Monday, November 15, 2010

Margin: Financial Margin - The Weekly Challenge

Talking through the message during the week helps you turn what God is saying to you into action steps. These talking points, questions, and scriptures are designed to help you take the next step. Use these questions for individual or group study.

Monday, November 15th

Read 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Read Proverbs 21:20

The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.

These verses encourage us to not be foolish with money, but to be content with what we have. We are also warned not to be lured by money’s temptation.

  • Even though we all know better, why do you think many of us tend to be foolish with our money and possessions?
  • How have you seen the stress caused by lack of financial margin limit your relationship with God and your ability to minister and give to others?
Tuesday, November 16th

Read Matthew 6:19-21

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Jesus instructs us in this passage to store up treasures in heaven and not on earth.

  • Where your money goes, your heart follows. Based on how you spend your money, which types of treasures are you currently storing up?
  • What can you do to start putting God first in your life instead of money?
Wednesday, November 17th

Read Malachi 3:8-10.

“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me. But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”

  • God asks us in this passage to test Him so that we can experience the blessings that result from tithing.
  • Describe how you have seen tithing build your faith and break the cycle of materialism and consumerism in your life?

Thursday, November 18th

Read Proverbs 15:16

Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.

Read Proverbs 8:18-19.

I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice. My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver!

These scriptures tell us that when we put God first instead of money, we become supernaturally content and we end up with more of what matters.

  • How have you found contentment in God? How does it compare to the contentment money and possessions bring?
  • In what ways has God blessed you with more of the things that truly matter in life?

Friday, November 19th – The Next Steps

  • Go through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University program. FPU is one of the best programs for learning how to manage your finances in a Biblical way.
  • Seek guidance from someone you know who has successfully achieved financial margin in their life. Ask them to show you ways you can better handle your finances in a way that is honoring to God. Open up and really let them into your spending and budgeting habits.

Saturday, November 20th – Pray About It

Use these prayer tips to guide your time with God

  • Lift up to God the financial stress you have in life. Seek His guidance in overcoming it.
  • Commit to God that you will place Him first instead of money in your life.
  • Thank God for all of the many blessings He has given you. Praise Him during this time.
  • Seek God’s contentment for your life. Pray that He will become your only source for contentment.
  • Ask God to continue to bless you with the things that matter most in life.

No comments: