RCCG YAYA SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL 7 MAY 2023

LESSON THIRTY-SIX (36)
TOPIC: CHRISTIANITY AND WEALTH

*SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN*
1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.

2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Thy friend friendship suits me well,
Both young and will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.

3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.

4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee

5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds be black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.

6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?

BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 12:15-21

[15]And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

[16]Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.

[17]And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’

[18]So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.

[19]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.” ’

[20]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?’

[21]“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Do Not Worry.

MEMORY VERSE: “Both riches and honour come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all.” 1Chronicles 29:12 (NKJV).

INTRODUCTION: As stated in the previous lesson, ‘wealth’ is the abundance of valuable possessions or money. When we have wealth, we have more than we need to sustain a normal life. The Bible contains several examples of people blessed by God with great wealth; Abraham (Gen.13:2), Jacob (Gen.30:43), Solomon (1Kgs. 10:23), Joanna (Lk.8:3), and Joseph of Arimathea (Matt.27:57) among others. We shall consider what the Bible says about wealth and what should be believers’ disposition towards it.

OUTLINES:
1. BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES
2. BELIEVERS’ DISPOSITION

1. BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES
Christians’ view of wealth should be derived from the Scriptures. This is because wealth and honour come from God (1Chr.29:12). God often blesses His children with wealth when they please Him (Deut.28:1-5). The Bible establishes the fact that wealth and riches shall be in the house of the man that fears God (Ps.112:1-3); Money answers all things (Eccl.10:19); To enjoy one’s wealth is a gift from God (Eccl.5:19); Money is a defence (Eccl.7:12) and it makes many friends (Prov.19:4).

However, the Bible also contains several warnings about wealth, among which is the fact that the love of money is the root of all evil (1Tim.6:10); riches should not be trusted (Prov.23:5; Lk.12:15); wealth gotten through the wrong means shall diminish (Prov.13:11); all men will die and leave their wealth to others (Ps.49:10); those who pursue wealth at the expense of other core values of life will never be satisfied (Eccl.5:10a).

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: How should believers see or handle wealth?

2. BELIEVERS’ DISPOSITION
Christians should note that wealth has never been an accurate barometer of a person’s standing with God. Some righteous people are poor (Lk.16:20-23) while some wicked people are rich (Ps.73:3,12). How then should believers handle wealth? While it is not a sin for wealthy believers to enjoy their riches (Eccl.5:19; 3Jn.2), they should also see wealth as an investment entrusted to them by God (1Chr.29:12). This wealth must be used to enhance good and pursue God’s purposes.

Wealthy believers can initiate charities and scholarship programmes, promote care for orphans, widows, and the less privileged (1Jn.3:17-18; Jam.1:27), and be instrumental in advancing God’s kingdom (Lk.8:3; Rom.16:3). It is very important that believers prove themselves as faithful stewards by channelling their wealth to godly legacies (1 Cor.4:2; Matt.6:19-20).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: What are the wrong ways of handling wealth?

CONCLUSION: In a bid to be wealthy, believers should always note that their first care should be for God’s kingdom and His righteousness (Matt.6:33).

QUESTIONS:
*.Mention three things the Bible says about wealth.
* How should believers handle wealth?

FURTHER READING: MON: Mk.8:36. TUE: Matt.6:19-24. WED: Lk.12:31. THUR: Rom.4:4. FRI: Isa.1:16-17. SAT: 1Jn.5:18; SUN: Matt.16:26.

ASSIGNMENT: Mention five ways that would guide a believer’s outlook on wealth? (2×5=10 Marks).