Dear Friends,

It’s so easy to get distracted from God. It happens so gradually we often don’t realize how far of we are until we are in crises. Like driving distracted you are often in great danger when you don’t realize it. Sometimes the more comfortable we are the more likely we are to take our eyes off the road or God. There is nothing that can distract us faster than money and stuff.  Jesus warned us against this repeatedly.

Mar 4:19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
The blessings of wealth can contribute not just to distraction but also to worry and pride.

Learning how to think, invest and honor God with our wealth is essential to living for Jesus. This Sunday, bring someone. Please pray for me and the services. Also, make sure you plan to go to a worship service and a small group so you can get as much input as possible.

I can wait to see you on Sunday.

Blessings,
Joe

PS: Please plan to attend my class during VBS 9-12 AM Monday thru Friday. It will be a wonderful time to ask questions and learn.

PLEASE CONSIDER PRAYERFULLY THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS AND SCRIPTURES.

• Why did Jesus and the apostles teach so much on the proper thinking and use of money?

1 Ti 6:5-10 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.  If we have food and covering, with these, we shall be content.  But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

• What is the difference between a mindset of stewardship over ownership?
• What did Jesus mean when He said it’s impossible to serve God and money?

Mat 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

• Describe how a focus on wealth can distract people from God and make them fruitless?

Mar 4:19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

• Why is important to ask yourself why you want or have something?
• Why is giving away your excess instead of hoarding or spending a good long-term investment?

Mat 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

1 Ti 6:17-19 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.7. what is the secret of seeing life in contentment?

Php 4:11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

1 Ti 6:6-8 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these, we shall be content.

Mat 6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. Mat 6:23 “But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!