 3 MAIN POINT Money is not inherently bad, but as many people have seen or personally experienced, it will ensnare us if we place it above God, giving it the time, energy, and trust that rightfully belong to Him. To help us overcome bad financial decisions we have made, God teaches us through His Word to return our focus to where it belongs, on Him. He tells us to seek contentment, not in material things, but in our relationship with Him and in our focus on living generously for others. ENGAGE IT Leader, as a rule, questions in Engage It should take no more than 10 minutes of group time. These opener questions are designed to engage people in discussion. Feel free to use alternative questions of your choosing. 1. Think about this past week. What is one time you saw something advertised and thought, I have got to have that? 2. What messages does our culture send about money and contentment? 3. Have you experienced a time in your life when you needed financial help from someone? If so, who helped you? How was your relationship with this person affected as a result? We can all agree that our culture does not set us up for success when it comes to making wise financial decisions. The materialism interwoven into the fabric of our culture leads us to believe we need anything we want. Advertisers push us to buy with the promise that an item will make us happy and bring satisfaction. It is easy to buy into this philosophy of greed and discontent, always wanting more and never being satisfied. Wise financial decisions begin when we shift our focus from material things to God, and from serving ourselves to serving others. UNPACK IT Leader, questions in Unpack It are designed to guide group members in understanding the passages and in helping them analyze the meaning, context, and ramifications of the passages truths. If you prefer, you may select a few of the questions to answer, rather than discussing all of them. 4. At the conclusion of his first letter to Timothy, Paul pointed out the dangers of concentrating on material wealth, reminding Timothy of the only reliable source of true contentment. Read 1 Timothy 6:6-8. How does Paul s view of contentment compare with the modern world s view of contentment? The desire to make money and the desire to be happy are two driving forces of modern life. The danger is in believing the first will get you the second that if you have enough material wealth, you will be content. The falsehood of this assumption is revealed to us every day. The more people have, the more they seem to desire. Paul reminds us, however, that everything we have comes from God and is given to us as something we can offer back to Him. When we are in a relationship with God, 1 HOW DO I OVERCOME BAD DECISIONS REGARDING MONEY? GRACE CHURCH

2 we should be content with our most basic needs met, and then remain content in Him even when they may not be met (Philippians 4:12). 5. Read Proverbs 30:7-9. According to this prayer, why is it important to avoid the love of money? In this prayer, the writer asks God to meet his basic needs and keep him from having either too much or too little money. He prays this because he knows the wealthy may quickly forget the Giver of all things, living the lie that their wealth is the sole and deserved result of their own efforts. Or the indulgent person may become a liar and a mocker; the destitute person may become a thief. The thief profanes God by implying that God cannot provide. On the other hand, the person who trusts God to meet his basic needs and is content with that lives in daily dependence and surrender to Him. 6. What does lack of contentment say about our view of God s provision for us? The word contentment describes an inner spirit of freedom and discipline the ability to conquer circumstances and situations, rather than be conquered by them. Christian contentment is Christ-sufficiency, not self-sufficiency. When we have contentment, our inner joy is unfazed by outward circumstances. On the other hand, when we struggle to be content, we communicate to God that He is not enough for us, and we do not trust Him to meet our needs. 7. Rather than money, what should be our pursuit, according to Paul in 1 Timothy 6:6? What does this look like in day-to-day life? Paul encouraged Timothy to pursue godliness by centering his life on God and being content with whatever God was doing in his life. Godliness focuses on what is permanent: God who never changes (Hebrews 13:8) and our relationship with Him. Godliness includes an abiding trust in Christ, a trust that is reflected in our contentment with what He has provided. 8. Read Philippians 4:11-13, where Paul shares how he has learned to be content. What made Paul s contentment possible? Because of his faith and trust in Christ, Paul was able to live triumphantly above changing circumstances. In order to find contentment in Christ, we must learn to trust God to meet our needs in the way He knows is best for us. As we see in 1 Timothy 6:6, godliness goes hand in hand with contentment. When we are focused on living God-honoring lives, our contentment is measured by what God is doing in us rather than what we have. To understand true contentment, we have to reject the notion that it has anything to do with accumulating material possessions or earthly success. If godliness is the companion of contentment, greed is certainly its enemy. 9. How would you describe your own contentment in light of Paul s? Answers will vary. 2 HOW DO I OVERCOME BAD DECISIONS REGARDING MONEY? GRACE CHURCH

3 10. Continuing in his letter to Timothy, Paul points out the dangers of greed, describing it as a trap that leads to destruction. Read 1 Timothy 6:9-10. How can a desire for money affect people spiritually? In verse 9, Paul cautioned about the temptations that come as a result of the desire for wealth. Our fallen nature makes money a tempting goal. When we give in to temptation, the result is ruin and destruction (verse 9). It is important to notice, however, that Paul was not saying money is bad, or that Christians should not be rich. There is nothing wrong with money, but the love of money brings evil in the long run. Verse 9 records the progression from temptation to snare, harmful desires, ruin, and destruction, whether in the short term or later on. No one is immune from temptation, but the danger comes when people linger on the temptation. When their minds linger on what is tempting them, their focus will be drawn away from what God wants. Lured into desiring the wrong things, they find themselves in a trap. The trapped individuals become full of senseless and harmful desires. Life for these people is built on the illusion that wealth can bring contentment, which will only further plunge people into ruin and destruction. Money is not evil in and of itself. If believers follow the many biblical principles of stewardship, they will be able to glorify God and accomplish much good for His kingdom with the money He has given them. When money becomes an idol of the heart, however, people take their eyes off the One who loves them: God. Jesus made it clear that humans can either love God or love money, but they cannot have it both ways (Matthew 6:24). 11. If you have been ensnared by the love of money, how, from both a heart standpoint and a practical standpoint, can you begin to release the snare that has you trapped? Answers will vary. 12. Read 1 Timothy 6: How can we avoid the love of money and instead focus on our relationship with God? How might this help us make wise financial decisions? Instead of becoming a person consumed with greed, Paul urged Timothy to pursue godly virtues. Paul s charge to Timothy carries with it a definite sense of admonition through the use of such commands as pursue, fight, and take hold. Pursuing godliness requires action on our part. This list of attributes or goals is an important reminder that godliness is much more than going to church or associating ourselves with church affairs. Godliness extends into every aspect of life, every response to the opportunities and challenges of the world, and every relationship. These are the priorities of Christians. 13. In your life, or, more generally, in the life of a believer, what might fleeing the craving of money or material possessions look like? Answers will vary. 14. If you have a lot of fear or anxiety about finances, either because of poor financial decisions in the past and/or because of current financial straits, what does your fear or anxiety communicate to God about His provisions and care? Whether you currently find yourself in the midst of a difficult financial situation, or you still struggle with anxiety that stems from bad financial decisions in the past, fear or anxiety communicates to God a lack of trust in His provisions and care. 3 HOW DO I OVERCOME BAD DECISIONS REGARDING MONEY? GRACE CHURCH

4 15. Whether you consider yourself wealthy or not, as someone living in America, more than likely, comparatively, you are. Of those born in the United States, almost all will be in the world s richest 20%. 1 With that in mind, read 1 Timothy 6: What are God s expectations for people who are rich in this present age, according to this passage? Paul had still more instruction about wealth that Timothy needed to share with those rich in the present age. The rich are not to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy (verse 17). The greatest value in wealth is sharing it so that the rich may take hold of that which is truly life (verse 19). Rich people experience certain dangers. One is false pride that leads the wealthy to look down on people who are poor, forget that God has given them their wealth, and motivates them to boast about their stuff. The other danger is false security. Paul instructed rich people not to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth. Riches are not a good object for hope, because money may not be there when you need it. Randy Alcorn, in the book The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving, writes about the generosity of the Macedonian believers: The Macedonian Christians understood the joy of giving: Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity (2 Corinthians 8:2). How do severe trial, overflowing joy, extreme poverty, and rich generosity all fit together in one verse? Giving isn t a luxury of the rich. It s a privilege of the poor. I ve discovered that impoverished Christians find no greater joy than in giving What specific principles can we learn about giving from Paul s description of the Macedonians generosity? The Macedonians gave out of their devotion to Jesus, their love for fellow believers, the joy of helping those in need, and their knowledge that it was the good and right thing to do. They knew what it was to be in need because they had experienced poverty, yet they gave generously. 17. Read 2 Corinthians 8:9. What should motivate us to willingly sacrifice ourselves and our resources for the sake of others? Living generously in community requires sacrifice on our part, but it should be a natural result of Christ s sacrifice on our behalf. Jesus life was one of love given freely. Gratitude for what Jesus has done for us motivates us to demonstrate responsible stewardship of our lives and our possessions. Whether we have made bad financial decisions in the past or are tempted to make them today, keeping Jesus example at the forefront of our minds will help us make better decisions regarding money in the future. We can save ourselves much pain if we seek contentment in Christ, rather than in money. God can be trusted. Money cannot. The truth is, God desires us to be content in Him in every circumstance. When we exchange godliness and faith for greed and materialism, we forfeit the chance to rest in God s presence and provision. We tell God that we believe we know what is better for us. This week, ask God to help you be content. Ask Him to help you overcome bad decisions you have made regarding money so that you can reprioritize your life with God at the forefront. 4 HOW DO I OVERCOME BAD DECISIONS REGARDING MONEY? GRACE CHURCH

5 LIVE IT Leader, questions in Live It are generally intended for individual application after small group time; they can be discussed during group time, if desired. When it comes to overcoming bad decisions regarding money, we begin with a shift in focus from ourselves to God. Alcorn reminds us that God gives us what we have, and He is the point of our giving: The act of giving is a vivid reminder that it s all about God, not about us. It s saying I am not the point, He is the point. He does not exist for me. I exist for Him. God s money has a higher purpose than my affluence. Giving is a joyful surrender to a greater person and a greater agenda. Giving affirms Christ s lordship. It dethrones me and exalts Him. It breaks the chains of mammon that would enslave me. As long as I still have something, I believe I own it. But when I give it away, I relinquish the control, power, and prestige that come with wealth. At the moment of release the light turns on. The magic spell is broken. My mind clears, and I recognize God as owner, myself as servant, and other people as intended beneficiaries of what God has entrusted to me. Giving doesn t strip me of vested interests; rather, it shifts my vested interests from earth to heaven from self to God What change needs to take place for you to come into alignment with God s view of money and possessions? Answers will vary. Challenge group members to be vulnerable and honest, since we all have things we can learn from other people s struggles and experiences. 19. Does anyone in our small group or church have a physical need that we are aware of today? What can each of us sacrifice specifically in order to meet that need? Answers will vary. 1. Milanovic, Branko. True world income distribution, 1988 and 1993: the first based on household surveys alone, Economic Journal. Jan 2002: 89. Web. Cited from How Rich Am I? Give What We Can. Web. 22 July Alcorn, Randy. The Treasure Principle. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah, Print. p Alcorn, Randy. The Treasure Principle. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah, Print. p HOW DO I OVERCOME BAD DECISIONS REGARDING MONEY? GRACE CHURCH

6 COMMENTARY 1 TIMOTHY 6: Timothy 6:6. Paul commended the benefits of godliness with contentment in v. 6 (see Ps 37:3 5). The word contentment (autarkeia) was a great word in Stoicism, expressing the essence of the Stoic ideal, which was to be independent of external circumstances. Paul Christianized the term, using it to refer to an attitude of mind independent of externals and dependent only on God. He was not advocating godless self-sufficiency as a source of contentment. Paul believed that true sufficiency is Christ-sufficiency (Phil 4:13). The word but (de) should be translated more with the intensive idea of indeed. Paul was affirming that those who felt that godliness leads to gain were indeed correct, for there is great profit (spiritual profit) in a brand of godliness that possesses a contentment in the realm of its material possessions. True godliness is a means of much gain, for it promises benefits for this life and the next (4:8). Adding contentment to this godliness would promote gratitude for God s gracious gifts in this life (see 1 Tim 4:4 5). 1 Timothy 6:7-8. Why do godliness and contentment represent great gain? Paul s for clause introduced an eschatological reason for this contentment. Since after a brief stay we shall depart this life as we came in, it is sheer folly to concern ourselves with earthly matters. Material gain is irrelevant, and greed is irrational (see Job 1:21). The second reason (v. 8) is that we must be content when we possess life s necessities. The use of the adversative but (de) suggests that Paul wanted to contrast the believer s attitude to that of the greedy heretics. The term clothing is general enough to include both clothing and shelter, but the immediate context favors limiting it to personal possessions such as dress. Paul s words reflect the teaching of Jesus (Matt 6:25 34; Luke 12:22 31). Paul referred to food and clothing as symbols of life s necessities. His expression is a figure of speech known as synecdoche in which a part ( food and clothing ) refers to the whole. What is actually a necessity will vary somewhat in different societies. However, all of us face the temptation of greedily coveting more than we need. Paul s use of the future tense we will be content contains an imperative idea directing Christians to practice contentment once they have life s necessities. It is interesting to observe that Paul made an allusion to an Old Testament text (v. 7) followed by a reference to Jesus teaching (v. 8). Although his statements would resemble the teachings of the Stoics, he was clearly influenced more by the Old Testament and the teaching of Jesus than by Stoic philosophy. In these verses Paul warned that godliness is not a trait from which to make material profit (v. 5). True godliness has contentment for its companion (v. 6). Since we cannot take life s luxuries into God s presence, we should be content with life s necessities (vv. 7 8). Greed can find no place in an attitude like this. 1 Timothy 6:9-10. Paul spoke the words of vv to those who want to get rich. There is no condemnation of wealth as such, and the words do not apply to someone who wistfully longs, It would be nice to have more money. In v. 9 Paul painted three progressive pitfalls in which the willful wealth-seeker becomes entangled. First, wealth tempts like a lure and causes people to covet the wrong objects. Second, individuals become entangled like animals dangling in a trap. The desires that trap them are probably more materialistic than sexual or personally grandiose. Third, the trapped ones drown in an almost personified wealth. The desires are foolish because instead of bringing gain, they only produce harm. Kelly suggests that ruin and destruction may signify material and spiritual disaster, respectively, but it is probably best not to distinguish between the types of disasters these words suggest. Paul supported this warning about wealth with a contemporary proverb the wayward Ephesian elders validated by their behavior. We can make three comments about the proverb. First, it does not condemn money but the love of money. Second, it does not state that all evil comes from the love of money, but such misplaced love can cause a great variety of ( all kinds of ) evil. It is incorrect to say that the love of money causes all sins. Ambition and sexual lust are also fertile breeding grounds of sin. Third, the wandering elders from Ephesus who had sold out to greed were living proof of this maxim. The concern about materialism Paul had expressed in v. 5 had become a reality in the false teachers. Judas and Ananias and Sapphira were New Testament figures who drowned because of this inordinate love. There is a link between the faith of the gospel and the blessedness God promises to his people (6:10b; Ps 1). The denial of one negates the other. Some translations (e.g., spiked themselves on many thorny griefs, NEB) capture the intensely painful idea behind the word pierced.... With these graphic words Paul concluded his description of the heretics, their false teaching, and their false practice. He now turned his attention to specific words of guidance for his beloved Timothy. 6 HOW DO I OVERCOME BAD DECISIONS REGARDING MONEY? GRACE CHURCH

7 COMMENTARY 1 Timothy 6:11. The beginning words, But you, show that Timothy s behavior was to provide an utter contrast to that of the false teachers mentioned in vv It pictured Timothy as one with a special calling for God s service. The twin commands of v. 11 contain a warning and a challenge. Timothy was warned to flee the heresy, divisiveness, and greed that Paul had denounced in vv He was challenged to pursue six virtues mentioned in three pairs. Each trait represents a must to insure Timothy s effectiveness in his ministry. The term righteousness refers primarily to upright conduct before human beings, and godliness describes an open and obedient relationship before God. The words faith and love reflect trust in God and benevolence and goodwill toward others (see 2 Thess 1:3; Titus 2:2). Timothy would need endurance (hypomonē) in order to guarantee staying power for his difficult task. He needed gentleness in order to deal effectively with cantankerous heretics and wavering believers. 1 Timothy 6:12. Having urged Timothy to avoid the false vagaries of the heretics and to develop needed Christian graces, Paul gave directives for perseverance. First, he borrowed an image from the athletic sphere to urge Timothy to keep up the good fight for the faith. The metaphor can imply either running or boxing or wrestling.... The use of the present tense for fight suggests a continuous struggle. Second, Paul used a command focusing on eschatology.... Depending on the context, Paul could present eternal life as a blessing to be realized at the end (here and in Rom 6:22) or as a present experience (2 Cor 4:10 12, though the expression differs in this passage). The fact that God had called Timothy to eternal life suggests that it was already in his grasp but not completely held. Timothy made his good confession at his public profession of faith through baptism. Paul frequently used the term called to show God s initiative in salvation and service. Sometimes the reference has more to do with the experience of salvation (e.g., Rom 8:30; 2 Thess 2:14; 1 Tim 6:12). Sometimes it refers to a vocation of service or to the Christian life seen as a vocation (e.g., 1 Cor 7:17 24). In 1 Tim 6:12 the reference has more to do with the experience of salvation. Paul s command was intended to stir up Timothy to renewed vigor, but it does not imply that Timothy earned eternal life by self-effort. It suggests that eternal life is more of a goal toward which Timothy was to orient his efforts rather than a prize that God would give him as a reward for that effort. The fact that God had called him was an incentive for his response. 4 PROVERBS 30:7-9 30:7-9. As the first numerical saying ( Two things ), this verse begins the main body of Agur. The humility of the author of this prayer is evident from its self-awareness. The author recognizes his weaknesses, both in his tendency to forget God when life is too easy and to turn in desperation away from God when life is too hard. Before I die apparently means As long as I live. The two requests are not (1) keep lies away from me and (2) do not let me be rich or poor. Instead, keep falsehood and lies far from me is introductory; the two requests are (1) do not give me poverty and (2) do not give me wealth. The explanatory clauses (verse 9) are exclusively concerned with wealth and poverty and disclose the real concerns of this passage. The falsehood and lies of verse 8 are the deceptiveness of both wealth and poverty. The former convinces one that God is not necessary; and the latter, that either He is of no help or that His laws are impossible to keep. Verse 9 also reveals a marked fixation on the glory of God (rather than personal needs) as the prime motivation for the requests. 5 PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13 Paul makes clear that he was not hinting for another gift. He has solved his economic problems. How? Not with new resources but with a new attitude. He is content no matter what his circumstances. What is such contentment? It is a term apparently taken over from Stoic philosophers describing an inner spirit of freedom and discipline, the ability to conquer circumstances and situations rather than be conquered by them. Such an attitude is the exact opposite of worry and anxiety. Paul spoke from experience. He had been through the extremes: surplus and poverty. He knew how to weather the dangers of both. This was his secret. Greek and Roman religions had secret initiation rites. Some religions and philosophies prided themselves on secret knowledge. Paul had a different kind of secret. His secret was his reliance on Christ, a reliance gained through his Christian experience. Stoics relied on personal will to gain contentment. Paul did not claim such personal inner strength. His strength came from Jesus living in him. Paul was in Christ and thus content no matter what his circumstances.... The Christian life is not only difficult; it is also impossible unless we acquire the power to live it through Christ. To be sure, this truth does not come naturally to us but must be learned. 6 7 HOW DO I OVERCOME BAD DECISIONS REGARDING MONEY? GRACE CHURCH

8 COMMENTARY 1 TIMOTHY 6: Timothy 6:17. Paul s beginning reference to the present world suggests that the wealthy can have their wealth only in this age. It is good for this present world, but it does not convert automatically into blessedness in the world beyond. In this verse Paul contrasted right and wrong responses to the possession of wealth. A wrong response involves an arrogant attitude and the making of wealth as the hope of one s life. As a deterrent to trusting in riches, Paul mentioned the transitory, uncertain nature of wealth. The word uncertain contains a reminder that it is by no means clear that riches will continue with the one who has them. The right response is to hope in a God who lavishes on his people all their needs. The statement implies that God does not give wealth to promote pride but that we might use and enjoy it in his will (cf. Jas 2:5; 4:13 14; 5:2 3). Paul s sound advice walks the straight line between a worlddenying asceticism and a self-centered indulgence. The advice promotes gratitude toward God for the benefits he bestows. 1 Timothy 6:18. Paul mentioned four ways to use wealth wisely. To do good involves using wealth in a positive way instead of letting it feed a life of personal luxury. To be rich in good deeds pointed the wealthy in the direction in which they were to be truly rich, in the doing of good deeds. These two verbs probably include more than benevolence. The need for benevolence is emphasized in the next pair of terms. To be generous demands a liberal sharing of wealth with others. One who is willing to share shows that the generous act of giving is to spring from internal generosity. Paul was suggesting that genuine wealth is found in what we give, not what we have. 1 Timothy 6:19. Paul outlined the outcome of such generosity by stressing two truths. First, he stressed that giving generously to the needy stores for the giver a future treasure. The phrase for themselves emphasizes that generous givers may imagine that they are helping others, but they also are storing up significant personal benefits. Paul was not advocating that the giver could earn salvation or favors from God. Good works are solid evidence of salvation and assure us that we have eternal life. Paul may have based these thoughts on such words as contained in Matt 6: The godless, on the other hand, lay up treasures for themselves of a different kind (Jas 5:1 5). Second, Paul stressed that generous actions allow the giver to lay hold of eternal life in the here and now. Paul had urged Timothy to lay hold of this in v. 12. Here Paul expressed that taking hold of eternal life is a goal of the unselfish giving he had commanded. Christians who enter the life of love by unselfish behavior will enter gloriously into God s presence in the life to come. 7 2 CORINTHIANS 8:9 Paul supported his call for demonstrating sincere love by reminding his readers of the sacrificial love of Christ. The Corinthians knew that Christ was rich in his preincarnate state. As the second person of the Trinity, Christ was exalted over all before the humiliation of his incarnation (cf. Phil. 2:5 8). Despite his eternal riches, Christ became poor when he came into the world so believers through his poverty might become rich. Christ s humiliation culminated in his death on the cross, and through his death came the riches of salvation. Believers do not become rich through the sacrifice of Christ in the sense that they receive physical wealth in this life. According to Paul, our true wealth is the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He is the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance (Eph. 1:14). Yet, as Paul told the Corinthians, in Christ all believers will inherit all the riches of the new world when Christ returns in glory. The Corinthians were to be motivated by the example of Christ s love and generosity to give unselfishly to the poor in Jerusalem. Their response to this opportunity tested the sincerity of their love and appreciation for Christ Lea, Thomas D. and Hayne P. Griffin, Jr. The New American Commentary, Volume 34: 1,2 Timothy, Titus. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Garrett, Duane A. The New American Commentary, Volume 14: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Anders, Max. Holman New Testament Commentary: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Lea, Thomas D. and Hayne P. Griffin, Jr. The New American Commentary, Volume 34: 1,2 Timothy, Titus. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Pratt, Richard L. Jr. Holman New Testament Commentary: I & II Corinthians. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, HOW DO I OVERCOME BAD DECISIONS REGARDING MONEY? GRACE CHURCH