Devotional Reading Plan

Thought:

Most people living in the United States are rich by the standards of the world. We may not always feel wealthy compared to the people around us, but most of us have a consistent source of food, clean water, clothing, and a safe place to sleep. The world tells us that money belongs to us and that we should keep it for ourselves. But Jesus has a radical view towards money, which can sometimes make us feel uncomfortable. Lots of people try to find loopholes or ways they can get around Jesus’ instructions for our money. Jesus tells us that our money does not belong to us, but that it belongs to God. God gave it to us to be good stewards. (A steward is a person who looks after someone else’s money or possessions). In the Bible, being a good steward of money doesn’t mean saving it up for yourself even if saving seems wise. God does want us to be wise with our money, but being a good steward is more than just saving. If you have more money than you need to survive, then God has given you the great gift of getting to participate in the love He shows to the poor. He wants us to use His money well by using it to care for others. It is a great joy to give money away to those in need. God knows that this attitude towards money is what is best for us. It is easy to love money instead of loving God, like the man in today’s passage, but by the power of God, loving Jesus more than money is possible.

1. What question did the man have for Jesus? How did Jesus feel towards the man?

2. What thing did Jesus tell the man he lacked? How did the man respond?

3. What did Jesus say is harder than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle?

4. What does Jesus promise to His followers who give up what they love to follow Him?

Engage:

You are never too young to give! Maybe you are able to make some money babysitting, mowing lawns, or doing chores around the house. If you do so, instead of spending all of it or saving it for the next iPhone, video game, or concert tickets, give some of it away to people in need. If you don’t know where to give it to, think of a cause you care a lot about. Investigate and find a trustworthy charity that helps those people. When you donate your money, take a few minutes to pray for the recipients, too!

If you aren’t able to make money yet, there are other ways to give! Think about a way you can give of your time this week. Maybe you can volunteer at a nursing home or a food shelter, or maybe there are extra ways you can help your family around the house.

Deeper Waters:

Though following Jesus can be hard, He promises we will get good things in return. List out the things that Jesus promises will come in this age (things we will receive on this Earth before Jesus comes back) and the things that Jesus promises will come in the next age (after Jesus comes back). What surprises you about this list?

A Quick Note: Jesus promises we will receive a hundred times as many homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields as we lose while we are on Earth. This does not mean that if you lose your house because of your faith you will get 100 houses. What Jesus is referring to is the spiritual family we join when we become Jesus-followers. Every Jesus-follower has sisters and brothers in Christ all over the world, all of whom are called to open their homes and care for other Jesus-followers.