Finances
Home Study
A Spiritual Growth Course
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Finances
1
Living by Whose Values?
Luke 12:13–13:21
Purpose: To check ourselves as watchful servants in view of Jesus' return.
A Christian yuppie? Is it possible to be Jesus' disciple on his terms and at the same time be a yuppie, for whom material values and the latest exotica are priorities? Some try to have it both ways and don't make it—either way.
One such Christian yuppie described her experience. “For ten years I skillfully juggled both sets of values—Jesus' and Madison Avenue's. Then I collapsed.”
We are constantly tested in our value system, because we live between earth and heaven, time and eternity. Jesus gives us guidelines and solemn warnings on how to live productively in this creative tension.
1. Do Christians show lack of faith in God's care when they take out insurance policies? Explain.
2. Read Luke 12:13–34. Nowhere does Jesus condemn possessions. But he has much to say about how to use them. From verses 15, 22–23 and 31, how could you summarize Jesus' teaching about life and material goods?
3. Jesus' parable then illustrates his position. In his description of the rich man, what characteristics stand out?
4. The obviously rich are not the only ones in danger of being fools. How do poor and middle-class people also face the same dangers?
5. We probably identify more with the people Jesus describes in verses 22 34 than with the rich man. What view of God do worrying Christians apparently have?
In what ways is Jesus' picture of God a contrast to that view?
6. Read Luke 12:35–48. The parable illustrates certain priorities Christians should have in view of his return after his departure—or in any crisis situation. (That Jesus was referring to his Second Coming would not be obvious to his listeners, as it is to us.) What are these priorities which apply to all servant disciples?
7. Read Luke 12:49–59. All three parables above speak or hint of God's judgment on the choices we make (vv. 20, 40, 46–48). The language and imagery of our present text also point to that judgment. In the midst of these warnings what hope does Jesus offer to the wise (vv. 57–59)?
8. Read Luke 13:1–9. Provoked by Jesus' teaching on judgment some people raise a question about a well-known atrocity. In reply, how does Jesus both correct their wrong assumption and still extend hope?
9. Read Luke 13:10–21. This is the last time we see Jesus teaching in a synagogue. In what ways does this sabbath conflict with the synagogue ruler summarize the priorities and values of Jesus' total ministry?
What do the mini-parables contribute to this summary?
10. Recall this past week's activities and personal concerns. To what extent do they reflect the priorities and values of God's kingdom or American society?
2
Managing Your Money
Luke 16:1–31
Purpose: To take on Jesus' eternal perspective of managing our earthly resources of money and time.
We have supposedly left the high-flying 1980s decade of greed. In 1985 Ivan Boesky was commencement speaker at a prestigious school of business administration in California. He said to the graduating class, “Greed is all right, by the way. I want you to know that I think greed is healthy. You can be greedy and still feel good about yourself.”
Sad, yes. And the response of those young men and women was just as sad. They laughed and applauded. A year and a half later Boesky was in prison for his runaway greed.
The two parables in our present chapter show Jesus' judgment on the proper use of money.
1. Why do you like money?
2. Read Luke 16:1–18. Jesus' parable itself is quite straightforward. His application, however, seems not as clear (vv. 8b-9). At first reading, how does he seem to be applying the parable to his disciples?
3. Where in the context could you show that Jesus is not condoning greed and dishonesty?
4. How then are we to apply this parable? (Try to be specific.)
5. According to Jesus in verses 10–15, what does our management of money have to do with our standing before God?
6. In verses 16–18 Jesus goes on to accuse the Pharisees of twisting the Scriptures in order to justify their actions, whether that be piling up money or getting around the Mosaic law on divorce.
Read 16:19–31. In the first part of the parable Jesus contrasts the earthly status of Lazarus and the rich man, and then their different eternal states. What does Jesus want the Pharisees to see about the relationship of money in this life and in the life after death?
7. In the second part of the parable we learn more about life after death (vv. 26–31). What facts and implications do you observe about this dimension of existence?
8. How true to life do you find Abraham's observation about skeptics (vv. 29–31)?
9. Our relatives and friends are not all skeptics. Pray that Jesus' teaching on life after death may spur you to more personal evangelism with those who are still open.
10. How should these parables affect your present use of money?
3
Submitting to Authorities
Romans 13:1–14
Purpose: To consider why it is appropriate for Christians to submit to those in positions of authority.
The sergeant glares at a delinquent recruit whose face is now only inches away.
“That's an order!” he barks. “Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” replies the recruit.
“I can't hear you!” shouts the sergeant.
“YES, SIR,” screams the recruit, who has just had his first lesson in military authority.
For many people the word authority conjures up images like the one just described. Those in authority are viewed as oppressors, and too often the impression is correct. Paul was no stranger to the abuses of authority. He had experienced much persecution at the hands of civil and religious authorities all around the Mediterranean. In light of this, Paul's view of authority may be surprising.
1. What comes into your mind when you hear the word authority?
2. Read Romans 3:21–31. How is the righteousness from God (3:22–24) different from righteousness by law (2:5–13)?
3. What is Paul's view of authority and those who exercise it (vv. 1–5)?
4. How would Paul's view of governing authorities apply to wicked and perverse rulers such as Nero or Hitler?
5. What are some reasons Paul gives for submitting to those in authority (vv. 1–5)?
6. Do you think it is ever appropriate to resist rather than to submit to the authorities? Explain.
7. In verses 6–7 Paul suggests some practical ways we should submit to those in authority. What other examples can you think of?
8. In verse 8 Paul says, “Let no debt remain outstanding.” Does this mean Christians should never incur any type of debts (mortgage, car and so on)? Explain your answer.
9. Why is love a debt that can never fully be paid (vv. 8–10)?
10. In verses 11–14 Paul uses several vivid images to describe “the present time.” How does each one give us a picture of how we should (or shouldn't) live?
11. Think back over this chapter. In what ways do you need to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ”?
4
The Need to Give
2 Corinthians 8:1–9:15
Purpose: To discover and apply Paul's great principle of stewardship.
The privacy of the purse makes it extremely difficult for Christians to talk about their money. The fig leaf has slipped from the genitals to the wallet. The problem is compounded by hard-sell media evangelists raising funds for their personal empires. But Paul devotes two whole chapters to the grace of giving, because both he and the Corinthians have a problem in this area.
Paul has been tramping throughout the gentile churches raising money for the poor Jewish Christians in Jerusalem, many of whom have lost their jobs and homes for the faith. But the Corinthians haven't produced a red cent! That is their problem, because they are denying themselves the joy of “this grace of giving” (8:7). Paul's problem is that he has been boasting to the Macedonians (Philippi and Thessalonica) about how much the Corinthians were going to give (9:2–3). As Paul sets out to resolve this problem, he meets not only the Corinthians' need to give but ours as well.
Background. Chapters 8–9 must be understood in the context of Paul's collection for the poor Christians in Jerusalem. When Paul was first converted and commissioned to ministry, he checked out his gospel with those who were apostles before him in Jerusalem. They approved of him and required nothing further except that in his gentile mission he should remember the poor (Gal 2:10), specifically the impoverished Jewish Christians around Jerusalem who had been excommunicated from the synagogue and had lost their jobs and homes.
Paul took this request as a major challenge to build a bridge of mutual ministry between Jews and Gentiles. He argued that if the Jews had contributed to the Gentiles the riches of their spiritual inheritance, the Gentiles, who were comparatively more wealthy, should contribute to the Jews their material inheritance.
While Paul encouraged the support of Christian workers (1 Cor 9:7–14), the primary thrust of all his teaching on stewardship was this love gift from the Gentiles to the Jews. It seems from Acts 20:16; 21:1–16 that Paul was determined to present this gift personally in Jerusalem at the Feast of Pentecost, perhaps to symbolize that the full measure of blessing of Christ (Rom 15:29) can be experienced only when Jews and Gentiles, and other humanly-estranged groups of people, are united in Christ.
Having asked the Corinthians to participate in the Collection (1 Cor 16:1–4), having boasted to other churches about what the Corinthians intended to give (2 Cor 8:8; 9:1–3), and having received an extraordinary gift from the Macedonians, who gave generously out of their extreme poverty (2 Cor 8:1–4) and pleaded for the privilege of giving, Paul is now embarrassed that the Corinthians
have produced nothing. But it is more than personal embarrassment that motivates Paul to write these two chapters. He is concerned that they are missing the grace of giving.
1. What positive and negative feelings do you have about people raising money for a Christian cause?
2. Read 2 Corinthians 8:1–9:5. What methods does Paul use to encourage the Corinthians to give to the poverty-stricken Christians in Jerusalem?
3. In what ways are the Macedonians excellent examples of generosity (8:1–5)?
Why is Jesus Christ the supreme example of sacrificial giving (v. 9)?
4. In both chapters Paul refrains from using the word money. Instead he speaks of sharing (8:4; 9:13), service (8:4, 18; 9:1, 12–13), offering (8:19), grace (8:6–7) and gift (8:12, 20; 9:5). What insights do these words give us into the nature of giving?
5. Paul never raised money for himself, for his own missionary organization or even for Corinth Community Church. What is the primary goal that governs his appeal for gifts (8:10–15)?
What should the principle of equality mean to us as we consider our bond with believers throughout the world?
6. What care does Paul take to avoid any suspicion of dishonesty or self-interest as he handles this large gift (8:16–24)?
What would be an equivalent strategy in our own day?
7. Read 9:6–15. Some people teach that giving money to the Lord's work results in your getting more money yourself. What does Paul say about the personal benefits of giving (vv. 6–11)?
8. In addition to meeting their material needs, what benefits does our giving produce in others (vv. 12–14)?
9. Paul encourages cheerful giving (v. 7). The word is the root of our English hilarious. It is the exact opposite of calculated giving under compulsion. According to these two chapters, how could you become a more cheerful giver?
10. What difference will this study make in the stewardship of your resources?
11. How should these chapters guide the planning of your church budget?
5
Paul's Thank-You Note
Philippians 4:10–23
Purpose: This passage teaches that missions-giving is of greater benefit to the giver than the receiver. Therefore, the study should prompt people toward greater support of missions.
We've all written thank-you notes for gifts received for a birthday or for Christmas. Such notes usually include rather conventional phrases about the thankfulness of the recipient and the thoughtfulness of the giver. In Philippians 4 Paul thanks the Philippians for a gift of money they sent. However, it is a most unusual thank-you note. First he breaks the conventional rules by waiting until the very end of the letter to say thank you. Then he writes as though he didn't really need the gift!
1. Most Christians are strongly in favor of sending missionaries to other countries. Yet many missionaries have a difficult time raising their support. How would you explain this paradox?
2. Read Philippians 4:10–23. Paul thanks the Philippians not for the money but for the concern they have shown (v. 10). Why would this have been more important to Paul?
3. Many people believe they can only be content once they have reached a certain level of economic prosperity. How does their view differ from Paul's secret of contentment (vv. 11–13)?
To what extent have you learned to apply this secret?
4. How had the Philippians helped Paul both in the past and the present (vv. 14–18)?
5. What opportunities do you have to meet the needs of those whose ministries require special support?
6. What benefits does Paul expect the Philippians to receive from their giving (vv. 17–19)?