{"id":440,"date":"2016-05-30T22:18:10","date_gmt":"2016-05-30T21:18:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=440"},"modified":"2016-05-30T22:18:10","modified_gmt":"2016-05-30T21:18:10","slug":"everyday-christian-living-4-whose-money-is-it-anyway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=440","title":{"rendered":"Everyday Christian Living 4: Whose Money is it Anyway?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aim: To consider our attitudes to and use of money and possessions.<\/p>\n

To start you thinking<\/p>\n

How do you spend money? Take a little time to complete the table below. Be prepared for surprises!
\nTHIS IS FOR YOUR OWN STUDY ONLY. You may care to discuss what you discover but you will NOT be expected to show this sheet to anybody else!!_<\/p>\n

Purpose of money \t\t\tAmount \u00a3 per week\tAmount \u00a3 per year\t % of total
\nHousing
\nFood
\nTravel
\nClothing
\nHolidays
\nEntertainments
\nHousehold expenses
\nGiving to the church
\nOther giving
\nSaving
\nRepayments
\nOther purposes
\nLOST WITHOUT TRACE
\nTOTALS =<\/p>\n

\u2003
\nTo discuss
\nHow should being a Christian affect the way we spend money. You may find the categories above a helpful starting point. You will NOT need to talk about precise amounts, but you may wish to comment on the proportions of your resources which are used for different purposes.
\nIn what ways do you think we can be (or already are!) trapped by the materialism of society today?
\nWhy does God care about how we use money?
\nHow much should we give to the church and to Christian causes?
\nTo guide their giving, some Christians like to use the Old Testament principles of TITHES (giving 10%) and OFFERINGS.
\nBut in that case, 10% of WHAT? Before tax, or after? What about national insurance?
\nThere is an obvious difference between \u2018\u2018stewardship giving\u2019\u2019 (our planned regular gifts to support our own church and mission overseas) and \u2018\u2018spontaneous giving\u2019\u2019 (as we respond to a particular need brought to our attention).
\nWhat would be the right balance between these two forms of giving.
\nShould we tithe our TIME too?<\/p>\n

God also cares about how we use \u2018\u2018our\u2019\u2019 possessions. Discuss how we can serve God practically with \u2018\u2018our\u2019\u2019 homes and belongings.<\/p>\n

How should Luke 19:22 apply to us today?<\/p>\n

What should Christians and churches be doing to help folk caught in \u2018\u2018the debt trap\u2019\u2019 or \u2018\u2018the poverty trap\u2019\u2019 or \u2018\u2018the mortgage trap\u2019\u2019? What action should we be taking to help prevent such injustices from happening?
\nIn fact, \u2018\u2018our\u2019\u2019 time and talents, money and possessions do not belong to US at in any sense. Surely ALL our time, treasures and talents belong to GOD alone? They are entrusted to us to look after on His behalf – we are His stewards. We can\u2019t just give God a fraction of our lives and think we can keep everything else for ourselves! We are responsible for how we use what we give AND what we keep.<\/p>\n

HOW WILL YOUR USE OF MONEY AND POSSESSIONS BE DIFFERENT AS A RESULT OF THIS STUDY?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Aim: To consider our attitudes to and use of money and possessions. To start you thinking How do you spend money? Take a little…<\/span><\/p>\n

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