Day 288 – Jesus’ Stories about Money

• Today we’re looking at the dangers of storing up treasures on earth. Luke 12 is a rich chapter with much to consider, and we have already read bits and pieces of these verses before, so we’ll skip some of those parts. Our focus today is using what we have well. What new things might challenge us today?
• Look at the parable of the rich fool. Notice that Jesus didn’t get involved with the man’s specific inheritance problem, but instead spoke to him about his heart, which Jesus saw was focused on his personal wealth. The man stored up wealth. Was this necessarily bad? What did Jesus say was the problem in this case, especially in Luke 12:21? Could the man’s wealth save him?
• What do you think our culture’s attitude to money and possessions is? How much are you affected by this? Jesus suggested that our attitude should not be to store up our money for our future personal happiness. Does your happiness come from the things you own?
• How does God promise to take care of us? Do the words in Luke 12:22-34 suggest we should sell everything we have and wait for God to provide? If not, how can we practically consider these verses with what we have?
• What happened in the parable of the servants left alone, in verses Luke 12:35-48? Who was the master (i.e. in the parable), and who were the servants? Imagine Jesus was to return in glory from Heaven… tonight! Would you be ready to meet Him, confident that you are declaring Him as your king?
• In 1 Timothy, Paul wrote about the practical dangers of money. Focus on verses 9 and 10 – read them three times. Money isn’t evil in itself, but the love of it is. Do you love money? Do you desire riches? Does your desire for material wealth surpass your desire to honour God? If so, verse 11 is for you. Don’t be flippant about this. I’ve seen too many people profess their love for Christ and be lured away by the promises of pleasure that wealth provides.
• Paul also wrote the letter to the Philippians. In this passage, we see the true secret of contentment in what we have. Focus in on verses 11-13. Whether you have £10 in the bank or £10,000, could you say these words and mean them?

Hands up who has been challenged by these verses? I bet in the privacy of your room or your study, you might be quietly raising your hand, even if it’s metaphorically. There are few of us whose hearts don’t love the things that money can give us. That, of course, is idolatry.

I wonder if you rolled your eyes at that. “Of course… it’s that idolatry word again. Everything’s idolatry in the bible, isn’t it!? C’mon Lord – gimme a break. Stop making me feel bad about enjoying and having money!”

That, I’m sorry to say, is missing the point! God has given us the gifts of money and of possessions and we do get to enjoy them. Nothing is stopping you enjoying the blessings you have. But sadly however, it’s so, so easy to fall into traps of putting the value of these items ahead of our relationship with God. And that, friends, is really dangerous. It “drip-drip-drip” tells us that we can find satisfaction in stuff and security in money.

It’s a lie, but it’s a lie we all fall for.

In this world we might look for temporary security in insurance, or a rainy-day fund, and they have their uses. But when we look beyond that, we know that our ultimate security has to be in God. It’s really hard to live with this in our hearts if we set our sights on earthly riches to satisfy the same need. It doesn’t work like that.

I wonder if this week you can try being generous with your money, wisely of course, to the extent that you deny yourself a luxury you don’t need in order to bring good to a person, a charity, or your church instead.