FINANCES

I. What warnings are given in Scripture regarding money?

    1. What warning are given to them whose goal is to be rich. 
        - He will be tempted to cheat others to get more. Proverbs 28:20 
        - He will develop wrong motives and will come to poverty. Proverbs 28:22 
        - He will face more temptations than others. I Timothy 6:9 
        - He will face additional traps in life. I Timothy 6:9 
        - He will face additional lusts that will destroy him. I Timothy 6:9

    2. What warnings are given to those who want to borrow money. 
        - Borrower is servant to the lender. Proverbs 22:7 

    3. What warnings are given to those who take advantage of the poor? 
        - He will lose what he has. Proverbs 22:16 
        - He will find that God is on the side of the poor. Proverbs 22:22-23 

    4. What warnings are given to those who are investing their money? 
        - Do not invest in something that decays. Matthew 6:19-20 
        - Do not invest in something that rusts. Matthew 6:19-20 
        - Do not invest in something that can be stolen. Matthew 6:19-20 

    5. What warnings are given to the rich? 
        -Do not become proud. I Timothy 6:17 
        -Do not trust in riches but in God. I Timothy 6:17 

    6. What warnings are given regarding co-signing? Proverbs 22:26-27 
        -Do not co-sign for a neighbor. Proverbs 6:1-4, 17:18
        -Do not co-sign for a stranger. Proverbs 6:1-4, 11:15 

    7. What general warnings are given. 
        -Do not trust in your riches. Proverbs 11:28 
        -Do not gain wealth improperly. Proverbs 13:11 
        -Do not be greedy for money or you will experience conflicts. Proverbs 15:27 
        -Do not serve money as a god. Matthew 6:24 

II. What will cause a person to lose money or assets?

    1. Excessive laziness. Proverbs 20:13,24:33-34 

    2. Excessive eating (gluttony) or drinking alcohol. Proverbs 21:17, 23:21, 31:6-7 

    3. Follows the advice of a vain person. Proverbs 28:19 

    4. Refuses instruction. Proverbs 13:18 

    5. Loves pleasure. Proverbs 21:17 

    6. Is involved in sexual deviant sins. Proverbs 6:26

III. What is better than money?

    1. Wisdom. Proverbs 2:4, 3:13-16, 8:11,18-19, 16:16

    2. Instruction and knowledge. Proverbs 8:10, 20:15 

    3. Fear of the Lord. Proverbs 15:16

    4. Righteousness. Proverbs 16:8

    5. Understanding. Proverbs 16:16 

    6. Humility. Proverbs 16:19 

    7. Integrity. Proverbs 19:1 

    8. Good name. Proverbs 22:1 

    9. Loving favor. Proverbs 22:1 

    10. Uprightness. Proverbs 28:6

    11. Virtuous woman. Proverbs 31:10-11

IV. What should we not spend money for?

    -Harlotry. Proverbs 29:3

V. What is the result of trusting in our riches?

    -We will fall. Proverbs 11:28 

VI. With what qualities should we replace a love for money? 

    1. Contentment with what God has given. Philippians 4:11-12; I Timothy 6:6,8

    2. God’s righteousness I Timothy 6:11

    3. Godliness.I Timothy 6:6,11

    4. Faith in God. I Timothy 6:11 

    5. Love. I Timothy 6:11 

    6. Patience. I Timothy 6:11 

    7. Meekness. I Timothy 6:11 

VII. What qualities should the rich develop to protect them from a wrong attitude toward money?

    1. Demonstrate your love by doing good works for others. I Timothy 6:18 

    2. Share with others in need. I Timothy 6:18 

    3. Invest in eternal things. I Timothy 6:19 

VIII. What are the results of giving to the poor? 

    1. You will be rewarded. Proverbs 19:17 

    2. You will not lack. Proverbs 28:27 

IX. How do I acquire genuine wealth? 

    1. Humility. Proverbs 22:4 

    2. Fear of the Lord. Proverbs 22:4 

X. What advice does the Bible give regarding investing. 

    1. Remember riches are not forever. Proverbs 23:5, 27:23-24 

    2. Invest in eternal things. Matthew 6:20-21 

XI. With what attitude am I to give? 

    1. Willingly. II Corinthians 8:3,10-12, 9:7 

    2. Cheerfully. II Corinthians 9:7 

    3. Out of love. II Corinthians 8:8 

    4. Sacrificially. II Corinthians 8:2-4 

    5. Liberally. II Corinthians 8:2, 9:6 

    6. Secretly. Matthew 5:40-42 

(Explanation to the counselor)

I. What warnings are given in Scripture regarding money?

The Bible gives various warnings to different groups of people regarding money. He who desires to be rich will be tempted to take advantage of others in order to make more money. He will face additional temptations that others will not have relating to his materialistic values. The Bible also says that he will experience desires, that in the end, will destroy him.

He who desires to borrow money, must be aware that if he borrows he will become a servant of the one that loans him the money.

Those who take advantage of the poor, will lose what they have and will experience God’s opposition. God will take the side of the poor.

Christ warns not to invest in things that will decay, rust or be stolen.

The rich are warned not to allow his riches to make him proud or to allow his riches to keep him from trusting in God. Riches have a tendency to make a person independent of God.

The Bible warns against cosigning. There is a specific consequence to cosigning f or neighbors or strangers.

Each of these warnings can be used by the counselor to warn a person of the dangers in each of these areas.

II. What will cause a person to lose money or assets?

There are six things that will cause a person to lose money. A counselor can use these to warn a person who is involved: a lazy person will lose money because of his lack of motivation to work; a person whose central focus is on eating or drinking will not see the value of working; a person who takes the advice of a vain person will make the wrong decisions and will lose money; a person who refuses to listen to those who are wiser will lose money; a person whose focus is on pleasure will not be committed to his work; a person involved in sexual deviant patterns, like pornography or adultery, will lose money.

III. What is better than money?

Many times we consider money as the central focus of our entires lives. We fail to recognize that there are many things better than money. I have listed eleven things God says are more valuable than money or riches.

IV. What should we not spend money for?

There is one thing that God says we should not spend money on: prostitution or harlotry. Sexual deviance will cause a person to lose money. 

V. What are the results of trusting in our riches?

The person who trusts in his riches will find that his riches will not sustain him in all of life’s problems. He will realize, sooner or later, that he cannot depend upon riches.

VI. With what qualities should we replace a love for money?

A love for money must be replaced with contentment with what God has provided for us. In I Timothy 6:6,11 Paul shares six qualities that we need to have if we are to have a correct attitude toward money. We must develop God’s righteous character in our lives, godliness, faith in God, love toward God and others, patience, and meekness. If a counselee has problems with an improper focus on money, encourage him to develop these six areas in his life.

VII. What qualities should the rich develop to protect them from a wrong attitude toward money?

A rich person must guard against allowing his money to become his god. In order to keep a proper perspective, he should be encouraged to demonstrate love to others by helping them, sharing with those in need, and investing in eternal rewards. These principles will help him view his money correctly.

VIII. What are the results of giving to the poor?

God says that if we give to the poor we will not only receive a reward but also receive God’s blessing and not lack.

IX. How do I acquire genuine wealth?

If we want to become wealthy with a proper attitude toward God, we must develop humility and the fear of the Lord. God says that as we humble ourselves before the Lord, we will be exalted in due time.

X. What advice does the Bible give regarding investing?

We must always keep in mind that our money and assets will someday pass away. The only things that we can take to heaven are the souls we have led to Christ, and the rewards that come from being faithful to Christ. Our focus needs to be on the eternal reward rather than on our money.

XI. With what attitude am I to give?

The Bible encourages us to give with the right motive to the Lord. We are encouraged to give willingly, cheerfully, out of a heart of love, sacrificially, liberally, and secretly. Each of these principles are important to follow if we are to experience the blessing of giving from the heart.

Notice: These materials are not intended to take the place of professional, mental health services, but rather to provide Biblical insight and helpful resources regarding various spiritual and emotional problems.  While we are glad to offer these resources for your personal use, we encourage you to contact our pastor, Nolan Jackson, Sr., for in-depth, free, Christian Counseling. If you are interested in setting up an appointment, please call 770-786-8676 or e-mail (be sure to include contact information).

                                       Belmont Baptist Church - Pastor Nolan Jackson, Sr. - 3275 Iris Dr. - Conyers, GA  30013 - 770-786-8676