What the Bible Says About Relationships and Money

Week of October 9, 2005

This Week’s Scripture Reading

Matthew 6:31-34

      [Jesus said] 31“So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. 32Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, 33and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.

34“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Psalm 24:1

1The earth is the LORD’S, and everything in it.  The world and all its people belong to him.

Prayers for the Week:

Sunday

Heavenly Father, as we start this seven week series on what Your Word says about money, fill pastors Chris and Tim with wisdom and discernment, that they may share Your world boldly and we may be equipped to be more faithful servants of Jesus.  This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Monday

Heavenly Father, I want to seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness, so fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I will be able to do it.  Glorify Yourself in my life today and always, as I put You first in all things.  This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Tuesday

Heavenly Father, I confess that I worry about money, and things, and thus show myself to lack faith in You.  Forgive me and fill me afresh with Your Spirit that I may trust You, and put You first always.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

Wednesday

Heavenly Father, Your word says that the pagans seek after things, so I ask You that You empower me to seek after You and You alone.  Let me rely on You for my needs—physical, spiritual and EVERY need.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Thursday

Heavenly Father, the earth is Yours, and all it contains!  I praise You for blessing me, and ask that I may use everything You have given me to be a blessing to others.  This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Friday

Heavenly Father, fill me with Your Holy Spirit and let me recognize that I belong to You—heart, soul, mind, body and spirit!  Let me live in a way that honors You today and always.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

Saturday

Heavenly Father, as another week draws to an end, I thank You for Your grace and power.  I thank You for Your wisdom and might.  Use me today, and always to share Your new life with others.  This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Background on the Text

Both of this week’s Scriptures remind us that God comes first!  Whether we’re talking about relationships, or money or ANYTHING in our lives, if we want to be faithful to God, we must put Him first.  Jesus reminds us that it is the pagans who eagerly seek after worldly blessing and daily essential.  It ought not be so with us, for God knows everything we need before we ask.  The focus of our prayers ought not to be begging, or nagging, but rather praising and thanking God for all He has done for us and is yet to do, because of His grace.  As the Psalmist reminds us the whole earth and everything in it—including us—belongs to the Lord.  Once we recognize that, we stop living with the illusion that our stuff is OURS.  It isn’t.  It belongs to God.  We have been entrusted with it for a time to manage faithfully.  As you and I go about this week, let’s be sure to seek God and His kingdom first, because as we do, our anxiety will fade away and we will be empowered to live life as He intends it—with Him in control, and as living in an attitude of joy and thanksgiving.  Over these next 40 days we will be studying what the Bible says about money—but this week we start out reminding ourselves that the Bible says that it’s all about God!

Monday

Observation:  What does the text say?

 

 

Tuesday

Interpretation:  What do these verses mean?

 

 

Wednesday

Application:  How can I respond to the text’s insights and teachings? 

 

 

 

Thursday

After reading and studying this text, reflect on the following discipleship growth points:

Encouraged and strengthened me by:

 

 

Fallen short areas

 

 

 

What will I do with these insights?

 

 

 

 

Friday

After reading and studying this text, reflect on the following discipleship growth points:

What did God say to me this week?

 

 

 

Share insights and growth points

 

 

 

Changed/transformed how? 

 

 

 

Saturday

Reflective Thoughts

 

 

 

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from either the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, © 2006 (after Dec. 2, 2007) or the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, © 1996 (before Dec. 2 2007). Both are used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189, All rights reserved. New Life Christian Ministries, Inc. holds CCLI Number 1966192.   Individual copyright information is provided for words of praise songs and hymns used in the Daily Bible Studies.

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