Rich Toward God

Main Point: Discuss how Christians should seek after God and not after the money, possessions and achievements of this world. God has a lot to say about money. It is one of the most (if not the most) spoken of topics in the bible And for good reason! The worlds wisdom tells us to get all the money we can get by any means necessary. The world says deceptive things like, The more money you have the happier you will be. You wont have any worries when youre rich. Or, When you finally get rich, you will have all the power! Then people will HAVE TO respect you! The world would have us boast in the amount of money, possessions, and achievements we have built on this earth. What does God say...? James 1:9-11 Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements. Questions: Read James 1:9-11 1. Have you ever been tempted to chase after money and possessions or fame through your own achievements? 2. How does Gods view of how rich people should act differ from the worldview? 3. What should the rich person boast about? (that God has humbled him) Q: Sooo Is God against us having money and possessions? A: No! However, God is against money and possessions having us. Q: How does money end up having us? Greed: Intense and selfish desire for something, esp. wealth, power, or food. Then he (Jesus) said, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own." Luke 12:15 Worry: A state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things? Luke 12:25-26 Pride: A feeling of pleasure from one's own achievements. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Luke 14:11

Questions: 4. Have you ever chased after or tried holding onto the riches of this world because of these three things (greed, worry or pride)
Read Luke 14:11

5. Some people will spend their whole life trying to make themselves great in this earth. How
Read Philippians 2:1-11

does God want us to become great? (By humbling ourselves and allowing Him to make us great)

Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus!

Luke 12:21 "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God." As we pursue careers, goals and ambitions in our lives, let us remember to make Jesus (our LORD) the center of it all. It would make no since to build up riches on this earth that will only fade away in the end. Pursue a rich relationship with God that will last forever.