Week 3 Money as an Idol

Week 3 Money as an Idol
Greed is hard to see in one’s self.
Forms – life money love knowledge
Greed: a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as MONEY) than is needed.
Jesus – on Greed:

Luke 12:13-15
Someone in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." But He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?" Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."
What are some different forms of greed?
If a man’s life does not consist of his possessions, what does it consist of?

Luke 16:13-15
"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth." Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him. And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.
Why can’t we serve two masters?
Jesus saw the Pharisees as they were, men around them saw the external façade. What kind of person do you highly esteem? What characteristics do you think Jesus was talking about?

Luke 19:1-10
1He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. 3Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. 4So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. 5When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house." 6And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly. 7When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." 8Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much." 9And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. 10"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Prior to Jesus coming along what was Zaccheus’s view of money?
What does this story tell us about having money as an Idol? (Jesus can overcome)
Jesus had different responses to people He encountered. What were some of them? (Ye of little faith, God knows your hearts, Anger in the temple with the money changers)
This was among the best results – Salvation!

God still seeks us today. When He sees His children slowly re-prioritizing our lives, What does He do?