THE SUM OF IT ALL | WEEK 2
Week 2: Money is how you see it.
Introduction:
Our perception of money is given to us by the culture we live in. But once we see money from God’s perspective, we understand its true value.
How do most people form their opinions or perspectives?
Has there ever been a time when you changed your perspective on something?
What was it?
What made you change?
Read Luke 16: 1-8
Jesus told this story to his disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money. 2 So the employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired.’ 3 “The manager thought to himself, ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg. 4 Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.’5 “So he invited each person who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe him?’ 6 The man replied, ‘I owe him 800 gallons of olive oil.’ So the manager told him, ‘Take the bill and quickly change it to 400 gallons.[a]’7 “‘And how much do you owe my employer?’ he asked the next man. ‘I owe him 1,000 bushels of wheat,’ was the reply. ‘Here,’ the manager said, ‘take the bill and change it to 800 bushels.’8 “The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light
How did the crooked manager use his little bit of time and little opportunity to his benefit?
Read Luke 16:9
Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home
How is our money a tool?
Pastor said “We ask what will we have to show for it? Jesus asks the better question, Who will you have to show for it?”
How is that a different perspective than what we normally have?
Read Luke 16:10-12
10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. 11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12 And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?
What is the difference between worldly wealth and true riches mentioned?
Pastor said, “How we manage what we assume is ours reflects our devotion to the one to whom it actually belongs.”
How does this explain the idea from these scriptures that God sees our money as a test?
How is God testing our manager skills with the little bit he has given us?
Read Luke16:13
13 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”
Pastor said, ” What you do with what you have signifies whose you are.”
How does that quote explain the idea of this verse?
How does this identify our money as a trademark?
We have been given a little bit of time and a little opportunity.
Reflecting on our money and possessions, how are you using them as a tool?
Are you passing the test?
Is the trademark of ownership of whose you are reflected in your finances?
What are some perspectives and opinions, if any need to be adjusted to line up with your Heavenly Father's perspectives about what you perceive to be yours?
Read Luke 16:9
Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home