In Proverbs 30:8 we have a most unusual prayer request: "Give me neither _______ nor _________." Many people might ask God to keep them from poverty, but how many ask God to keep them from riches? What spiritual danger is there in being poor (Proverbs 30:9)? ___________________________________________________________________What spiritual danger is there in being rich (Proverbs 30:9)? ______________________________________________
Should we trust in money or should we trust in the God who has blessed us
with money and who can also take it away? "He that ____________________
in his riches shall
________ " (Proverbs 11:28). Give three reasons why we should not trust in
riches:
1) Proverbs 23:5 ___________________________________________________________
2) Proverbs 27:24 ___________________________________________________________
3) 1 Timothy 6:17 ___________________________________________________________
What motto is found on all our coins and bills? _________________________________
Whenever we see these words, what should we be reminded of?
"The rich and poor __________ _______________________: the LORD is the____________ of them all" (Proverbs 22:2). The rich and the poor are as one. Just think of two drops of water on a window. What happens when these two drops come together? They become as one! There is no difference between them!
In many ways the rich and the poor are equal. There is no difference between
them.
They are as one! How did the rich and the poor enter this world (1 Timothy
6:7)? ______________________ How are they going to leave this world (Psalm 49:17)?
__________________________________ Can you think of other ways in which
the rich and poor are equal? (For example, do they both need to be saved?) __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
In James 1:9-10 God takes the rich and the poor and He equalizes them. He brings the poor up and He brings the rich down, and thus they MEET TOGETHER! How does God bring the poor up (how does He show the poor that they are really rich)? How does God bring the rich down (how does He show the rich that they are really poor)?
"Labour _______ to be ____________" (Proverbs 23:4). What if you spend your whole life laboring and working to be rich? What will happen one day (Proverbs 23:5)? ________________________________________(Bye-Bye!) What does God call such a person (Luke 12:16-20)? __________________
Does God want us to seek physical (material) riches or spiritual riches (Matthew 6:19-20)? _________________________ If we really seek after the right thing, will God see to it that we have everything else that we need (Matthew 6:33)? ______
"Take heed and BEWARE OF ________________________" (Luke 12:15). The covetous man is the man who desires to have more and more and more! He is never content and satisfied with what he has. It is one thing to possess possessions but it is another thing to be possessed by possessions! It’s one thing to have money, but it’s another thing for money to have you! It’s one thing to have money and to use it in a way that pleases God but it’s another thing to _____________ money (1 Timothy 6:10).
Explain the paradox of 2 Corinthians 6:10 (if you need to, look up the word
"paradox" in your dictionary). How can a poor believer make
someone rich? How can a person have nothing yet possess all things? _______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Consider Proverbs 11:24. Here is another paradox! If you let go of wealth it will increase but if you hold on to it you’ll become poor! It seems like the opposite would be true! But God blesses those who give, and those who selfishly hang on to riches end up the losers. "He is the richest man in the esteem of the world who has gotten most. He is the richest man in the esteem of heaven who has given most" (F.B. Meyer).
He that _______________ pleasure shall be a ______________ man" (Proverbs 21:17). Is God saying that we are to have no pleasure? Has not God given to us all things richly to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17)? The problem is not with pleasure; the problem is with loving pleasure (loving it so much that the person seeks it most of all, "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God"--2 Tim. 3:4). The same is true with money. The problem is not with money (money is not sinful) but the real problem is with __________________________________ (1 Timothy 6:10). As strange as it may seem, the way to enjoy pleasure is not to love it or seek it! The man who gives his whole heart and time to the love of pleasure or money is surely on the road to poverty.
"_____________ profit ________ in the day of ___________" (Proverbs 11:4). Consider Luke 16:24. In the day of wrath this man’s wealth cannot buy him even one drop of ___________________! Will the rich man’s money help him to buy off the wrath of the Lamb (see Revelation 6:15-17)?____________
The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is very instructive. Read Luke 16:19-31. Now answer these questions:
In what way was the rich man rich? _______________________________________________________________________________
In what way was the rich man poor? _______________________________________________________________________________
In what way was the poor man poor? _______________________________________________________________________________
In what way was the poor man rich? _______________________________________________________________________________
When do men really find out how rich they are?
If you had to make a choice, would you rather be an honest poor man or a rich liar (Proverbs 19:22)? __________________________ Why do people lie? The honest poor man may not have very much, but what is something that he does have? ___________________ Are character and integrity more valuable than money? _________
Is it better to be poor and walk right or is it better to be rich and walk wrong (Proverbs 28:6)? _____________________________ Why is this so? What is the advantage of living right?
If you had to choose between a good name and great riches what would your choice be (Proverbs 22:1)?______________________________ What does it mean to have a good name? If you only have a little, what also should go along with it (Proverbs 15:16)? _______________________________ If you have great treasure you will also have great ___________________ (Proverbs 15:16). What kind of trouble might a rich person have? __________________________________________________ See also Proverbs 16:8 (Why is living right such a valuable thing?)
Some people are poor because they ask for it! According to Proverbs 10:4, what is one reason that people become poor? _____________________________________ Is this also a possible reason why some people get poor grades in school? ______ What is the cause of the poverty mentioned in Proverbs 6:11 and 20:13? _____________
What can riches buy (Proverbs 14:20)? _______________________ Is this the best kind of friend to have? _____ Why or why not?
What kind of person tends to look down on others (Proverbs 17:5)? _________________ Why is this so?
"The ____________ man is ___________ in his own conceit (eyes)" (Proverbs 28:11). Riches can make a person proud in his own eyes so that he has this attitude: "I need nothing! I have everything I need!" What kind of person does God bless (Matthew 5:3)? __________________________________ He realizes how poor and needy he is! Can God help someone who thinks he needs no help?_______
Please MATCH:
|
1)_______ 3)_______ |
Be humble and fear the LORD. Seek WISDOM (if you want to be rich, find a RICH COMPANION!). Seek the blessing of the Lord. (one of the above will take two letters) |
A. Proverbs 3:13-15 |
If you were to die today, how rich would you be? How much treasure have you laid up in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20)? How much gold, silver and precious stones will you have (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)? Only a fool would want to be rich for a second and poor for all eternity!
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