Greed: Am I Managing My Money or Is My Money Managing Me?
Matthew 6:33 – But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (New King James Version)
How To Be the Master of My Money
1. Understand the source of __________________________
John 6:27 – But you shouldn’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you. For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose. (New Living Translation)
Hebrews 13:5 – Don’t fall in love with money. Be satisfied with what you have. The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us. (Contemporary English Version)
2. Mix finances with ________________________________
1 Timothy 6:9-10 – 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (New King James Version)
1 Timothy 6:6-7 – 6 A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. 7 Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough. (The Message)
Exodus 16:16-18 – 16 The Lord says that each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person. 17 So the people of Israel went out and gathered this food – some getting more, and some getting less. 18 By gathering two quarts for each person, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed. (New Living Translation)
3. Refuse to base happiness on _______________________
Luke 12:15, 21 – 15 Then he said, “Beware! Don’t be greedy for what you don’t have. Real life is not measured by how much we own. . . . 21 Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” (New Living Translation)
Ecclesiastes 5:10 – Those who love money will never have enough. How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness! (New Living Translation)
4. Put a new ______________________________ in control
1 John 2:15-17 – 15 Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever. (New Living Translation)
Psalm 37:4 – Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (New Revised Standard Version)
Colossians 3:5 – . . . Don’t be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. (New Living Translation)
5. Combat greed with ______________________________
Luke 12:33-34 – 33 Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! . . . 34 Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be. (New Living Translation)
James 4:2-3 – 2 You want what you don’t have, . . . You are jealous for what others have, and you can’t possess it, . . . And yet the reason you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong – you want only what will give you pleasure. (New Living Translation)
Acts 20:35 – . . . You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (New Living Translation)