TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Proverbs 28:19-20; 15:27; Luke 12:15
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. - Proverbs 22:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to a recent report, charitable giving in America has increased less than one percent over the past few years. During the same time span, however, debt payments have risen 550 percent, while our entertainment spending is up 123 percent. Not surprisingly, the average consumer in this country spends $1.05 to $1.10 for every dollar of income. The figures are startling, even for a society where millions of people live in various degrees of financial debt.

If you have felt the ever-tightening squeeze of debt, you know how painful and frustrating it can be. No wonder the French author Victor Hugo said that being indebted is worse than being enslaved.

Actually, in the world of the Bible to be in debt was to be enslaved. Jesus once told a parable about a servant who owed his king money and was about to be sold, along with his family, to pay the debt (Matt. 18:21-35). Debtors' prisons were a reality as recently as a few centuries ago. One historian reminds us that many of America's early settlers were fugitives from debtors' prisons in Europe.

You probably don't know anyone who enjoys being in debt. Whoever coined the term ""financial bondage"" to describe debt got it right. That's exactly what it feels like when your days are choked by debt.

Most people who have more debt than they can handle know how they got in that mess. What isn't always pleasant to know is the Bible's no-nonsense teaching about this bondage.

Scripture gives two primary attitudes that lead to debt: greed, or a consuming desire to get rich, and a refusal to work. We'll talk about work and God's will tomorrow, but today we want to focus on greed. Proverbs 28 addresses this sin--and God's Word is more timely than ever, now that most Americans have access to a lottery or some other get-rich-quick scheme.

The problem here is trying to acquire overnight what God intends us to work and save for. But greed also relates to seeing, wanting, and acquiring things we know we can't afford, and that hits a lot of God's people in the way they live. That's why Jesus warned us to guard against greed of all forms.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
For those in debt, the main need is simply more money, right?

Not necessarily. Larry Burkett points out that unless the attitudes that caused the debt are identified and adjusted, a debt-ridden person will eventually fall back into the same bondage. We need to take Jesus' words in Luke 12:15 to heart. One way you can do that is to sit down with your spouse or family this weekend, review your financial condition, and make sure you are ""on guard"" against the temptations that lead to choking debt.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 2:24-26; 5:18-20
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. - Colossians 3:23
TODAY IN THE WORD
Buddy Pilgrim, who is a founder of Integrity Leadership and a former corporate executive, says the most important principle for Christians who want to enjoy biblical success in the workplace is to have a sense of God's calling in their vocation.

That sounds very good; but in the day-to-day business of work it's much more difficult to keep this perspective. Millions of people ""punch a clock"" on the job every day with little or no sense of a higher purpose to their work. The sad thing is that there are many Christians among those millions. But God is intensely interested in how we handle the occupation that consumes most of our waking hours from Monday to Friday.

The book of Ecclesiastes emphasizes God's involvement in our work from the standpoint of finding satisfaction in what we do. This kind of contentment is a gift from God, the Bible says, and it comes most readily to those who sense His calling and His blessing on their work.

Because our job is such a big part of our responsibility to manage God's resources, it's important that we find out what He has equipped and called us to do. As Larry Burkett says, ""If 5 p.m. on Friday is the best part of your week and 8 a.m. on Monday is your worst, God probably has something else in mind for you."" God's will for us is fulfillment, not frustration, in our work.

The great thing about biblical principles of work is that they apply to all of us, whether we manage a multinational corporation or a household. Qualities such as honesty, integrity, and diligence are basic to being good managers of God's gift of meaningful work--and by the way, there's no such thing as meaningless ""busy work"" in God's kingdom!

Another side of this issue is making sure we use our God-given abilities and interests to the full. For some of us, that may mean staying where we are and praising God for His clear leading. Other believers may want to consider some Christian-based career testing that would help them identify the best way to use the gifts and talents God has entrusted to them.

Whatever the case, it is God's will that we as His children enjoy our work, and use it to further His kingdom--for His glory and our eternal benefit.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Larry Burkett's ministry, Christian Financial Concepts, has much helpful, Bible-based material on the subject of work.

You'll find information on this topic in your local Christian bookstore. If you have older teenagers, we especially encourage you to procure a career guidance system that can help them find God's direction. And wherever you will go tomorrow to report for work, why not stop right now to thank God for your job, and ask Him to help you fulfill today's verse this week in your work?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 12:1-8
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace. - 1 Peter 4:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Commenting on Romans 12:1, Dr. John Witmer of Dallas Theological Seminary says, ""The word 'bodies'...represents the totality of one's life and activities, of which his body is the vehicle of expression.""

In other words, God demands our all. This isn't an unreasonable demand because of the mercy God showed in Jesus Christ, saving us from eternal death and giving us eternal life with Him. This is the basis of Christian stewardship, since a steward is a person who takes care of someone else's property and is accountable to the owner.

Romans 12:1-2 is a powerful summary of what the Christian life is all about. Our lives are a stewardship, on loan to us from God to be lived for His glory. Thus, it makes sense that we would submit ourselves to Him and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us by renewing our minds so that we think like Christ.

We can express our commitment to Christ in the way we use our spiritual gifts. These are not just natural talents, but supernatural abilities God gives each believer to benefit Christ's body.

God has a definite will when it comes to how we should use our gifts for maximum blessing. Notice that the seven gifts mentioned here are not listed like items on a grocery list. For example, the gift of ""prophesying,"" or strengthening and encouraging people from God's Word (1 Cor. 14:3), is to be done a certain way: ""in proportion to his faith"" (Rom. 12:6)--or better, ""the faith."" That is, the prophet's teaching needs to agree with the revealed truth of the Word.

Other people express their complete devotion to the Lord in the way they give with unusual generosity, lead with diligence, or show mercy ""cheerfully"" (the same word as the ""cheerful"" giver in 2 Cor. 9:7).

The wisdom behind God's plan for the use of our gifts is obvious in verses 4-6, where Paul compares the church to a human body with many different, but cooperating, members. We are all given different spiritual gifts, but these different gifts are meant to be used for the good of everyone.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It's our goal to help believers evaluate themselves with ""sober judgment"" so they can do the best job possible as God's managers.

This is very important in relation to spiritual gifts. How can you evaluate yourself accurately in this area? Here are some guidelines. If God has gifted you in a particular way--for example, giving or showing mercy--you'll be drawn to this area, you'll have the resources and the opportunities to carry it out, and you'll find people are encouraged when you exercise your gift.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 12:9-21
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. - Romans 12:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
Abraham Kuyper was a pastor, newspaper editor, theology professor, author--and eventually, prime minister of the Netherlands from 1901-1905. Kuyper gave two principles that guided his unusually productive service for Christ.

First, Kuyper said devotion to the Lord ""must permeate and give color to our feelings, our perceptions, our sensations, our thinking, our imaginations, our willing, our acting, our speaking."" And second, Kuyper worked to exalt Christ in all areas of life--""#in the home, in the school, and in the state.""

Abraham Kuyper's principles provide us with an appropriate real-life application of today's verse. Our privilege and responsibility to serve God as managers of His kingdom extend to His family and to those outside the faith, as Kuyper's life illustrates so well.

Devotion and ""brotherly love"" (v. 10) should mark our relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ. There are a number of practical ways given here to express your love.

For example, you can honor other Christians above yourself. This may involve helping someone else achieve a goal and be recognized for it, or simply yielding your self-interest in a given situation so that the larger group might benefit.

Verses 12-13 give multiple ideas for God-honoring service. You can be an encouragement to other Christians by your joy, patience, and faithfulness in prayer. We have seen an example of giving to God's people who are hurting (the offering for the poor in Jerusalem, see the June 10 study). Hospitality was also a vital ministry in a day when traveling teachers, evangelists, and other servants of God needed a place to stay.

Paul also has plenty to say about the way we should relate to unbelievers. The theme of this section (vv. 14, 17-21) is returning blessing for cursing and good for evil, which is what Jesus did when He was faced with persecution and hostility.

Good stewardship may even require that we meet the needs of people who have made themselves our enemies (v. 20). You won't find much of that kind of thinking in our culture, but then God doesn't run His kingdom by the world's standards.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Most Christians would probably say they are stronger at serving within the body of Christ than outside of it.

For one thing, we have so many more opportunities in the Christian world. Through our churches, and ministries such as Moody Bible Institute, we can be part of God's work around the world. But some believers are hard-pressed to give solid contacts with non-Christians that provide a chance for service. Today, why not evaluate yourself in this area? And if necessary, ask God to bring you in contact with people who need Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7; Matthew 12:34-37
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. - Proverbs 10:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
Estimates vary as to the number of words an average person speaks in a day. But whichever number you take, it's a great deal. One researcher says 30ꯠ words per day is a good average, enough to fill a small book. In a lifetime, that's a library full of words--good and bad. And it's a library we probably wouldn't want someone else to read too extensively.

Our speech isn't a subject we often hear mentioned in connection with stewardship, but we think it belongs in this month's study. The gift of speech is one of God's greatest blessings to us and, as in other areas of life, we are accountable for how we use our words.

The sad irony of human speech is captured by James when he wrote, ""With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing"" (James 3:9-10).

Solomon has some wise words for us about our words. The context of his caution is worship, which highlights the power of speech to bless or to curse a life. The ""sacrifice of fools"" (Eccl. 5:1) is a hasty, thoughtless vow made to God, rashly stated to impress God or others. When we're in God's presence, listening before talking is good advice.

The Bible doesn't urge us to be sparing with our words just for the sake of silence. As the verse quoted in Ecclesiastes 5 reveals, the more we say the more likely we are to make a mistake. That's just human nature, because we are sinful, imperfect people using a tool--the tongue--that has also been tainted by sin.

Another reason the Word advises us to be thoughtful stewards of our words is that, according to Jesus, we will have to face them someday. The Savior's warning in Matthew 12 is enough to make even the most glib talker swallow once before firing off the next sentence.

In fact, the context of these verses shows that Jesus issued this caution after some Pharisees had committed the unpardonable sin by blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

Given all this, someone might think the safest course is not to say anything at all. That's impossible, of course, and it wouldn't solve the problem anyway (v. 34).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
""Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks,"" Jesus said in verse 34.

So while we need to set a guard on our tongues, the Bible also tells us, ""Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life"" (Prov. 4:23). This would be a good verse to write out on a card and set on your desk or the family dinner table, or stick to your refrigerator. Also, why not commit it to memory? Make it a family project, and determine to keep your ""wellspring"" clean so your words will bless God and others.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 9:3-14; 1 Timothy 5:17-18
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor. - 1 Timothy 5:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
Warren Wiersbe, well-known Bible teacher and former pastor of Moody Memorial Church here in Chicago, writes that when it comes to the giving of Christians, ""Our first obligation is to our local church....Our own pastor is our shepherd, and he ought to have our spiritual and financial support."" Dr. Wiersbe goes on to say, ""We should put our church first and then, as the Lord directs, share with those ministries He has laid on our hearts.""

Dr. Wiersbe's advice is solidly biblical, as usual, and he expresses well the commitment of our hearts at the Moody Bible Institute. Paul drew on every example possible to prove the principle that Jesus taught when He said, ""The worker deserves his wages"" (Luke 10:7). The Lord made this statement in the context of sending the disciples out to minister and to receive support from their hearers.

Paul himself did not use this privilege in Corinth, but that was because of the Corinthians' attitude problems, not because he didn't deserve the support. Taking care of the pastoral staff in the local church is another basic obligation we need to fulfill as the managers of God's resources.

God has always taken pains to take care of His servants. As Paul reminded his readers, the Old Testament law taught the same principle, because ""those who work in the temple get their food from the temple"" (1 Cor. 9:13).

In 1 Timothy 5, Paul added the concept of ""double honor"" for elders, or pastors, whose work is ""preaching and teaching."" This is a reference to the respect we are to give our spiritual leaders (Heb. 13:17), and to the financial support they deserve for their ministry.

The word translated ""work"" is a strong one. The idea is ""laboring to exhaustion,"" a picture of a pastor who gives all his energies to teaching the Word to his people. Pastors can't give full attention to the work of God when they are distracted by having to earn a living on the side.

It's obvious to Paul that this is the way things should be in the church (1 Cor. 9:11). It's not ""too much"" for a spiritual leader to expect a fair salary. After all, the rest of us expect to get paid for our work.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
First Timothy 5 gives us two ways we can help take care of the leaders God has given to the church as His ""gifts.""

The first is the respect we mentioned above. Don't worry about ""overspending"" on prayer and encouragement for your pastor! In fact, God says our pastors are His gifts to us--and when you receive a gift, it's good manners to say ""Thank you"" to the giver. In addition, your generous giving, and urging other Christians to do the same, will help provide for your pastor's needs.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 6:1-4
Be careful not to do your ""acts of righteousness"" before men, to be seen by them. - Matthew 6:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Larry Burkett says Jesus' teaching in today's verses emphasizes that ""those who have a problem with pride need to give in a modest and humble way."" But, Burkett adds, ""This doesn't mean that

all giving must be done entirely in secret; it just means that we're not to draw attention to ourselves when we give.""

Burkett has pinpointed the heart of the issue. Jesus wasn't forbidding His people to give a donation in honor or memory of a family member or friend. Nor was He saying every gift we put in the offering plate has to be marked ""Anonymous."" What matters is the motive with which we give.

The context helps our understanding. In the latter verses of Matthew 5, Jesus had just taught about the superior righteousness required of His followers. Superior to what? To the righteousness of the Pharisees (5:20), who placed much emphasis on the outward act.

Then Jesus applied this teaching in the areas of giving, praying, and fasting (vv. 1-18). Each of these was a way the Pharisees practiced their ""acts of righteousness,"" except that there was a flaw. The Pharisees' acts were often done with great flair to be seen and applauded by others.

Jesus wanted His followers to go as far as necessary in the other direction, even to the ""right hand, left hand"" extreme if that was needed. Why? Because anything less than giving with the motive to honor God will bring no reward from Him.

So the question is, from whom do we want applause and recognition for our giving? If our desire is public acclaim, we may get it--but that's all we'll get.

But if our motive is to honor God and bring glory to His name, then the name on the check or on the plaque outside the classroom or other facility won't detract from the blessing.

In this same Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, ""Let your light shine before men"" (Matt. 5:16). If giving is a good work, and it is when done properly, then this seems to negate the idea of private, anonymous giving. But keep reading, because the purpose of shining our light is that people will praise--not us, but our ""Father in heaven."" That's the kind of service He rewards.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We've put much emphasis on finances and giving this month, because this is such a large part of our overall stewardship.

But we have also tried to point out that this ministry is not a one-way street. Jesus taught us that we can freely ask our Father for our daily needs when we are living in tune with His will (Matt. 6:11). And to believers who had faithfully supported him, Paul wrote, ""My God will meet all your needs"" (Phil. 4:19). Be encouraged today to know that God does not overlook your faithfulness in serving Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 6:19-24
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
Dr. Joseph Stowell tells of an airline flight he once made into Newark, New Jersey. He writes, ""I looked out the window, and there standing in the harbor was the Statue of Liberty. Only this time she was shrouded with scaffolding. Scurrying around the scaffolding were welders, polishers and repairers. This grand lady had no capacity to care for herself. I know Christians who've become accustomed to living by the scaffolding. If my walk with God is not carefully maintained, there is that subtle drift to hollowness, where my Christianity becomes a heartless habit, often moving into hypocrisy.""

Preventing our service for Him from becoming a ""heartless habit"" was high on Jesus' priority list. That's why He taught us to guard our motives in giving, as we learned yesterday. In the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord continued to show us how to keep our focus right when it comes to keeping the material and the spiritual in proper balance.

That brings us to the passage for today, a classic on the subject of our money and our motives. Some Christians get defensive when the pastor announces a sermon on money. They say to themselves, ""Oh no, here we go again. He's going to make us feel guilty for not giving more, and tell us we shouldn't be spending our money on material things.""

But that kind of thinking misses the point. The Bible is not out to kill our joy and plunder our checkbooks. Jesus did us a favor by giving us the truth on the way things are.

In these tremendous verses, the Savior spares us from the futility of wasting all our energy and commitment on that which will eventually be destroyed. Not only that, but by warning us against the ""deceitfulness of wealth"" (Mark 4:19), Jesus points us to a better way--laying up eternal treasure in heaven, where nothing can touch it.

We're back on the issue of motives. If our desire is to have everything our eyes see, then we're going to have problems because we will wind up being mastered by our money.

But if our heart's motive is to bless God and His work with the money He has entrusted to us, then investing in eternity will be a delight and not just a duty for us.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Every time we come to Matthew 6:21, we need to notice again that Jesus says our heart follows our treasure, not vice versa.

This isn't just an interesting fact to put in our notebooks. It's a serious reminder for us to be very careful how we use our finances, since we will come to love what we spend our money on. Do you know where the bulk of your ""treasure"" is going these days? That's a question worth thinking about--and it might be a good topic for conversation over family dinner.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 6:25-34
Seek first [God's] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. - Matthew 6:33
TODAY IN THE WORD
The late cartoonist Rube Goldberg was famous for his hilarious drawings of incredibly complicated machines designed to do simple jobs. Goldberg's creations were so popular that an annual competition is held in his name to design a complicated machine that does a simple job. The 1998 Goldberg contest winners were a group of engineering students at the University of Texas who invented a device that requires forty steps to shut off an alarm clock.

It's fun to make things complicated when first prize in a contest is at stake. But in real life, there's a great deal to be said for keeping things simple. That's true in stewardship, and no Bible passage illustrates this better than the closing verses of Matthew 6. The focus of our stewardship is the key. Everything else is details.

The good news is that Jesus has simplified the issue for us. If we are pursuing our relationship with God and living for His kingdom, much of what we tend to worry about will get pushed to the background--where they belong.

Jesus was not saying that food, clothing, and other necessities are unimportant. Exactly the opposite. God knows we need these things because that's the way He made us. And He has taken upon Himself the responsibility to provide these for us, if we will let go of our fretting about them and seek God with all our being. Even the plants and animals are witnesses that God knows how to take care of His creatures.

Today we could add many other things to the basic list Jesus gave in these verses. But the principle is the same. We're going to spend our lives following something or someone. To run after anything or anyone but God is to act like people who don't even know Him.

When you think about it, who can do a better job of supplying our need--God or ourselves? The answer is obvious. God has promised to take care of these things if we will make Him our priority, which doesn't sound unreasonable at all. In fact, nothing else is reasonable but committing ourselves to Christ (see Rom. 12:1)!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Verse 33 is so often quoted that it's easy to forget Jesus had another word of counsel for us in verse 34.

This is the logical conclusion of God's promise to meet our needs--what can we hope to gain by taking things back into our hands through worry? Worry is pointless, even sinful. This is an especially good word for Father's Day. Dad, you have a great deal of responsibility, but you also have a Lord who is bigger than your biggest worry. Why not trade your worries for His peace today, and enjoy the good things God has given you?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Proverbs 23:1-5
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. - Proverbs 23:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Charles Spurgeon once said, ""Nothing earthly can ever be lasting, nothing in time can be worth considering compared with eternity.""

These words from the great British preacher of the last century are worth remembering. The temporary nature of everything earthly applies many times over when it comes to material wealth. That's why God wants to spare us the grief of a life spent chasing after something that can't possibly last, and won't transfer to heaven anyway--even if we manage to ""grab some of the gold"" down here.

The writer of Proverbs helps us understand this principle with a graphic example, and then a wise word of caution. Verses 1-3 and 4-5 are not necessarily connected in terms of a flow of thought, but they make a great impact in communicating the message.

Being greedy and gluttonous, whether at a banquet or at the bank, can get us in trouble. Earlier this month we learned that, according to Paul, loving money can pierce us through with many sorrows (1 Tim. 6:10).

Here the Proverbs humorously advise us that we would be better off to cut ourselves than to yield to gluttony. Restraining our appetite can save us much grief when we are being ""buttered up"" by someone who has an ulterior motive for his generosity, as in the example of a deceitful ruler.

Then the writer reveals the futility of being too greedy for money. In this case, the result is not just a stomach ache, we'll come out with empty hands. Money is designed to be kept in circulation. That's how we enjoy its benefits. But money has a way of disappearing so fast it feels like it merely passes through our hands for a short time.

The word play in verse 5 is interesting. We could read it, ""Let your eye fly to riches...and they will fly away."" There's no mistaking the meaning. Again, we are drawn back to Paul's warning that wealth ""is so uncertain"" (1 Tim. 6:17).

We need to understand how good God is to help us keep our feet from the snare of materialism. Working hard to get rich will only wear you out while you watch your money fly away on eagles' wings!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What a great contrast Isaiah 40:31 offers to the analogy of eagles' wings in today's reading.

You may already know this familiar verse by heart. If not, we suggest you turn to it and read God's promise that those who hope in Him will soar on eagles' wings and find new strength, instead of wearing themselves out. Which verse sounds like a better way to start your work week? Renew your hope and trust in God today, and thank Him for His promise.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 127:1-2; Mark 2:23-28
In vain you rise up early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat--for he grants sleep to those he loves. - Psalm 127:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Adults have been defined as ""people who want to sleep."" You can probably identify with that to some degree. Some people insist sleep is one of the rights guaranteed in the Constitution.

Our desire for rest is actually built into our bodies by the God who gave us a day to come apart from the work week so we won't come apart at the seams. God even set the example when He rested from His creative work on the seventh day and ""made it holy,"" setting it aside as special (Gen. 2:2-3).

Later, the Sabbath was incorporated into the law (Ex. 20:8-11), forbidding Israelites to do any work on that day. It allowed them to give their attention to worshipping God while refreshing their bodies and spirits.

By the time of Jesus, the Jewish leaders had turned the Sabbath from a blessing into a bondage. There were so many rules that this day fit like a straitjacket. And the Pharisees were greatly appalled when they saw anyone breaking the rules.

The principle that one day of the week is to be devoted to rest and worship is important for us to learn. If we ignore our responsibility to be good stewards of our time, we misuse God's gift and pay the price of stress on our bodies, minds, and spirits. And God may withhold His blessing if we are stealing from His worship and from the time He has given us for rest, to try to get ahead.

Many of the arguments about what violates God's standard of a day of rest revolve around specific activities, such as professional sports or various forms of recreation. The Bible gives us principles the Holy Spirit uses to guide us in any situation if we are seeking God's will.

For instance, Psalm 127 teaches the futility of work to the point of exhaustion. It's not only tiring, it also deflects God's blessing.

In Mark's Gospel, Jesus' disciples were picking grain to eat, which was allowed under the law (Deut. 23:25) but not under the Pharisees' rules. Jesus' defense of His men teaches us that God created a day of rest for our benefit--not to put us under bondage. What we do on this day, in addition to worship, is something we need to determine in our hearts before God (see Rom. 14:5).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When we as believers violate God's principles for stewardship in some way, it's usually because we have stopped believing something.

Whether we formulate it in our minds, spending our Sabbath rest on work or other self-interests is an admission that we no longer believe that God can bless us more in six days than we can accomplish without His blessing in seven. This principle applies to our money or any other gift from God. If your desire is to give God His portion of your time, tell Him that today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 2:1-12, 24-26
To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness - Ecclesiastes 2:26
TODAY IN THE WORD
In A Complete Guide to Managing Your Money, Larry Burkett writes, ""According to our attitude, wealth can be creative--it can be used to spread God's Word, build hospitals and churches, feed the poor, or take care of orphans. Or it can be wasted--spent on frivolous activities, lavish living, gambling or other foolish activity....The importance of money to God is that for this small sliver of time in which we are living He wants us to use it to help determine our usefulness to Him throughout eternity.""

Burkett lays out the opposite ends of the spectrum pretty clearly when it comes to the use of wealth. Our goal is to use wealth creatively, the way he describes. The fact is that even if we suddenly decided to pursue lavish living, very few of us would have the finances to accomplish it.

But Solomon didn't have that limitation. This king, who was famous for his wisdom and his wealth, decided to use his wealth to increase his wisdom. The path Solomon followed ""to find out what is good"" (v. 1) was pleasure, self-indulgence, and great accomplishments--and he left nothing off the list. The king did everything he could to pursue ""the delights of the heart of man"" (v. .

The Holy Spirit inspired Solomon to share his experiences with us. When we're reading the book of Ecclesiastes, we have to be careful not to jump to conclusions too quickly, because we don't have Solomon's final word on life until we've read the last verse. Life is not a futile, meaningless chasing after wind when we look to God.

Solomon himself drew some preliminary conclusions at various points in the book, and this is one of them. He tried it all in search of the so-called good life, and it all left him empty. Therefore, according to Solomon, we can scratch pleasure, indulgence, and achievements off the list of things that, in and of themselves, have the power to satisfy us and please God.

For people who want to be good stewards of God's gifts, this is valuable information. Let's take the advice of someone who went to the extreme and came back to tell us about his experience. Real enjoyment is a gift only God can give.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Life really does boil down to two basic choices. We can live either to please ourselves or to please God.

God's Word gives us a tremendous advantage in making that choice, because it shows us the results of each path. Self-indulgence is a dead-end, but living to please God produces the gifts listed in today's verse. In fact, when you open your Bible every day, you have the secret to finding these gifts. How are you doing in keeping your daily appointment with the Lord?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Philippians 4:10-19; Luke 6:24-26
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. - Proverbs 11:30
TODAY IN THE WORD
Charlotte Moon, better known as Lottie, was a missionary in China for thirty-nine years. Her appeals for ""more laborers"" helped many people see God's vision for world missions, and inspired others to commit themselves to this work. In 1887, Lottie Moon sent this challenge back home: ""Where is the silver and the gold that should be in the Lord's treasury to send out those men and women who are asking to be sent to the heathen? Alas! Alas! Some are spending in selfish indulgences. So these heathen souls go down to death without ever having heard the name of Jesus.""

People don't write and talk like this anymore--but maybe someone needs to. The basic needs and challenges of God's work around the world haven't changed since the days of pioneer missionaries such as Lottie Moon. Today we want to look at another side of the topic we discussed yesterday, which is the choice we have in the way we use our finances and other gifts.

Before we go any further, let's remind ourselves of the fact that as Christians, we are stewards, or managers, of God's possessions. The only question is what kind of job we will do. Today's readings give us the contrast between living for our own comfort and using our money to help win souls.

The believers at Philippi were a great example of the latter lifestyle. They were among the poor Christians of Macedonia who gave so generously to help their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem (see the June 10 study).

Paul also tells us they supported his ministry even when nobody else did. He was happy to tell them they would have spiritual reward credited to their account in heaven (Phil. 4:17).

Jesus addressed those on the other end of the spectrum. It's the implication in Luke 6 that makes His words so penetrating. One Bible teacher points out that in general, the rich people mentioned in Luke were those who chose present comfort over future blessing, and ignored God and spiritual realities (see Luke 12:16-21 for a good example). Jesus also implies that their wealth, symbolized by laughter, was gained at the expense of others (Lk. 6:25).

The conclusion is that we can either spend money on ourselves or determine to be ""rich toward God"" (Luke 12:21).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Are you happy with the amount of your time, talent, and treasure that is being invested in God's work around the world?

That's an intensely personal issue between you and the Lord--but we can offer a few questions that will help you resolve it. Does your giving to God's work represent the tithe, the one-tenth of your income that is a basic standard for giving? Do you carry a burden for lost people, whether at home or a world away? Are you sharing the gospel as God gives you opportunities?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him. - 2 Corinthians 5:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
C. T. Studd (1862-1931) gave up a sports career to join six of his Cambridge University classmates in taking the gospel to China. Studd was considered the best cricket player in England during his college days, and at age 25 he inherited a great fortune. But he said no to cricket and gave away his fortune, spending many years on the mission field in China, India, and Africa. He also traveled in the U.S. recruiting students to the work of world missions, and the Worldwide Evangelization Crusade Studd founded is still active today as the WEC International.

C. T. Studd is a wonderful example of someone whose work for the Lord has survived the test of hardships and the passage of years. This committed missionary understood and practiced a ministry of stewardship on a level most people never reach. Studd gave away his inherited fortune, because he did not want to make the same mistake as the rich young man who came to Jesus, but rejected His call to follow Him.

It's encouraging to learn about people who live with Christ's judgment seat in view. This is the only judgment we will ever face as believers. Paul is clear that even the person whose work fails the test of fire will be saved. This is an evaluation of the quality of our stewardship--the Master saying to His managers, ""Give an account of your management"" (Luke 16:2).

The picture of fire and the possibility of suffering loss make this a judgment we need to take seriously. It's great to talk about the rewards we are storing up. But we also have to recognize that those things done for any other motive but to serve and please Christ will disintegrate.

That's why Paul cautions us to be careful about the kind of building material we lay on the foundation of Jesus Christ. It will all come to light on ""the Day"" (v. 13), the return of Christ for His church. The amount of our blessing and management responsibility in the kingdom will be based on the verdict we receive at the judgment seat.

Rather than causing us to pull back, the truth of Christ's judgment should give us determination to give all we have for Him. After all, there is a reward ahead for faithful service.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Just before he wrote the words quoted on this page, Paul stated that his consuming goal was to please Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:9).

That sounds pretty straightforward, and it really is. Pleasing the Lord isn't just some pious-sounding phrase we use when we want to sound spiritual. It's a real goal we can use to help us decide how we manage our lives. What decisions are you facing next week? Put your options to the test of whether they will result in ""fruit that will last"" (John 5:16).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 9:1-10
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Whoever said death and taxes are the only two certainties in life wasn't far from the truth. Solomon would agree with at least the first part of that statement, because he emphasized in the book of Ecclesiastes that death is a certainty for every person, regardless of status, wealth, or wisdom--or the lack thereof.

You may be thinking that discussing death is not a very encouraging way to begin today's study. However, the certainty of death is an important part of the lesson Solomon wants us to learn about life. The fact is that even for God's people the future is uncertain (vv. 1-3). We don't know what awaits us. There are no guarantees that life will always land sunny side up.

Death, however, is certain (vv. 4-6). So what should we do about these two inescapable realities? An uncertain future and a certain death may seem like a bleak outlook, but Solomon's advice for us is anything but morbid.

As we look at this passage, we need to issue a theological disclaimer. Ecclesiastes is not God's only, or His final, word about life. Therefore, we can't build an entire theology on these verses. For example, when this book addresses themes such as certainty and uncertainty, the doctrine of salvation is not in view. Solomon was concerned with life ""under the sun.""

That being said, let's consider the king's advice on how to live as God's stewards in the face of life's uncertainties and riddles that can't be figured out.

If you have read Ecclesiastes you know that instead of urging us to retreat to the top of a mountain and ponder the unexplainable ways of God, Solomon's counsel is to enjoy the good gifts from God.

One conclusion of this book is that only God can give us the ability to enjoy His gifts. It's because ""God favors what [we] do"" (v. 7) that we can delight in His provision for our need of food and drink. The idea is that the presence of these gifts indicates God's approval.

The same is true for gifts such as marriage and the work God puts before us. Our days are not ""meaningless"" in the sense of being futile. Instead, our days are fleeting, passing quickly. Let's make the most of them to serve and please God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The fact that life is short doesn't mean we have to be morbid about it.

Being God's steward was never meant to be a grim affair. Does your life reflect the joy that comes with knowing God and living according to His principles? Evaluate the level of joy in your life today. List four or five reasons you have to be joyful, then share what you found with your family or friends.