Session 10

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WELCOME

Money Matters; What is your personal principle about finances? Share one learning experience of it.

WORD:

Luke 12:15 New International Version (NIV) says

15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions."

We all want to be successful in our finances & we often equate it with having lots of money. the Bible, however, tells us that true financial success has practically nothing to do with how much or how little money we have. instead, in God's economy, it is all about character. This means that true success begins with the heart-our being determines our doing. But because of our sinful nature, we long to fill our heart with more money & other material things in order to be successful. This is only to find out later on that unless we have JESUS CHRIST, there is NOTHING IN THIS WORLD that will ever be enough. The truth is ONLY JESUS CAN SATISFY OUR LONGINGS & CAN FILL IN that vacuum in our heart. Jesus Christ's warnings implore us to beware & be on guard against any form of greed-that insatiable desire to have more.

Luke 12:15 New International Version (NIV) says

15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions."

Money is not the problem, but the love & longing for money is.

1 Timothy 6:9-10 New International Version (NIV)

9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

To succeed in what truly matters to God, we need to learn three aspects of true financial success.

PERSPECTIVE OF FINANCIAL SUCCESS

1. God owns everything.

Psalm 24:1-2 New International Version (NIV) says

Psalm 24

Of David. A psalm.

1 The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it;

2 for he founded it on the seas

and established it on the waters.

Psalm 50:10-12 New International Version (NIV) says

10 for every animal of the forest is mine,

and the cattle on a thousand hills.

11 I know every bird in the mountains,

and the insects in the fields are mine.

12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,

for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

If we could only compute the monetary value of all the earth, the universe & everything in it, can we even imagine how rich God really is? All the produce of the land, sea & heavens are HIS. He does not need anything from us & He owes us nothing. IT IS ALL HIS.

2. God is our source.

Philippians 4:19 New International Version (NIV) says

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Since God owns everything, obviously HE IS ABLE TO SUPPLY ALL OUR NEEDS (NOT OUR GREED). This is what is in the heart of God. WHEN WE HAVE A TRUE TOTAL COMMITTED PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM,we can see our Heavenly Father providing for all our needs. More so, God is the source of our strength that allows us to produce wealth.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 New International Version (NIV) says

17 You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

3. God is our Master.

Matthew 6:24 New International Version (NIV) says

24 "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

We cannot serve two masters. GOD MUST BE THE ONLY ONE SITTING ON THE THRONE OF OUR HEART.HIS PLANS FOR US ARE MUCH BETTER THAN OURS OR ANYONE ELSE'S. If we believe that GOD OWNS EVERYTHING, if we TRUST THAT HE IS THE SOURCE OF ALL THINGS & if we truly want to serve Him as our Master with a grateful heart, then it will surely impact our use of money.It all begins with having the right perspective.

PRACTICES FOR FINANCIAL SUCCESS

How can we apply the right perspective into practice?

1. TITHING.

Proverbs 3:9-10 New International Version (NIV) says

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,

with the firstfruits of all your crops;

10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,

and your vats will brim over with new wine.

The whole purpose of tithing is to honor God as the owner & source of everything by putting HIM first. God is teaching us to honor HIM so that He can bless us. But if we are robbing HIM with our tithes & offerings we withhold HIS blessings.

Moreover, the blessing of God is not only what He gives but also what He does not allow to happen for our protection.

Malachi 3:8-11 New International Version (NIV) says

8 "Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.

"But you ask, 'How are we robbing you?'

"In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe," says the Lord Almighty.

2. REPAYING DEBTS.

Romans 13:8 New International Version (NIV) says

Love Fulfills the Law

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

Having debts is not a grave sin, but the Bible has nothing good to say about debts. Our goal is to owe anyone nothing because God does not want us to be a slave to the lender.

Proverbs 22:7 New International Version (NIV)

7 The rich rule over the poor,

and the borrower is slave to the lender.

To borrow & not to pay is wicked.

Psalm 37:21 New International Version (NIV)

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,

but the righteous give generously;

Jesus came to set us free to be what He wants us to be, not to be enslaved by greed or by debts.

3. PRAYER, PRAYER.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 New International Version (NIV) says

17 pray continually,

Every financial decision is a spiritual decision. If we believe that God owns everything then we would want to ask Him permission, guidance & wisdom in all financial matters.

4. GIVING.

Luke 21:1-4 New International Version (NIV) says

The Widow's Offering

21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 "Truly I tell you," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."

Giving is on top of tithing. The story of the poor widow teaches us that everybody can give. God is a giving God, He gave His only Son because He so loved us. More important than how much we give is how we give-whether we do not grudgingly or our of compulsion but with a cheerful heart.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 New International Version (NIV) says

Generosity Encouraged

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

5. STEWARDSHIP

Proverbs 30:25 New International Version (NIV) says

25 Ants are creatures of little strength,

yet they store up their food in the summer;

This refers to saving, budgeting & accountability. The tiny ants can teach us to prepare in summer before winter. When faced with financial decisions, calculate the cost beforehand.

Luke 14:28 New International Version (NIV) says

28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?

Live below your means. Financial success is all about faithfulness to our Master.

Matthew 25:23 New International Version (NIV) says

23 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

PRACTICES FOR FINANCIAL SUCCESS

The blessing of true financial success is the very PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST in every area of our lives. He alone can give us the pleasures of PEACE & CONTENTMENT; two things we all surely long to possess more than money. There is more to life than our accumulated material possessions & that is peace.

Matthew 6:25-26 New International Version (NIV) says

Do Not Worry

25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

This peace of God surpasses all understanding & guards our hearts & minds.

Philippians 4:6 New International Version (NIV) says

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Contentment is a sense of sufficiency & being grateful for what we have.

1 Timothy 6:6-7 New International Version (NIV) says

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

After all, we brought nothing into this world & we cannot take anything out of it either. In the end, Jesus Christ alone is enough for us.

Mark 10:45 New International Version (NIV) says

45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

John 19:30 New International Version (NIV) says

30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:(PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE ANYMORE HERE YOUR PAST EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE WE ARE NOW AT THE PRESENT TIME)

1. What is the warning of Jesus Christ in Luke 12:15? Why did He warn us to be on guard against greed?

Mia's answer: In the Luke 12:15, Jesus Christ warn me of being greed about money; He warn me to be on guard against greed because He know that even during His time, people is greed about their income

Kathy's answer: In Luke 12: 15, "Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." Therefore, we should be on our guard against all of greed. Life is not consist of material things. There is spiritual things that we would be connected to God.

2. Does your life show peace & contentment in financial matters? How do you say so?

Mia's answer: Yes, My life show peace & contentment in financial matters; I say so by giving my tithe every week even during our MIDWEEK SERVICE

Kathy's answer: My life is not that financially stable. Because I am unemployed and disabled My father is unemployed and aged. But, we are trying our best to meet our needs by looking out for good opportunities to earn money .

3. How do you intend to begin & share the pleasures of financial success with others?

Mia's answer: I intend to begin & share the pleasure of financial success with others by telling them what I am doing

Kathy's answer: By giving tithes and offerings to the church. Amen. And by sharing my blessings to my father and nieces and nephews. During Christmas, I give gifts like chocolates and cookies to my nieces and nephews. And my father gives "ang-pao's" to his grand children during Christmas Season.

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