The Money God

TODAY’S SPECIAL: I Timothy 6:6-10

TO CHEW ON: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." I Timothy 6:10a



How do you feel about money? Do you have any? How much? Do you earn money regularly? When you get it, what do you do with it? Spend it all? Save it all? Spend and save both?


It’s hard to imagine a world with no money in it. Getting money for a job we’ve done shows us our work is worthwhile. We use money to buy many things we need like food, clothes, a house, and a car. Money is not a bad thing.


But when we love money, when we feel we always need more and think being rich is the most important thing in the world, we are on a dangerous path. Very quickly money can become more important than God. It can become something we worship like a god.

PRAYER: Dear God, help me never to love money more than You. Help me to spend my money wisely and be content with what I have. Amen.


MORE: A Crush on Cash
What kinds of evil can the love of money lead to? Below is a list of some things. Can you think of more?

The person who loves money may:

1. Become a workaholic who has little time for friends and family.

2. Become addicted to gambling.

3. Do illegal things to get money (like steal, or deal drugs)

4. Become self-centered and proud.

5.

6.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Minas and More

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Luke 19:11-27

TO CHEW ON: "He replied: 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.'” Luke 19:26

One day Jesus told the story of a king. Before the king went on a trip, he gave ten servants one mina* each. He told them to put the money to work for him.

When the king got back, he asked the servants for a report. Servant One had made ten minas with his one mina. Servant Two had made five. But Servant Three only had the original mina.

This made the king angry. He took the mina away from Servant Three and gave it to Servant One.

"Servants reporting to the king" - Artist unknown

This parable teaches us:
1. Life isn’t fair.
2. It pays to be greedy and get all we can.
3. If we don’t use the things we’ve been given, we’ll lose even those things.

I think it’s number 3 - don’t you?

Jesus' stories are not only interesting but they teach us about God and what is important to Him. In this story we learn about how God wants us to use what we have.

The king in the story gave his servants money. You may not have money, but you have other things. Some of them could be health, energy, special abilities, an education, a friendly nature. Can you think of more?

God gave you these things to use not just for yourself but for Him. You could use your health and energy to help a neighbor or play with a younger brother or sister. If you’re smart in school you could use your intelligence to tutor a friend who has a hard time. If you’re good at writing, drawing or singing you might want to take lessons and learn more so that you can bless others with your talents.

Someday we’ll all report back to God about how we used the things He gave us. Let’s not neglect them or use them selfishly. Instead let’s use them well, so we can look forward to report day.

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to use all You’ve given me so I will welcome the day I report back to You. Amen.


SUPERSIZE IT: Use Your Gifts:
How can you use these gifts you’ve been given:

- Your talents and special abilities?




- Your education?

- Your experiences?

- Your money and possessions?



* 1 mina = about three months’ wages.


Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's. 

Dinner With a Sinner

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Luke 19:1-9


TO CHEW ON: "Jesus ... said to him, 'Zacchaeus...I must stay at your house today'...All the people saw this and began to mutter, 'He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.'” Luke 19:5,7

What are taxes? You probably know they are amounts of money people in cities, provinces, states and countries must pay. Government workers collect this money. They use it to pay for things used by everyone - like roads, schools, firefighters and the police.

In Jesus’ time, the Roman rulers charged taxes. They got people in each neighborhood, to work for them. These people were called tax collectors. They usually charged the people more than the Romans asked. They kept the extra money for themselves. Everybody thought of them as traitors, cheats, sinners, and hated them. Zacchaeus was a tax collector.

One day Zacchaeus heard Jesus was coming to town. He wanted to see Him. But Zacchaeus was too short to see above the crowd. Besides, he didn't much like being in crowds because he was so unpopular. So he climbed into a tree and watched as Jesus and the crowd walked by.

Jesus didn’t care how the crowds felt about Zaccheus. When He came to the tree where Zacchaeus was sitting, He stopped. He called up to Zaccheaeus and persuaded him to come down. Jesus said He wanted to have a meal with Zacchaeus. Then what happened? Which three statements are UNTRUE? (Luke 19:5-9)

1. Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus to his home.
2. Zacchaeus denied that he had done anything wrong.
3. Zacchaeus offered to give a quarter of his possessions to the poor.
4. Zacchaeus offered to pay back four times the amount he’d cheated from people.
5. Jesus condemned Zacchaeus and said there was no hope for him.
6. Jesus said salvation had come to Zacchaeus’ home.

"Zacchaeus" - Artist unknown

Do you know people who have a reputation as bad as Zacchaeus's? Maybe they’re known for being mean or stuck-up or stingy. Perhaps everyone avoids them. But you can be different. You can follow Jesus’ example and be kind. You never know, God may be preparing them to meet Jesus just like he prepared Zacchaeus. God may use you to introduce them to Him.

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to show kindness to unpopular people, like Jesus did. Amen.


SUPERSIZE IT: Tax Facts
- What kinds of taxes do you and your family pay?

- How are taxes collected where you live?

- What are some things for which your tax money is used?

- What attitude should Christians have toward the people in government and the taxes they collect?

Some places the Bible talks about government and paying taxes:

• Matthew 17:24-26

• Matthew 22:15-22

• Romans 13:1-3

• 1 Peter 2:17

ANSWERS

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's.