MONEY

BY

ITORO AKPAN-IQUOT

CHURCH OF CHRIST @ RIVERDALE

635 DENHAM STREET

RIVERDALE, GEORGIA - USA

www.cocriverdale.org

BIBLE CLASS

OCTOBER, 2015 – NOVEMBER, 2015

REFERENCE MATERIAL:

“SUCCESSFUL MONEY MANAGEMENT FOR CHRISTIANS”,

CAMP HILL CHURCH OF CHRIST, CAMP HILL, PENNSYLVANIA

www.camphillchurch.org/study_books/MONEY%20Management,%20Successful.pdf

LESSON 1:

GENERAL OVERVIEW ABOUT MONEY, POSSESSIONS

& RESPONSIBILITY

Reason for the class:

Always wondered how much we take in every week. Pushed for numbers on board. Not

encouraging

How much our bills are and if we are able to meet obligations

I have often struggled with money in the past and feel I have knowledge to impart based

on my experiences

What this class isn’t:

Money management/Financial management class – Dave Ramsey & Clark Howard have

that covered

On how to make a lot of money

What this class is:

Talk about money from a biblical perspective

How to successfully manage the money that God has entrusted us with

Is money evil or good?

Experience with a friend – Love of money is the root of all evil – 1 Timothy 6:10. God

knows that we have needs and money is one of those means of meeting those needs.

Our problem arises because we don’t put him first (Matthew 6:31-33). It is our bad

attitude towards money that is the problem – coveting it, hoarding it, loving it, trusting it

(Eccl. 5:10-11). Some have lost their families, their health and their relationship with God

because of their bad attitudes towards money.

Statistics about money:

Money is mentioned more than 800 times in the Bible

Finances is the leading cause of divorce in the US

Arguing about money once a week increases divorce rate by 30%

65% of married couples argue about money on a regular basis

16 of 38 parables mention money

Why is money & financial responsibility important, relative to our Christianity?

We spend most of our lives earning and spending money

Without it, it is hard to be faithful servants of the Lord

Things don’t go well at home…in Church either, by extension

The lost can’t be reached…God won’t be glorified as he should be.

Satan wins

At the end of life, we want to be like the good servant in the parable of talents (Matthew 25:14-

30) who was told in v23, “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant;

thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:

enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Not like the bad servant (v26-30).

How does the world see money vs. how we as Christians should?

The world focuses on money and how to make lots of it, thinking that money

will buy them happiness.

Christians should be concerned with their attitude towards money, how they

acquire it, how they manage it and how we fulfill God’s will in using it

Some important things to know about money as Christians

Money is only for this life:

We brought nothing into this world and we will carry nothing out (1 Timothy 6:7). Why

hoard it and leave it for someone who might not use it wisely (Eccle. 2:18-19)? We

should use it wisely and enjoy it while we are alive (1 Tim. 6:17)

Some things are more important than money:

Your reputation (Prov. 22:1), your faith (1 Pet. 1:6-7), your integrity (Prov. 28:6), a

peaceful life, even though poor (Prov. 17:1), the judgement (Prov. 11:4)

All things belong to God:

He created all things (Gen. 1:1).

We are to appreciate what God has given us:

God gives us everything (Eccl. 5:19). We should show appreciation for it (Isaiah 1:2-3)

We are to be content with what God has entrusted us with:

1 Timothy 6:6, even Paul said he was content in whatever condition he found himself

(Phil. 4:11)

Conclusion:

We are advised to seek wisdom (Prov. 4:7-9). This includes wisdom on how we view money

and how we manage it. It is therefore the Church’s responsibility to help people have a

proper view towards money, including how to manage their money.

LESSON 2:

PROPER ACQUISITION OF MONEY

Is it a bad thing to have a lot of money or to make a lot of money?

In the Bible, we have passages like the following:

Luke 18:22: Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou

one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have

treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Luke 18:24: And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly

shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

Matthew 6:19: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust

doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal

What is money?

It’s more than a piece of paper. It represents the reward for our labor and time. In today’s

world, when we work, we expect to be paid. If we are not paid for our work, we would not be

happy. If we are not paid what we think we are worth, we wouldn’t be happy either.

How do you acquire money?

By working

o After God created Adam, God put him to work - Genesis 2:15: And the LORD

God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

We ended up working harder because of sin (Genesis 3:17-19)

o Ephesians 4:28: Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour,

working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him

that needeth.

o Work is important

1 Timothy 5:8: But if any provide not for his own, and especially for

those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an

infidel.

We are to work as unto the Lord. Colossians 3:23-24 - And whatsoever

ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the

Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord

Christ.

We are not to be slothful

Proverbs 6:6 - Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways,

and be wise

Proverbs 19:15 - Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an

idle soul shall suffer hunger.

o The choice of work we do is also very important – it is important that, as they say,

do what you love as you will never work a day in your life. In an attempt to make

more money, you might end up doing what you really are not happy doing.

Consequently, your work will end up being boring, frustrating, stressful, etc.

As Christians, there are moral and spiritual questions that you have to answer when it

comes to the kind of work you will end up doing:

Who will I work for? Proverbs 1:10-15

Who will I work with? Proverbs 29:24 - Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul:

he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.

Will it hurt others?

Will it damage your reputation? From lesson 1, it is better to be poor but live a peaceful

life (Proverbs 17:1)

What kind of work will you be doing? Proverbs 13:11 - Wealth gotten by vanity shall be

diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

It therefore behooves us to be involved in honest work.

From Genesis 2:15, we know that God has always intended for us to work. When we work, we

make the money that allows us to:

To provide for the needs of ourselves and our families

o 1 Timothy 5:8 – Referenced earlier

o 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 - And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own

business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye

may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of

nothing.

To provide for the widows, orphans and the needy, especially those in the Church

o Ephesians 4:28 - Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour,

working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him

that needeth.

o Galations 6:10 - As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men,

especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

To support the work of the Church

Is it wrong to make a lot of money? Let’s look at examples in the Bible

Abraham (Genesis 12:16) – He was blessed with a lot, yet he was regarded as a great

man of faith and as God’s friend

Job (Job 1:3) – An upright man, avoided evil, perfect (Job 1:8)

King Solomon (1 Kings 10:7) – Queen Sheba said the half wasn’t told of his riches and

wealth. At a time he was doing right in the eyes of God

Paul talked of those who are rich (1 Timothy 6:17)

The answer is, “no”. Just don’t make money, as mentioned in Lesson 1, at the expense of your

health, family, integrity, or even your service to God.

LESSON 3:

THE PERILS OF MONEY

Definition of “Peril”: Serious and immediate danger.

Other words for “Peril”: Danger, risk, hazard, uncertainty

From lesson 2, it isn’t a sin to have a lot of money or make a lot of money. Having said that,

there are dangers and risks to having or seeking to have a lot of money.

Bible Examples about the perils of money:

Parable of the rich farmer (Luke 12:15-21):

Was very successful. Rather than think of God first, he was selfish, laying up treasure

for himself by tearing down his old barns and wanting to put in place bigger ones.

Parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31):

Because of the rich man’s selfishness, when he died he was in hades and in torment.

Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, snare and into many foolish and hurtful

things (1 Timothy 6:9-10) – lie, cheat, compromise the truth, lose your integrity. Also,

see Proverbs 28:20: A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh

haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

Greed (Ecclesiastes 5:10: He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he

that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity)

Being High-minded - I Timothy 6:17-19

From personal experience:

Pride and arrogance. Proverbs 16:18-19 - Pride goeth before destruction, and an

haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to

divide the spoil with the proud.

Losing your own soul (Matthew 16:26 - For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the

whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?)

1 Corinthians 5:9-11 mentions those we shouldn’t associate with. 2 of them are

covetous people and extortionists. Some people covet money to the point that:

o They rob God (Malachi 3:8-10)

o The lost can’t be reached (Romans 10:14-15)

o Some preachers have compromised God’s truth in order to, for example, get

more (money-giving) members

Some things to know about money

Money can’t solve all of your problems: For example, if you are sick to the point where

you are given a number of days to live, no amount of money in this world will give you an

extra day in this world. When God told the prophet Isaiah to inform King Hezekiah that

he was about to die, if the King could have offered money, he would have. Rather, he

asked God to remember how he has always walked right in God’s sight (1 Kings 20)

Money can’t buy happiness

Money can take up a lot of your time, time that you would have otherwise given to God

Money can change a person’s outlook:

Gives you a false sense of importance. As they say, money will make you worse of what

you already are.

Money can take time away from your family and children

Money doesn’t come with instructions

Money can lead to indifference:

We can take things for granted. For example, 200 years ago, people went to church on

horseback, or they walked. Now, we have cars. Do we appreciate what we have?

How can we tell that someone (or even yourself), loves money?

They are willing to acquire money the wrong way – stealing, bribery, fraud, etc.

(Ephesians 4:28)

They idolize wealth – covetousness is idolatry (Colossians 3:5). You can’t serve 2

masters (Matthew 6:24 - No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one,

and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot

serve God and mammon.)

When we let money make us high-minded – when we let money give us a false sense of

importance over others, we have shown where our heart is (Matthew 6:21 - For where

your treasure is, there will your heart be also.)

When we are willing to lose our soul over it (Matthew 16:26)

When we have become insensitive to the needs of others around us (1 John 3:17 - But

whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his

bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?)

Conclusion:

Be careful what you ask for. Don’t trust in money, don’t covet it, don’t desire to be rich for the

wrong reasons. There is a danger in seeking to be rich. However, with God’s guidance, we can

have a good attitude towards money and possessions and be successful in the use of what we

have.

LESSON 4:

WISE SPENDING vs DEBT

Summary of the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32):

The younger of 2 sons asks for his portion of the Dad’s inheritance. He leaves to go “be a

man”. He lives wildly. Famine occurs where he is. He has no money left. He regrets the

decision he made, decides to return home, hoping his Dad would at least take him back as a

hired servant. On the contrary, the father receives him with open arms.

Commentary:

o If he hadn’t lived wildly and rather, conserved his money/spent it wisely, would he

have ever returned to his Father?

o Can we look back at some point in our lives where we made bad money

decisions that looking back, we now regret?

o Isn’t it good to know that unlike the world that is unforgiving, we have a Father in

heaven who is able to forgive us of our sins, including not handling well, the

money he has given us stewardship over, with no strings attached?

Why So Much Financial Problems?

America is the land of plenty, or so it portrays itself to the rest of the world. If you doubt, me, let

me take you to the US embassy in, say, Nigeria. Yet there is suffering in the land. Everyone

has been programmed to buy, buy, buy on “sale”. Corporations only care these days about the

bottom line (reference Halloween and upcoming Christmas…all based on pagan holidays, byt

the way). In order to keep up with the Jones’, many are spending more than they make, using

credit cards, title pawns, etc to keep up. Eventually, the home and the Church is affected by

this behavior. So why is there so much financial problems in our society?

A lack of proper teaching on the subject, both at home and in the Church

A lack of faith in God and his promises, relative to providing us with our basic needs

Misuse of what little money we do have

Lack of prioritization of our bills, savings, etc

Overall, it boils down to a lack of self-control.

What does it mean to Have Self-Control?

As Christians, it means to deny self and come under the control and direction of Christ.

Matthew 16:24-26 - Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him

deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall

gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

What does the Bible Say about Self-Control (Temperance, Long-Suffering, Discipline,

Self-Denial)?

It is one of the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,

peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such

there is no law.)

It’s one of the virtues of a Christian life (2 Peter 1:4-8)

Abstaining from sinful activity calls for self-control (1 Thessalonians 5:22 - Abstain from

all appearance of evil.)

What does self-control mean, relative to spending our money?

The control of our emotions and desires

Not allowing ourselves to be influenced by others

You are not falling for, “sales” and are comparison-shopping before you buy

When you buy something, take care of it so that it lasts

Cut your coat according to your size

Focus on needs, not wants

Rewards of self-control, relative to spending money

You will no longer waste or squander money (Proverbs 21:20 - There is treasure to be

desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.)

You will no longer worry about material things (Matthew 6:25 - Therefore I say unto you,

Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your

body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?)

You will be rich toward God (reference Parable of the rich farmer from lesson 3)

We can give a good account to God on judgement day (Luke 16:2 – Parable of the

Shrewd Manager - And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of

thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.)

Debt:

Meaning – Borrowing to buy now, with the intent to pay later…usually with interest. As

the saying goes, “Debt is people buying things they don’t need, with money they don’t

have, to please their neighbors who don’t care”

Is there such a thing as “good debt”?

No! We have been conditioned to accept that there is though. For example, does it make sense

to pay mortgage for 30 years? By the time you are done, you would have paid at least 2.5 times

the original amount…and that assumes you will still be alive or even able to pay on the

mortgage.

Remember:

Proverbs 22:7 - The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

Proverbs 22:26 - Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties

for debts.

Ecclesiastes 5:5 – Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow

and not pay.

Consequences of Debt

Family arguments

Major cause of divorce in the US

Family neglect

Mental breakdown, Suicide, etc

Financial bondage

Lose desire to work

We rob God

Conclusion:

Put God first in all things (Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his

righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.)

Make money your servant (Matthew 6:24 - No man can serve two masters: for either he

will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the

other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.)

Be content with what you have (Phillipians 4:11 - Not that I speak in respect of want: for

I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.)

LESSON 5:

BONDAGE Vs. FREEDOM

This is a follow up to “Wise Spending Vs. Debt” from Lesson 4. The borrower is servant

to the lender (Proverbs 22:7). By being a servant to the lender, you are in bondage to

the lender. You only are free once you free yourself from the debt owed the lender

Debt is debt and should be avoided as much as possible. Having said that, if you are to

assume debt, do so with your eyes wide open. Understand the consequences (interest,

terms, etc). For example, if you want to buy a house and you pre-qualify for $250,000,

you don’t have to borrow every single penny of that. If you find a house for $200,000, go

for that instead. You end up paying less in mortgage.

Definition of bondage: The state of being a slave

Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Note:

Paul doesn’t give conditions for rejoicing

It is hard to rejoice when there are so many distractions around us. Relative to this lesson, it is

hard to rejoice when we are weighed down by one debt or the other. All the same, if you are a

Christian and believe that your life and all its circumstances are in the hands of a loving God

who is always working to accomplish good for you, then you should rejoice always.

Purpose of this lesson:

To stress the need to get out of unnecessary debt and to offer helpful tidbits to achieve this

goal.

Why do people go into debt:

To purchase items now that one could have otherwise saved up for, to buy later

Unwise spending (refer to lesson 4)

Unfortunate circumstances – illness, death, loss of a job.

Failure to understand the consequences (interest paid, etc)

Where to turn to, for help:

We should rejoice because we are not alone, despite our hardship. There are many avenues

for us to go to, for help:

Turn to God:

His word, the Bible, is filled with various verses that instruct us on the attitude we should

have towards money and how to deal with it properly.

o Like Paul, we should find solace in the fact that we can do all things through

Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13)

o Hebrews 13:5-6 - Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be

content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor

forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not

fear what man shall do unto me.

o Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine

own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy

paths.

o We have to ask God for help as he will not force it on us (Reference a prior

Sermon)

Turn to your fellow Christian:

We are not here just to assemble, 3 times a week and then go home.

Galations 6:2 - Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:5 - For every man shall bear his own burden.

Turn to financial agencies designed to help people with debt:

Make sure they are credible as there are many scams out there. Visit clarkhoward.com

for a list of helpful agencies.

It is possible to get out of debt. How to do it:

Own up to your mistakes and ask God for help

James 4:6 - But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but

giveth grace unto the humble.

Avoid common credit mistakes

o Don’t stretch out a loan in order to reduce payments

o Don’t increase your credit limit – this encourages more borrowing

o Philippians 2:3 - Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness

of mind let each esteem other better than themselves – don’t buy things as a

status symbol. Only buy things that you need

Budget your spending

Exercise self-control and self-discipline and commit to getting out of debt

Take drastic measures if need be.

o Matthew 5:29 - And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee:

for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy

whole body should be cast into hell.

o Have garage sales to get rid of what you don’t need and use that money to either

pay of debt or to buy what you need.

Don’t use one credit card to pay off another

Change your spending habits – stop or reduce how many times you go out to eat, don’t

go to starbucks for coffee, stop smoking and/or drinking, etc.

Call creditors and negotiate lower interest charges

Learn to make good decisions (reference Chevron gas station – How do you make good

decisions? From experience. How do you gain experience? By making bad decisions)

Conclusion:

The economic system is designed to lure us into debt and once there, to keep us in debt. That

notwithstanding, if we make a conscious effort to stay out of debt or if we do get into debt, to do

so wisely and to understand the consequences of that debt, we can achieve Paul’s admonition

at the beginning of this lesson in Philippians 4:4 – to rejoice always!

LESSON 6:

THE GRACE OF GIVING

Some rhetorical questions:

If a person is trying to successfully manage and grow their money, why should they give,

or, if they are giving, why should they give more?

Wouldn’t the person save more money by not giving or by giving less?

Why should I give? After all, there are many non-Christians who don’t give yet they are

prospering

Question that does require an immediate answer:

Can a Christian claim to successfully manage their money without abounding in the grace of

giving? No! (2 Cor. 8:1-7)

Giving should be seen by Christians as a privilege (a special right granted to an individual or

group of individuals)

Interesting factoids:

Why some churchgoers give:

o To control the Church and keep it the way they want it

o As payment for services rendered by those the Church is paying

o As a matter of faith – gratitude for what God has done in their lives

o Only 20% were giving 80% of the money collected

o 50% gave little or nothing. Why?

They needed the money more than the Church

They didn’t see why they should give

They didn’t like what the Church was doing with the money they collect

God commands us to give. The problem therefore isn’t if we should give but how much we

should give:

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

As God has prospered us (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)

Giving under the Old Law vs Giving under the New Law

Even in ancient Egypt, Babylon and Rome, it has been discovered that they believed in the

principle of tithing. In ancient Greece, those who didn’t tithe were regarded as atheists and were

ordered destroyed!

Giving before the law (as given to Moses):

o Abraham tithed (To Melchizedek: Genesis 14:20 - And blessed be the most high

God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of

all.)

o Jacob promised a tithe, after God’s promises to him in a dream (Genesis 28:22 -

And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that

thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.)

Giving during the Law (of Moses) - There were actually 2 tithes, not 1:

o Tithe for the maintenance of the Levites (Leviticus 27:30-32)

o Tithe for the Lord’s feast (Deuteronomy 14:22)

Giving after the Law (of Moses), as Christians:

o Romans 15:4 - For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our

learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

o Matthew 5:17 - Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I

am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

o No set amount was given. However, given how far more we are blessed under

the new law and what has been state above, should we then give less or more

than the tithe?

All we have belongs to God. We shouldn’t take this for granted (give the story of the Church

that had parking problems)

Question & Answer Session on Wise Giving vs Foolish giving:

Giving based on how you feel

Giving because you feel guilty

Giving a budgeted amount each year

Investigating what we are giving to

Giving to take advantage of tax savings

Giving as a bequest in your will

Why should we abound in the grace of Giving?

It helps demonstrate that our trust is in God and not in the money

o 1 Timothy 6:17 - Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not

highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us

richly all things to enjoy

o Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and

all these things shall be added unto you.

It shows concern for others

o 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

It shows that we are investing in our spiritual future

o Parable of the rich farmer – the farmer was called foolish because he laid up his

treasures for himself, not God (Luke 12:21)

o Matthew 6:20 - But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither

moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

The rewards that it brings

o Acts 20:35 - I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to

support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It

is more blessed to give than to receive.

o 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also

sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man

according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of

necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

o Matthew 25:21 - His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful

servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over

many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

o Luke 6:38 - Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down,

and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with

the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Conclusion:

Story of the widow and her blind 5-year-old

Malachi 3:10 - Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine

house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the

windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to

receive it.

LESSON 7:

REAL SECURITY & CONTENTMENT

Man’s basic needs: Food, shelter, clothing

Questions that humans have always asked:

What is the purpose of my life?

Is there a divine being that created all things?

In what can happiness be found?

What can bring security, contentment and peace in my life?

According to the book, “Effective Biblical Counseling”, one of man’s primary basic needs is the

feeling of self-worth. 2 things contribute to fulfilling this need:

A sense of security:

As Christians, our sense of security should be found in our relationship with God. When

we reject God, we seek security in other things (money, drugs, etc). Mankind faces a

continual struggle of trusting in God vs trusting in possessions. Our problem lies in the

perception that we need physical things to be happy and satisfied. Before we know it,

we are caught up in the rat race. Next thing you know, we are overwhelmed.

God has warned us severally about putting trust in riches:

o 1 Timothy 6:17 - Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not

highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us

richly all things to enjoy

o Psalms 52:1-7. Verse 7 says, “ Lo, this is the man that made not God his

strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in

his wickedness.”

o Proverbs 11:28 - He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall

flourish as a branch.

o 1 Timothy 4:10 - For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we

trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that

believe.

A sense of significance:

We seek a sense of significance through money and possessions. Money however isn’t

dependable or reliable. It is also deceptive (It can give a false sense of security –

Matthew 16:26 - For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his

own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?...Also the parable of the

rich farmer – Luke 12). It doesn’t buy happiness or satisfaction either.

What does it mean to trust in God?

To trust in God means that we put him first above all things (Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the

kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.). God

knows our needs. He wants us to have what we need. However, we have to not give those

things first place in our heart (Reference the Young, rich ruler in Luke 18:18-25)

Matthew 6:24 says we can’t serve 2 masters. We can’t serve both God and Mammon. We

have to choose one. If we are to trust in God, we love him, serve him and be loyal to him.

Ecclesiastes 12:8 says, “Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.”

1 Timothy 6:17 says we should trust in a living God:

God never changes (Malachi 3:6).

He can supply us with all our needs according to his riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).

He is there for us in times of tribulation, death, danger…good times and bad.

Philippians 4:6-7 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

He alone can give us true security.

Contentment

Meaning – a state of satisfaction and happiness

It doesn’t come automatically or genetically. It comes based on past life experiences.

Philippians 4:11 - Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever

state I am, therewith to be content. Over time, we learn not to waste time worrying about

what we don’t have. Rather we learn to be happy over what we do have.

Contentment doesn’t come with a large bank account. If it did, people wouldn’t want

more. Ecclesiastes 5:10 - He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he

that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity

Contentment doesn’t come with from how many possessions we have. Matthew 6:25 -

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye

shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat,

and the body than raiment?

Contentment comes only from being in Christ. Philippians 3:7-11 – Paul was willing to

lose everything in order to gain Christ