Session 15

More is never enough

From 2 Corinthians: 21-Day Bible Study

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2 Corinthians 8:1-15

One of the most challenging things in life is our relationship with money. We don’t have enough. We want more. We waste what we have. We borrow from our future to stroke our present. We hoard what we have. We argue over money. We feel stress much of the time. We compare ourselves to others — feeling bad when they have more and feeling better when they have less.  

Money must be mastered, not be our master.

Money must be mastered, not be our master.

So, how do we take steps to control our money instead of letting our money control us?

Three things we can stop doing:

  1. Stop measuring what we have against what people wanting us to spend say we “need” or ”deserve” — or anything else they say.  
  2. Stop believing the lie that getting more will make us happier (2 Corinthians 8:1-7).
  3. Stop fighting with God about what He really means by what He says.

Three things we can start doing:

  1. Every day, celebrate every detail regarding the blessings you already enjoy.
  2. Train yourself to be happier — from inner joy, not from external circumstances (2 Corinthians 8:2).  
  3. Trust God to mean, and do, what He says.  

We can trust God with our money. When we follow His commands about money, He changes our relationship with money. As we learn to be content with what God has given us, He gives us real joy that has nothing to do with our circumstances.

We don’t have to buy our joy, Jesus already paid for us to have a joyful life when He paid for our sins on the cross (2 Corinthians 8:9).

When we listen to Jesus and do what He says, by tithing and giving generously, He protects us from greed. God commands us to bring 10 percent of our gross income back to the church and challenges us to give generously above the tithe as we aim to be more like Jesus.

God is always enough. Giving, not getting, is spiritually rewarding. The more we give, the more our spirit will celebrate.

Reflect:

  • When it comes to you and money, which is master in your life?
  • What is one thing you can do today to begin thinking like Jesus about money?
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