Ecclesiastes 5:10-20
– New International
Version (NIV)
10 Whoever loves money never has
enough;
whoever loves wealth is never
satisfied with their income.
This too is meaningless.
11 As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
except to feast their eyes on
them?
12 The sleep of a laborer is
sweet,
whether they eat little or
much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
permits them no sleep.
13 I have seen a grievous evil
under the sun:
wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
14 or wealth lost through some
misfortune,
so that when they have children
there is nothing left for
them to inherit.
15 Everyone comes naked from
their mother’s womb,
and as everyone comes, so
they depart.
They take nothing from their toil
that they can carry in their
hands.
16 This too is a grievous evil:
As everyone comes, so they depart,
and what do they gain,
since they toil for the wind?
17 All their days they eat in
darkness,
with great frustration,
affliction and anger.
18 This is what I have observed
to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to
find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few
days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives
someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to
accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. 20 They seldom reflect on the
days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.
Who never has enough money (verse 10)?
What happens when “goods increase” (verse 11)?
What does the abundance of the rich not permit (verse 12)?
What “grievous evil under the sun” had Solomon seen (verse 13)?
How much of what
they toiled for can the departed take (verse 15)?
How do people depart
(verse 16)?
What has Solomon “observed
to be good” (verse 18)?
What is a “gift
of God” (verse 19)?
Why do people who
receive this gift “seldom reflect on the days of their life” (verse 20)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this
passage?
In your opinion,
what does this passage teach us about the treasures we pursue?
Matthew 6:16-24 - New International
Version (NIV)
16 “When
you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure
their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have
received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put
oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will
not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is
unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
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.
Why do hypocrites “disfigure
their faces” (verse 16)?
Who “sees
what is done in secret” (verse 18)?
What happens to treasures stored “on earth” (verse 19)?
Where should we store treasures (verse 20)?
Where is “your heart” (verse 21)?
When will “your whole body . . . be full of light” (verse 22)?
What happens when “your eyes are unhealthy” (verse 23)?
Who “can serve two masters” (verse 24)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?
In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the treasures we
pursue?
In your opinion, how does the fragileness of the earthly treasures in
Matthew 6:16-24 reinforce the meaningless of wealth in Ecclesiastes 5:10-20 and
highlight the value of heavenly treasures?
1 Timothy 6:3-10 - New International
Version (NIV)
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound
instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an
unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result
in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have
been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to
financial gain.
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.
What are people who do “not agree
the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching” like (verses
3 and 4)?
What do people “who have been robbed of the truth”
think about godliness (verse 5)?
What is “godliness
with contentment” (verse 6)?
What can we take from the world (verse 7)?
What does Paul say they “will be content with” (verse
8)?
Who falls “into temptation and a trap and into many
foolish and harmful desires” (verse 9)?
What is “a root of all kinds of evil” (verse
10)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this
passage?
In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about
the treasures we pursue?
In your opinion, how is Ecclesiastes 5:10-20’s
discussion of the meaninglessness of money and wealth reflected in 1 Timothy
6:3-10 contrast of love of money versus godliness?
In your opinion, how does 1 Timothy 6:3-10 help us understand Jesus’s statement in Matthew 6:16-24 that “no one can serve two masters”?
Titus 3:3-8 - New International Version (NIV)
3 At one
time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds
of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating
one another. 4 But when the
kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things
we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the
washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through
Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that,
having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the
hope of eternal life. 8 This is a
trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those
who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is
good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
In your opinion, who was “foolish, disobedient, deceived and
enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures” (verse 3)?
What appeared (verse 4)?
Why did “God our Savior” save us (verse 5)?
How did “God our Savior” save us (verse 5)?
Who was “poured out on us generously through Jesus
Christ our Savior” (verses 5 and 6)?
What do the heirs have hope of (verse 7)?
Who should “devote themselves to doing what is good”
(verse 8)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?
In your opinion,
what does this passage teach us about the treasures we pursue?
In your opinion, what does Titus 3:3-8 reveal about how God saves us from
the grievous evil of Ecclesiastes 5:10-20?
In
your opinion, what does Titus 3:3-8 convey about the two masters that Jesus
talked about in Matthew 6:16-24?
In your opinion, how
does Titus 3:3-8 help us understand how we move from unhealthy interests to the
“godliness with contentment” found in 1 Timothy 6:3-10?
In your opinion, what do these Scriptures from Ecclesiastes,
Matthew, 1 Timothy and Titus teach us about what it means to be devoted to
wealth?
In your
opinion, how can we devote ourselves serving God today?
(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment