Preacher: Bob Bryant | Series: Balanced

Luke 12:16 He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?  21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. 33 Sell what you have and give; provide yourselves a treasure in the heavens that does not fail.”

21:1 He saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

16:9 “Make friends for yourselves with money, that they may receive you into an everlasting home. 11 If you have not been faithful with money, who will commit to you the true riches?”

SOMETHING FOR YOU…NOT FROM YOU

“Do not worry.”   (Matthew 6:31-34)

WHAT’S YOUR GOAL?

Honor the Lord with your possessions. (Proverbs 3:9)

“Father, show me how to honor You with Your money that You entrust to me.”  (Haggai 2:8; Deuteronomy 8:18; Proverbs 3:9)

FINANCIAL PEACE FOR YOUR FAMILY

“Count the cost.” (Luke 14:28)

Be knowin’ where it’s goin’ 

CHASE WHAT MATTERS

The borrower becomes the lender’s slave. (Proverbs 22:7)

Chase freedom!

QUESTIONS FOR LIFE

1.Please read the story of the rich man in Luke 12:16-33

He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’  But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?   So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. Sell what you have and give; provide yourselves a treasure in the heavens that does not fail.”

2.Why was the rich man not rich toward God?

3.Please read the story of the poor widow in Luke 21:1-4

He saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in the entire livelihood that she had.”

4.Why was the poor widow rich toward God?

5.From these stories, does Jesus seem to encourage us to be planned givers or impulse givers? Why do you say that? Why do you think Jesus encourages this?

6.From these stories, does Jesus seem to encourage us to focus on the amount we give or the percentage we give? Why do you say that? Why do you think Jesus encourages this?

7.From these stories, does Jesus seem to encourage us to be fixed percentage givers or progressive percentage givers? Why do you think that?

8.What steps do you think you would need to take to decide on what percentage you will give?

9.Please read this passage: Make friends for yourselves with money, that they may receive you into an everlasting home. Luke 16:9

10.What difference do you think these words of Jesus can make in your life? What difference have these words of Jesus already made in your life?

11.Please read this passage: “If you have not been faithful with money, who will commit to you the true riches?”

12.What difference do you think these words of Jesus can make in your life? What difference have these words of Jesus already made in your life?

13.So, do you want to be rich toward God? Please explain.