I often felt I would never get out of debt. I even considered declaring bankruptcy. After paying for things four times over, I considered writing my creditors and telling them I was not paying any more and they could just send me to jail if they wanted. I considered changing my identity and moving to … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Every natural ability, skill, or gift comes from God, whether we were genetically born with it, influenced and educated by our environment, or both. The important part of the equation is what we do with the abilities and skills we have. God expects stewards to learn to be masters of their skills and abilities … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: The believer who lives debt-free is both financially and emotionally free. Wise management of financial and material resources includes saving and investing. Lesson 11, March 17, 2018 1. Have a volunteer read Deuteronomy 28:44,45. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is. b. … Continue reading –>
Ants labor to save provisions for the winter (Prov. 6:6-8). We are wise to consider their ways when we save money routinely for a specific purpose. The point in saving is to have resources available for our living expenses or needs as opposed to wasting or hoarding what we earn. Managing money requires wisdom, budgeting, and discipline. … Continue reading –>
I don’t know why this even sticks out in my mind, but I remember riding with my dad to play with his company softball team. On the way Dad decided to swing into Wal-Mart and buy a new softball glove. It sticks out in my mind, because at the time I could not just swing … Continue reading –>
Read Deuteronomy 28:12. What does this teach us about getting into too much debt? What principle do we see at work here? It’s just common sense to avoid debt as much as you can. Scripture discourages us from cosigning other people’s debts as well (Prov. 17:18, Prov. 22:26). Debt leverages the future and obligates us to submit to its … Continue reading –>
“There is desirable treasure, and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man squanders it” (Prov. 21:20, NKJV). This text contrasts the stewardship of economic responsibility with luxurious and wasteful management. Foolish people make no plans to live within their means. They greedily spend wealth at their disposal, even borrowed wealth, feeling that financial … Continue reading –>
“And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright” (Gen. 25:34, NKJV). Esau was a rugged outdoorsman who followed his passions. When he smelled his brother’s stew, he wanted the lentils immediately, even though it was unlikely that he was dying from … Continue reading –>
The prophets and Elisha were getting wood by the River Jordan when “the iron axhead fell into the water. ‘Oh no, my lord!’ [one of the prophets] cried out. ‘It was borrowed” (2 Kings 6:5, NIV). The verb “to borrow” means using with permission something that belongs to another. This permission carries risk and responsibility. Borrowed … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Ps. 37:21, Matt. 4:3-10, Matt. 6:33, Deut. 28:12, Prov. 13:11, Prov. 21:5, 2 Cor. 4:18. Memory Text: “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves … Continue reading –>
