2.CONCERNS ABOUT JOBS AND MONEYWill the money last? Will I have a job tomorrow? Most people are concerned about their income,especially the lack of income. Some have more than enough money but worry that they’ll lose it.Others have just enough to squeak by today but are not sure about tomorrow. Some fear naturaldisasters that can take away all that they have.SCRIPTURES AND LIFE APPLICATION NOTESProverbs 3:9-10, NLT: “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.”LIFE APPLICATION NOTE: 3:9-10 This refers to the practice of giving for God’s use the first and bestportion of the harvest (Deuteronomy 26:9-11). Many people give God their leftovers. If they can afford todonate anything after the bills are paid and their wants are met, they do so. These people may be sincereand contribute willingly, but their attitude is nonetheless backward. To give God the first part of our incomedemonstrates that he has first place in our lives and that our resources belong to him. We are only managersof God’s resources. Giving to God first helps us conquer greed, prioritizes our role in contributing to God’sKingdom work in the world, and opens us up to receive the special blessings he promises to those who puthim and his purposes above all else.Ecclesiastes 5:10, NLT: “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think thatwealth brings true happiness!”LIFE APPLICATION NOTE: 5:10-12 We always want more than we have. Solomon observed that thosewho spend their lives obsessively seeking money never have enough and never find the happiness itpromises. Accumulating more and more wealth encourages greed, and wealth also attracts freeloaders andthieves, causes sleeplessness and fear, and ultimately ends in loss because it must be left behind (Mark10:23-25; Luke 12:16-21). No matter how much you earn, if you try to create happiness by accumulatingwealth, you will never have enough. Supporting yourself and your family financially is not wrong, but lovingmoney leads to all sorts of sin. Whatever your financial situation, don’t depend on money to make youhappy or feel secure. Instead, use what you have for the Lord.1 Timothy 6:6-10, NLT: “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we broughtnothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So ifwe have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptationand are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For thelove of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from thetrue faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”LIFE APPLICATION NOTES: 6:6 This statement is the key to spiritual growth and personal fulfillment. Weshould honor God and center our desires on him (Matthew 6:33), and we should be content with what heis doing in our lives (Philippians 4:11-13)6:8-9 “If we have enough . . . let us be content.” But when is enough enough? How can we truly be content?There is a difference between what we need and what we want. We may have all we need to live (that is,we have enough), but we let ourselves become anxious and discontent over what we merely want. LikePaul, we can choose to be content without having all that we want. The only alternative is to be “trappedby many foolish and harmful desires” that ultimately lead only to “ruin and destruction.” Ask God to providewhat you need and to disperse any anxious desires that you may have.Facing Our 10 Biggest Fears: A sample of Scripture and Commentary from the new Life Application Study Bible - Third Edition.
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