Adult Bible Study Guide

Jan • Feb • Mar 2018

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 Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide
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 Stewardship: Motives of the Heart
Contents
1 The Influence of Materialism
2 I See, I Want, I Take
3 God or Mammon?
4 Escape From the World’s Ways
5 Stewards After Eden
6 The Marks of a Steward
7 Honesty With God
8 The Impact of Tithing
9 Offerings of Gratitude
10 The Role of Stewardship
11 Debt—A Daily Decision
12 The Habits of a Steward
13 The Results of Stewardship
 Stewardship: Motives of the Heart
The Life of a Christian Steward

As Christians, we need to recognize our

sinful condition before we see a need for
change. That change can come only and
thoroughly through Christ working in us.
And one expression of His work in us is
in the area of stewardship.
Stewardship is defined broadly as
managing tangible and intangible
possessions for the glory of God.
 Stewardship: Motives of the Heart
The Life of a Christian Steward

Stewardship becomes a powerful tool

against the dangers of materialism
(the love of owning things)
or worldliness in general—
one of the great spiritual snares the
enemy of souls sets before us.
Unfortunately, many souls will be
lost because of their failure to break
free from their love of the world.
 Stewardship: Motives of the Heart
The Life of a Christian Steward

Our living of the steward’s life involves

our attitudes, conversions, commit-
ment, self-discipline, and being God’s
faithful and trustworthy servants,
living selfless lives by connecting to
Jesus in everything we do and say.
We are to learn to manage God’s
possessions for His glory, funding
His mission to finish His work.
 Stewardship: Motives of the Heart
The Life of a Christian Steward

Our lives as stewards reflect God’s

character to the world. There is beauty,
happiness, and godliness in the lives of
those who stand for principles against
the trends and currents of our culture.
Temptations are all around us, in open
and in subtle ways. We have not only
been shown how to escape these
temptations but also promised the
 Stewardship: Motives of the Heart
Our Goal

These lessons are geared to teach us

what our responsibilities as stewards
are, and how we can, through God’s
grace, fulfill those responsibilities not as
a means of trying to earn salvation but
as the fruit of already having it.
Stewardship: Motives of the Heart
Lesson 1, January 6

The Influence of
Materialism
 The Influence of Materialism
Key Text

Romans 12:2 NKJV

“Do not be conformed to this
world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that you
may prove what is that good and
acceptable and perfect will
of God.”
 The Influence of Materialism
Initial Words

The world conveys the idea that the

abundant life, can be found only in
money. But money is one mask that
Satan hides behind in order to secure
our allegiance. Who doesn’t like money
and what money can bring us?
Its greatest achievement is instant
gratification, but in the end it cannot
answer our deepest needs.
The Influence of Materialism
Quick Look

1. A God Called Materialism

(Deuteronomy 8:11-17)
2. The Allure of Materialism
(1 Timothy 6:10)
3. The Futility of Materialism
(Luke 12:19, 20)
 The Influence of Materialism
1. A God Called Materialism

Deuteronomy 8:11-17 NKJV

“Beware that you do not forget the
Lord your God...lest—when you have
eaten and are full, and have built
beautiful houses and dwell in them
...and all that you have is multiplied...
—then you say in your heart,
‘My power and the might of my hand
have gained me this wealth.’ ”
 1. A God Called Materialism
The God of This World

Money has become the god of this

world, and materialism is its religion.
Materialism is a sophisticated and
insidious system that offers temporary
security but no ultimate safety.
Materialism is when the desire for
wealth and possessions becomes more
important and more valuable than
spiritual realities.
 1. A God Called Materialism
The God of This World

Possessions may have value

but their value shouldn’t possess us:
“Whoever loves money never has
enough; whoever loves wealth is
never satisfied with their income”
(Eccles. 5:10, NIV).
That’s the problem with desiring the
things of this world: no matter how
much we get, it’s never enough.
 1. A God Called Materialism
Filling the Barns

Those for whom money, or the desire

for money, becomes an all-consuming
reality should, indeed, count the cost.
“And what do you benefit if you gain the
whole world but lose your own soul?”
(Mark 8:36, NLT).
“Soul you have many goods laid up for
many years, take your ease, eat, drink,
and be merry” (Luke 12:19, NKJV).
 1.A God Called Materialism
Filling the Barns

Whether we are rich or poor, our desire

to own things can take our minds off
what really matters and focus them,
instead, on what’s only temporal and
fleeting and certainly not worth the loss
of eternal life.
This parable is applicable where
life is dedicated almost exclusively
to acquiring possessions.
 The Influence of Materialism
2. The Allure of Materialism

1 Timothy 6:10 NKJV

“For the love of
money is a root of all
kinds of evil, for which
some have strayed
from the faith in their
greediness, and
pierced themselves
through with many
 2. The Allure of Materialism
Love of Self

Retailers sell by creating excitement in

the minds of consumers. The
experience is pure fantasy, taking
people, however fleetingly, to what
seems like another realm of existence.
It becomes a false religion that offers
no knowledge and no spiritual truth; yet
so alluring that many people don’t resist
it. We want it, so why not get it?
 2. The Allure of Materialism
Love of Self

Paul instructs Timothy to beware of

many bad kinds of people (2 Tim. 3:1–
5), including “lovers of money” (NKJV).
This love of money can encourage
overconfidence and a grandiose
attitude of self-absorption and conceit.
This is because materialism imbues
people who have great possessions
with an inflated sense of importance.
 2. The Allure of Materialism
Love of Self

When one has a lot of money, it’s

easy to think more highly of oneself
than one should.
After all, everyone wants to be rich,
but only a very few attain great
wealth. Hence, it is easy for the rich
to become self-absorbed, proud, and
boastful.
 The Influence of Materialism
3. The Futility of Materialism

Luke 12:19, 20 NKJV

“And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you
have many goods laid up for many
years; take your ease; eat, drink, and
be merry.’ But God said to him,

‘Fool! This night your soul will be

required of you; then whose will those
things be which you have provided?’ ”
 3. The Futility of Materialism
God’s Antidote

Materialism offers us an identity that

is synonymous with our possessions.
In other words, we define ourselves on
the basis of what we own and what we
can buy of this world’s goods.
It is in those treasures, whether few or
many, that many find their identity
(Luke 12:19–21).
 3. The Futility of Materialism
God’s Antidote

Materialism is a form of identity

confusion. Identity becomes fused with
possessions. Our possessions become
our God (Matt. 6:19–21). What a
shallow, fleeting, and
ultimately futile way to live one’s life.
Do we identify with God or with
our possessions? Eventually, it
will be one or the other.
 3. The Futility of Materialism
God’s Antidote

Materialism causes people to trust in

what they own as opposed to trusting in
God. The antidote is “ ‘not by might nor
by power, but by my Spirit’ ” (Zech. 4:6).
Materialism cannot withstand the
control of the Holy Spirit when we give
ourselves over to God and determine
by His grace not to let materialism rule
our lives.
 Final Words
TESTIMONIES FOR THE CHURCH 5:133

“The enemy is buying souls today

very cheap. ... One is selling his soul
for the world’s applause, another for
money; one to gratify base passions,
another for worldly amusement. ...
Satan is bidding for the purchase of
Christ’s blood and buying them cheap,
notwithstanding the infinite price which
has been paid to ransom them.”