Today has started out being a day of me decluttering my life Facebook friend's list. I honestly can't tell you why I've always been so afraid to just delete unnecessary and unwanted people from my page but it's always been hard for me to do so. Until today, I shared a picture about a Canadian that was sick of seeing all the negative things Americans have to say about Obama and how we can send him to them when he's finished here. I know a lot of you won't agree with me but I like Obama and I truly think he's done good things while he's been president. However; there was a woman commenting on the post that was being rude and very disrespectful, so I unfriended her and blocked her. I've realized today that I don't need those kinds of people in my life. If they aren't going to at least respect other people's opinions, beliefs, ideas, and/or morals then I have no room for them in my life.
Anyway, let's get back to finding your financial path :)
Day 21: Faithfulness Leads to Responsibility
A good financial planner doesn't keep the money he receives from his clients. He invests it wisely so he can present his clients with more than they had before. In the same way, we're responsible to invest with God has given us. When Jesus left the earth, He put each of us in charge of a portion of His resources. Jesus will hold us accountable for what we've been given. Those God can trust to use money wisely will be given more, and those He can't trust will be given less. God's not picking favorites. He wants His wealth to be used to make the most impact before Jesus comes back. If a financial planner pockets his clients' money, he won't be in business long. The same is true for us. God tends to give more wealth to people who are using it for His kingdom, not just themselves. When we are faithful with a little, it shows we can be faithful with a lot.
Questions:
1. If you were your own financial planner, would you fire yourself? Why or why not?
2. How have you been faithful with what you've been given?
3. What are three ways you can begin to be faithful with a little to prepare for being faithful with a lot?
Scripture:
Matthew 24:36-51
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for trusting me with Your wealth. Show me how You want me to invest it so You get the most glory.
Day 22: Less Is More
Having more money is not the answer to a happy life. It may seem that money can solve it all and if you just had a better job or bigger waller, you'd have a better life. However, joy is not found in the size of our bank accounts, but the size of our hearts. Psalm 37 says the wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives. The key to living in freedom is realizing it's not all about you. God is the only one with the power to provide and you are responsible not for gaining something bigger or better but managing well what you've been given already. The best way to start following God with your finances is to follow His example and start living a generous life.
Questions:
1. Look at your checking account. Where do you spend most of your time and money? What do your spending habits say you love the most?
2. Psalm 37 says that someone who is righteous is also generous. Who do you know that you would describe as righteous? What do you admire about that person?
3. Through Jesus, we all have the ability to live righteously. What step can you take today to be more righteous?
Scripture:
Psalm 37:21-22
1 Peter 4:9-11
Prayer:
Jesus, everything I have, including my wealth, is a gift from You. Help me to use it well so I might honor You in every area of my life.
Day 23: Giving Is More Fun Than Receiving
Have you ever been so excited about finding the perfect present that you couldn't wait to give? Maybe it was the engagement ring that felt like it was burning a hold in your pocket. Maybe it was the toy you couldn't wait for your child to discover under the tree on Christmas morning. Whatever the perfect gift was, you got excited because you loved the recipient and you knew the gift would make him/her happy. The reason we enjoy giving to our loved ones are the same reasons we enjoy given to God. "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." If you want to get excited about giving, get to know Jesus. As we get to know Him, we grow in love for Him. Instead of giving on a whim or because we feel like we have to, we find ourselves thinking about what would make God happy.
Questions:
1. When was the last time you were excited to give someone a present? What did you look forward to most about that experience?
2. Do you think giving is better than receiving? Why or why not?
3. What is the next step God has called you to take in giving?
Scripture:
2 Corinthians 9:1-15
Prayer:
Jesus, You gave me the ultimate gift - the gift of salvation! May the gratitude that I have for that gift overflow into every area of my life.
Day 24: Give Your Best
Mark, one of Jesus' followers, told the story of a woman who broke a jar of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus' feet. This wasn't just any department store perfume. It was worth more than a year's wages. Jesus saw the extravagance of the gift and called it "a beautiful thing." However, others in the room didn't think her actions were beautiful. Bewildered, they complained that her perfume should have been sold so the money could be given to the poor. When we give God our best, people are going to think we're crazy. When we save diligently then give that money away, people are going to think we're crazy. Are we willing to follow the Bible's commands and the prompting of the Holy Spirit, even if we might seem a little crazy? Like the woman in Mark's story, we don't have to fear giving big because Jesus gives extravagantly for us. But dying on the cross for our sins, Jesus has already blessed us beyond all we could have asked or imagined.
Questions:
1. What's the most extravagant gift you've ever received? How did you respond to such generosity?
2. The woman in Mark 14 is a great example of how gratitude leads to generosity. What are you thankful for today?
3. How can you give generously to someone today?
Scripture:
Mark 14:1-9
Prayer:
Jesus, You have already given me the most extravagant gift. Your death on the cross paid a debt I could never pay. Thank You for giving generously to me, and help me to give generously to others.
Day 25: What Can Destroy You?
In Mark 4, Jesus spoke about the obstacles that a farmer faces when planting his crop. Occasionally, the seed will start growing and appear to be healthy, but then weeds grow alongside the seed and kill the harvest. There was nothing wrong with the seed the farmer planted. It was healthy, sturdy and strong, but it still encountered a problem. Like the seed, we also encounter weeds that make our lives unfruitful: worry, greed and envy. Jesus warned the crowd that some will hear His message and believe, but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things will come in and choke the message from them. When these three areas affect our walk with God and our faith in Him, they will choke out God's words making it unfruitful in our lives. Becoming preoccupied with worry, wealth and what otters have causes us to miss the true meaning of life. Wealth is a took to meet needs and help others. When we use it or this purpose, we will see a great harvest of miracles in our lives.
Questions:
1. Where do you go for financial advice? What role does the Bible play in your financial decisions?
2. Do you remember the worst financial decision you ever made? What influences that decision?
3. How can you protect yourself against weeds such as worry, greed and envy?
Scripture:
Mark 4:18-20
Prayer:
Jesus, forgive me for allowing worry, greed and envy to influence my financial decisions. You have a plan for every area of my life, including my money, and Your plan is always best! Help me to follow You more every day.
Only one more post left on this series! Let me know what you guys thought about it and what other series or things you'd like to see posted here :)
xoxo
-k
Anyway, let's get back to finding your financial path :)
Day 21: Faithfulness Leads to Responsibility
A good financial planner doesn't keep the money he receives from his clients. He invests it wisely so he can present his clients with more than they had before. In the same way, we're responsible to invest with God has given us. When Jesus left the earth, He put each of us in charge of a portion of His resources. Jesus will hold us accountable for what we've been given. Those God can trust to use money wisely will be given more, and those He can't trust will be given less. God's not picking favorites. He wants His wealth to be used to make the most impact before Jesus comes back. If a financial planner pockets his clients' money, he won't be in business long. The same is true for us. God tends to give more wealth to people who are using it for His kingdom, not just themselves. When we are faithful with a little, it shows we can be faithful with a lot.
Questions:
1. If you were your own financial planner, would you fire yourself? Why or why not?
2. How have you been faithful with what you've been given?
3. What are three ways you can begin to be faithful with a little to prepare for being faithful with a lot?
Scripture:
Matthew 24:36-51
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for trusting me with Your wealth. Show me how You want me to invest it so You get the most glory.
Day 22: Less Is More
Having more money is not the answer to a happy life. It may seem that money can solve it all and if you just had a better job or bigger waller, you'd have a better life. However, joy is not found in the size of our bank accounts, but the size of our hearts. Psalm 37 says the wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives. The key to living in freedom is realizing it's not all about you. God is the only one with the power to provide and you are responsible not for gaining something bigger or better but managing well what you've been given already. The best way to start following God with your finances is to follow His example and start living a generous life.
Questions:
1. Look at your checking account. Where do you spend most of your time and money? What do your spending habits say you love the most?
2. Psalm 37 says that someone who is righteous is also generous. Who do you know that you would describe as righteous? What do you admire about that person?
3. Through Jesus, we all have the ability to live righteously. What step can you take today to be more righteous?
Scripture:
Psalm 37:21-22
1 Peter 4:9-11
Prayer:
Jesus, everything I have, including my wealth, is a gift from You. Help me to use it well so I might honor You in every area of my life.
Have you ever been so excited about finding the perfect present that you couldn't wait to give? Maybe it was the engagement ring that felt like it was burning a hold in your pocket. Maybe it was the toy you couldn't wait for your child to discover under the tree on Christmas morning. Whatever the perfect gift was, you got excited because you loved the recipient and you knew the gift would make him/her happy. The reason we enjoy giving to our loved ones are the same reasons we enjoy given to God. "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." If you want to get excited about giving, get to know Jesus. As we get to know Him, we grow in love for Him. Instead of giving on a whim or because we feel like we have to, we find ourselves thinking about what would make God happy.
Questions:
1. When was the last time you were excited to give someone a present? What did you look forward to most about that experience?
2. Do you think giving is better than receiving? Why or why not?
3. What is the next step God has called you to take in giving?
Scripture:
2 Corinthians 9:1-15
Prayer:
Jesus, You gave me the ultimate gift - the gift of salvation! May the gratitude that I have for that gift overflow into every area of my life.
Day 24: Give Your Best
Mark, one of Jesus' followers, told the story of a woman who broke a jar of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus' feet. This wasn't just any department store perfume. It was worth more than a year's wages. Jesus saw the extravagance of the gift and called it "a beautiful thing." However, others in the room didn't think her actions were beautiful. Bewildered, they complained that her perfume should have been sold so the money could be given to the poor. When we give God our best, people are going to think we're crazy. When we save diligently then give that money away, people are going to think we're crazy. Are we willing to follow the Bible's commands and the prompting of the Holy Spirit, even if we might seem a little crazy? Like the woman in Mark's story, we don't have to fear giving big because Jesus gives extravagantly for us. But dying on the cross for our sins, Jesus has already blessed us beyond all we could have asked or imagined.
Questions:
1. What's the most extravagant gift you've ever received? How did you respond to such generosity?
2. The woman in Mark 14 is a great example of how gratitude leads to generosity. What are you thankful for today?
3. How can you give generously to someone today?
Scripture:
Mark 14:1-9
Prayer:
Jesus, You have already given me the most extravagant gift. Your death on the cross paid a debt I could never pay. Thank You for giving generously to me, and help me to give generously to others.
Day 25: What Can Destroy You?
In Mark 4, Jesus spoke about the obstacles that a farmer faces when planting his crop. Occasionally, the seed will start growing and appear to be healthy, but then weeds grow alongside the seed and kill the harvest. There was nothing wrong with the seed the farmer planted. It was healthy, sturdy and strong, but it still encountered a problem. Like the seed, we also encounter weeds that make our lives unfruitful: worry, greed and envy. Jesus warned the crowd that some will hear His message and believe, but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things will come in and choke the message from them. When these three areas affect our walk with God and our faith in Him, they will choke out God's words making it unfruitful in our lives. Becoming preoccupied with worry, wealth and what otters have causes us to miss the true meaning of life. Wealth is a took to meet needs and help others. When we use it or this purpose, we will see a great harvest of miracles in our lives.
Questions:
1. Where do you go for financial advice? What role does the Bible play in your financial decisions?
2. Do you remember the worst financial decision you ever made? What influences that decision?
3. How can you protect yourself against weeds such as worry, greed and envy?
Scripture:
Mark 4:18-20
Prayer:
Jesus, forgive me for allowing worry, greed and envy to influence my financial decisions. You have a plan for every area of my life, including my money, and Your plan is always best! Help me to follow You more every day.
Only one more post left on this series! Let me know what you guys thought about it and what other series or things you'd like to see posted here :)
xoxo
-k
No comments:
Post a Comment