Watch the video above and talk about it with a group or mentor. Learn more.
Even if you don’t have a lot of it now, money is something that affects you. That’s why we are starting this new series, Dollars and Sense. Now, I know that you probably don’t have a lot of money as a teenager, but we are also talking about your stuff, your possessions and even your time. How does God want you to use all the stuff you have?
I want you to think back to your first moments on this earth. That’s right. Think about the moment you were born. Ok, so you can’t remember the moment you were born, but you can probably imagine what it was like. There you were: a naked little baby covered in goo. And what did you have with you? Nothing. That’s because:
Everyone starts with nothing
We all enter the world the same way: empty-handed. This reminds us of what really matters in life. Life is not about how much money you have or how much money your family has. Life is bigger than money and stuff. Life is about knowing God and loving other people. You enter this world with nothing, but of course we all have stuff. So where does our stuff come from? Ultimately, the Bible says the source of our stuff is not our parents or the job we have. Here’s what the Bible says:
Everything comes from God
The Bible says that everything good in your life is a gift from God.
James 1:17 “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.”
Every cool thing you have is a gift from God: your iPhone, your car, your money. All of these are gifts from God. This means that you should thank God for everything you have, and should make you grateful to God.
Once you understand this, then you can follow our last point.
Don’t get caught up in status
Lots of teenagers get caught up in status. They think that their clothes or their phone make them more important or better people. But Jesus had something different to say about status.
Matthew 20:16 “So those who are last now, will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”
Many people value being popular, being the best, or having power. Jesus values humility. In Jesus’ kingdom, those who are most humble and most willing to serve are first. People who put their value in their money or stuff are last in God’s kingdom. Most people around you are going to get caught up in their possessions and the drive to get more stuff. But you don’t have to. Everything you have is a gift from God to be used for God’s purposes, but we are going to talk about that in the next lesson.
Remember, you came into this world with nothing, and one day you will leave it with nothing. Don’t waste your time hoarding a bunch of stuff that won’t matter in the future.
Discussion Questions:
- Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
- How does remembering that we all start and end with nothing affect the way you look at your own stuff?
- Read James 1:17. What is something you own that you love and use every day? How often do you thank God for that thing?
- Write down 5 of your belongings that you are thankful for. Why is it good to thank and acknowledge God for what you own?
- Read Matthew 20:16. How does this verse shape the way you view your status here on earth?
- What are some characteristics that Jesus values that go against what society values?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
