Session 17

What Can Destroy You?

From Finding Your Financial Path

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 up 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 (Mark 4:19).

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 others have causes us to miss the true meaning of life. Wealth is a tool to meet needs and help others. When we use it for this purpose, we will see a great harvest of miracles in our lives.

Think About:
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 influenced that decision?
3. How can you protect yourself against weeds such as worry, greed and envy?

Pray:
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.