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October
13-14, 2001 MONEY WISE! Selected Proverbs
& Ecclesiastes KEEPING POSSESSIONS IN
PERSPECTIVE! u OVER 2000 VERSES IN THE BIBLE THAT
TALK ABOUT OUR POSSESSIONS! uTHE BIBLE HAS 5 TIMES MORE TEACHINGS ON
FINANCES THAN ON PRAYER! u JESUS SPOKE MORE ABOUT MONEY THAN HEAVEN
AND HELL COMBINED! *** Luke 12:15 “Watch out! Be on your guard
against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of
his possessions." [NIV] u HOW WE MANAGE OUR MONEY IS A SPIRITUAL
MATTER! *** Romans 12:2 “Don't be like the people of
this world, but let God change the way you think.” [Contemporary English
Version] HOW TO DEVELOP A GODLY PERSPECTIVE ON POSSESSIONS! 1.
BEING ALERT TO THE DANGERS OF MONEY! A. IT
CAN CAUSE EVIL ATTITUDES & BEHAVIOR! ***
Proverbs 1:10-18 “My child, if sinners try to lead you into sin, do not
follow them. They will say, "Come
with us. Let's ambush and kill someone; let's attack some innocent people just
for fun. We will take all kinds of valuable things and fill our houses with
stolen goods. Come join us, and we will
share with you stolen goods." My
child, do not go along with them; do not do what they do. Sinners will fall
into their own traps; they will only catch themselves!” [New Century
Version] B. IT
CAN CAUSE LIES AND DECEIT! *** Proverbs 21:6 “Wealth that comes from
telling lies vanishes like a mist and leads to death.” [NCV] *** Proverbs 16:19 “It is better to live
humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud.” [New Living
Translation] C. IT
CAN CAUSE LOSS OF MORAL VALUES! *** Proverbs 15:6 “There is treasure in the
house of the godly, but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.” [NLT] *** Proverbs 28:6 “Better a poor man whose
walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse.” [NIV] D. IT
CAN CAUSE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY! *** Proverbs 18:11 “Rich people trust their
wealth to protect them. They think it
is like the high walls of a city.” [NCV] *** Proverbs 23:5 “Riches disappear in the
blink of an eye; wealth sprouts wings and flies off into the wild blue yonder.”
[The Message] *** Proverbs 11:28 “Whoever trusts in his
riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.” [NCV] E. IT
CAN CAUSE INCREASED ANXIETY! *** Ecc. 5:12 “Those who work hard sleep in
peace; it is not important if they eat little or much. But rich people worry about their wealth and
cannot sleep.” [NCV] F. IT
CAN CAUSE TO INGRATITUDE! *** Proverbs 27:7 “When you are full, not even
honey tastes good, but when you are hungry, even something bitter tastes
sweet.” [NCV] *** Eccles. 5:10 “Whoever loves money never
has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.”
[NIV] G. IT
CAN REPLACE JESUS AS YOU PRIORITY! *** Proverbs 23:4 “Don't wear yourself out
trying to get rich; be wise enough to control yourself.” [NIV] *** Deut. 8:13-14 “When your herds and flocks
grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied,
then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God….” [NIV] *** Proverbs 30:8-9 “Don't make me either rich
or poor; just give me enough food for each day. If I have too much, I might reject you and say, 'I don't know the
Lord.' If I am poor, I might steal and disgrace the name of my God.” [NCV] 2.
BEING AWARE OF THE BLESSING OF MONEY! A. IT
CAN BE A REWARD FOR OBEDIENCE! *** Pr. 3:1-2 “My son, do not forget my
teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life
many years and bring you prosperity.” [NIV] *** Proverbs 22:4 “True humility and fear of
the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.” [NLT] B. IT
CAN PROVIDE A REASONABLE SENSE OF SECURITY! *** Proverbs 10:15 “Having lots of money
protects the rich, but having no money destroys the poor.” [NCV] *** Proverbs 21:20 “The wise have wealth and
luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.” [NLT] C. IT
CAN BE A SOURCE OF JOY! *** Eccles. 5:19 “And it is a good thing to
receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and
accept your lot in life—that is indeed a gift from God.” [NLT] *** 1 Tim. 6:17 “Tell those who are rich in
this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be
gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we
need for our enjoyment.” [NIV] D. IT
CAN BE USED TO HELP OTHERS! *** Proverbs 11:25 “Whoever gives to others
will get richer; those who help others will themselves be helped.” [NCV] *** Proverbs 22:9 “Generous people will be
blessed, because they share their food with the poor.” [NCV] E. IT
CAN BE USED TO HONOR GOD! *** Proverbs 3:9 “Honor the Lord with your
wealth and with the first and best part of all your income.” [God’s Word to
the Nations] *** Proverbs 14:24 “Wisdom can make you rich,
but foolishness leads to more foolishness.” [CEV] u BY
KEEPING POSSESSIONS IN PERSPECTIVE WE CAN BE MONEY WISE! |