What’s in Your Wallet? (work for your money)

February 9 & 10 - 242 Notes

Core Scripture:
Proverbs 6:6 (Message) “You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two. Nobody has to tell it what to do. All summer it stores up food; at harvest it stockpiles provisions. So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing? How long before you get out of bed? A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next? Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life, poverty your permanent houseguest!”

II Thessalonians 3:10-12 (AMP). “For while we were yet with you, we gave you this rule and charge: If anyone will not work, neither let him eat. Indeed, we hear that some among you are disorderly [that they are passing their lives in idleness, neglectful of duty], being busy with other people's affairs instead of their own and doing no work. Now we charge and exhort such persons [as ministers in Him exhorting those] in the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) that they work in quietness and earn their own food and other necessities.”

Memory Verse:
Colossians 3:23 (NIV) “Whatever your work is, do it gladly. Do it as you would do it unto the Lord and not for people.”

Discussion Questions:

• If you could have your “dream job” what would it be and why?
• At what point in life are you financially responsible (buying your own clothes, food, gas for your car, buying a car) for yourself – what gets you to that point?
• Do you think God cares about how well you perform on the job? Like, does it matter to Him if you are babysitting and you just watch TV the whole time? Or if you are mowing lawns or shoveling driveways and “cut corners”? Or if mom or dad asks you to do things around the house (for your allowance) and you pass it off to a sibling? Why or why not?
• What does it look like to do any job, and do it “as unto the Lord”?
• Think about your work at school – how could you personally change how you do it to better glorify God?

Bottom line:

Most of us don’t necessarily enjoy hard work; but it is a fact of life. God expects us to work and earn the money that He is allowing us to manage (remember, it’s all His). The Word says that whatever we do we need to do unto Him. This actually means that whether we’re helping out at home, babysitting or mowing lawns – we need to do it unto Him. Many people fall into the trap of thinking the world “owes us” – or believe we have a “right” to money. This is not a Biblical principle. God expects us to work hard, earn a living, and take care of ourselves and our families. As we continue to put Him first by tithing and working hard we are opening the door to allow Him to come in and increase what we have earned. What a great deal for us!