Misusing Wealth

“John G. Wendel and his sisters were some of the most miserly people of all time.  Although they had received a huge inheritance from their parents, they spent very little of it and did all they could to keep their wealth for themselves.

“John was able to influence five of his six sisters never to marry, and they lived in the same house in New York for 50 years.  When the last sister died in 1931, her estate was valued at more than $100 million.  Her only dress was one that she had made herself, and she had worn it for 25 years.

“The Wendels had such a compulsion to hold on to their possessions that they lived like paupers.  Even worse, they were like the kind of person Jesus referred to ‘who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God’ (Luke 12:21).”  (Daily Walk, June 2, 1993)

How does the world view the purpose of wealth?  How should the disciple of Jesus Christ view the purpose of wealth?  Is our hope found in the wealth of the world or in Christ alone?  How can we determine where our hope is found?

This week we will explore how God desires for us as His disciples to handle our wealth.  May the Spirit of God move, teach, convict, and encourage us as we dig into His Word and gospel message.