“PUT MONEY IN ITS PLACE”

Season: Jesus’ Sermon on the Mountain
Episode 8: “Put Money in Its Place”
Today’s Bible Bite: Matthew 6:19-44

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG1LjFO99dA (Saddleback Kids – Don’t Worry)

“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:21, NLT)

Money is a part of life—we need it to buy things like food and clothing and it helps us to afford things we want like toys and vacations. But the Bible warns us not to rely on money to take care of us. The only thing we can count on with 100% certainty is God and when it comes to money, He tells us not to allow it to take up too much of our attention. God wants His children to be generous, sharing what we have with others; He wants us to remember to take care of others who are less fortunate than us, which means spending our money to help others, not hoarding it and keeping it all for ourselves. God knows that when we put too much trust in having money, we can become obsessed with getting more or worried when we don’t think we have enough. Jesus promised that when we, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, God will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33). So, instead of trying to have lots of money, we should focus on living for God, and as we do we will be ‘storing up treasure in heaven’—now that’s a secure account!

Think about it...
• Money is not bad, but paying too much attention to it can be. What can happen when we focus too much on money?
• God tells us to share what we have with others, which includes our money. Why is it sometimes hard to share?
• No matter how much money we have during this life, no one takes any of it to heaven. What kind of treasure are we supposed to be collecting?
• Jesus warned His followers that money can keep us from being able to serve God. How can that happen?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, that it doesn’t matter how much money we have...whether we have a lot or a little, you tell us to share with others. Our focus in life should be on serving you, not only filling bank accounts full of money, having an awesome RRSP or having lots of stuff. When we are living for you, you have promised to take care of us.