Purpose of this series

• Reminding our people to think biblically about the holidays
• The end of year giving invitation
• The first Adam and Eve moment that affected everything else
• Remember In the beginning – God – and us – we moved away from Him –now we are being led back
• We follow Him back to our design
• We are all broken in different ways so we pursue different remedies
• The Bible tells stories of people who pursued something other than God

Idols

Many choose worldly wealth Haggai 1:1–12 (NIV)

Why so much scripture of dealing with money?

• American Christians greatest idols –all of it but greed is included (an acceptable sin)
• It allows us to buy what we think is most important to us
• It is the means to the greatest competitor for Gods place in us and with us
• The devil uses it as a means to tempt us – if you worship me he says I will give all the world has to offer
• Money allows us to gain what we value most –comfort –security –status –power
• The problem is –it is a lie – we cannot provide those things apart from eternity ultimately and temporarily only if God allows it

Colossians 3:5–11 (NIV) — 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Jesus’ answer:

Matthew 6:19–33 (NIV) — 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

1st Notice – There is a distinction between a pagan and a disciple of Jesus

• How we value things so
• What we pursue is different

2nd Notice – Our choices effect how we live

• Misdiagnosis of problems/answers
• Worry – we are on our own

Psalm 20:7 (NIV) — 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 127:1–2 (NIV) — 1 Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. 2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.

1 Timothy 6:6–10 (NIV) — 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

3rd Notice – there are promises for those who seek Him

• He takes care of what you need
• He keeps account of your account in heaven

1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV) — 17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Back to the Garden – The Garden played out again, and again in our lives

• Our Adam and Eve Moment

Genesis 3:1–6 2      Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)

Small Group Discussion Questions

•   What would people close to you say are the priorities in your life?
•   Share about a time in your life when distractions were costly.
•   What distractions in life can tempt you to not put God first?
•   What habits/ routines/ people help you to keep God first in your life?
•   What will it look like to put God first in your life this next week?