Get angry about debt and get weird, deciding to live differently and work toward financial freedom. We live in a debt-saturated culture. We consume without regard to future costs and don’t know how to get out of the cycle we’ve created. Many of us live under the weight of constant financial stress that paralyzes us from living and giving the way God intends for us to. God has provided everything you need for abundant life in His Son, Jesus Christ. If you want to live that life of contentment and joy, you must learn to trust Him with your finances, viewing your possessions and wealth in light of eternity.

KEY VERSES

PROVERBS 6:1-11 (NASB)

My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor,
Have given a pledge for a stranger,
2 If you have been snared with the words of your mouth,
Have been caught with the words of your mouth,
3 Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself;
Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor,
Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor.
4 Give no sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids;
5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand
And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6 Go to the ant, O sluggard,
Observe her ways and be wise,
7 Which, having no chief,
Officer or ruler,
8 Prepares her food in the summer
And gathers her provision in the harvest.
9 How long will you lie down, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
10 “A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest”—
11 Your poverty will come in like a vagabond
And your need like an armed man.

PROVERBS 13:7 (NASB)

7 There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing;
Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.

PROVERBS 13:22 (NASB)

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

1 PETER 5:6 (NASB)

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,

ROMANS 13:8 (NASB)

8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves [a]his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

UNDERSTANDING

• f you took the day off to go shopping and treat yourself, what would you buy?

• What is one of the dumbest things you have ever bought?

• Would you say that you’re good with numbers and personal finances? Who does the books in your family? Why?

• What do you like most about money? Least?

• Respond to the following statement: “Living life the way God intends for you will seem weird to other people.”

• What wise financial principles can you take from Solomon here?

• How do you navigate the tension between avoiding entanglements and wanting to help those in need?

• How does the imagery in verse 5 speak to you about getting angry about debt and getting weird?

• In this week’s message, we learned three ways to develop a thrifty lifestyle: ditch the expensive car, be happy with what you have, and stop wasting money trying to impress others. How does your relationship with Christ impact your contentment with who you are and what you have?

• What does it say about your relationship with the Lord when you aren’t happy with what you have and waste money to impress other people?

• Why did Solomon tell his son to observe an ant? For what did Solomon praise the ant?

• Who do you know that embodies the principles in these verses?

• Why is laziness a spiritual problem?

• What distractions keep you from working toward financial freedom? Into what idle or lazy practices are you most prone to fall?

• What routines or principles will help you avoid such temptations?

  APPLICATION

• In this week’s message, we were challenged to commit to attack and pay off all consumer debt. Have you committed to this? What obstacles do you fear might prevent you from carrying it out?

• Invite someone who has already taken Financial Peace University to share a testimony about how it has impacted their lives. If no one has taken the course, what do you hope to learn as you participate?

WANT TO DIVE DEEPER?

Joining a group is a great way to know people and strengthen your relationship with Jesus Christ. Take a look at available groups to get plugged in to and find the group that is right for you. 

GIVING

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