Generally speaking, the world's view of financial success is 1) make all the money you can, 2) exert the least amount of effort in doing so, 3) acquire the most of the world's goods as possible, 4) by spending the least money as possible. Too often, self-gratification in the form of leisure and pleasure, constitute the ultimate in financial success. But is that all life is about? What does the Bible and spiritual thinking have to say about this?
A. I Thess. 4:11-12. This passage has at least five things to say on the subject of working. What are they?
B. II Thess. 3:10-12. Why do you think that God requires "working" in order to keep eating? Are there any exceptions? (See I Tim. 5:3-4; 9-10; 16) What is God's remedy for "laziness"?
C. I Tim. 5:8. How does God regard a person who refuses to make a living for his family (when able to)?
D. Eph. 4:28. Besides supporting one's family, what is another important reason for working?
A. Luke 6:38. How does a person's giving affect what he has left?
B. I John 3:17. How does a person's compassion affect the use of his possessions?
C. II Cor. 8:1-5. How many commendable things can you find in this passage about the giving of the Macedonian churches?
D. II Cor. 9:6-11. How does our giving affect our receiving? What is the proper attitude toward giving and how does God feel toward the person with this attitude? What promises of abundance does God make to the person who gives liberally?
A. James 1:17. Where do all of the good things you have really come from?
B. Deut. 10:14. Psalm 24:1. Psalm 50:10-12. Who REALLY owns everything? How can the realization of this fact affect the use of our possessions?
C. I John 2:15-16. What is one of the greatest dangers we face concerning material things?
D. Luke 12:13-15. How should a Christian view the extent of his possessions?
1. Are there occasions that would justify a person receiving welfare or other income from the government?
2. In what way can money become a person's downfall? (I Tim. 6:9-10).
3. To what extent is YOUR use of money and possessions affected by what you read in the Scriptures?
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