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The Short Bus

Understanding God’s Word

Read Job 1:1-22

• In a sentence or two, how would you describe the message of this scripture?

Example: Everything I have comes from God. So whether He gives or takes away, I will always praise and worship Him.

• What does this passage tell us about who God is?

• What does this passage reveal to us about ourselves?

Living and Applying God’s Word

                

Job 1:1-5 (summary) Job was generous in giving to God while God was generous to Him.

Would it be easy or hard for you to be more generous if God gave you more? Studies show that the wealthiest Americans donate 1.3% of their income, and the poorest donate 3.2%. Why do you think that is?

Job 1:6-12 (summary) God brags on Job’s faithfulness and gives Satan permission to test Him.

God knew Job’s faithful generosity came from his heart, not from his wealth. Is generosity determined by how much you give? (No. Generosity is determined by your heart’s condition. God was not bragging on how much Job gave, but on his heart in giving.)

How has God been generous to you? How have you been generous to God?

Job 1:13-19 (summary) God allows Satan to take everything from Job.

Has there been times in your life when you feel like God allowed you to struggle financially? What do you think God’s purpose was?

Discuss whether or not you think God cares if you’re poor or rich (materialistically/financially). Does He want you to be one or the other? Use scripture to back up your point.

Job 1:20-22 (summary) Job still worships God, even when he lost EVERYTHING.

Discuss whether or not God is the one who gives you everything (money, jobs, talents, spouses, kids, friends, success, etc.) Who owns those things? Do your responses/actions to those things reflect your beliefs about who owns them?

Why is it so hard to give money away? (Notice how people answer in a perspective that it’s THEIR money.)

Why is it easy to give God’s money away? (Notice how a change in perspective of ownership makes people more generous.)

Read verse 22 from your perspective: “Everything I have comes from God. So whether He gives or takes away, I will always praise and worship Him.”

Turn to God

To learn to give when giving is costly, we must first look to Jesus. The loving generosity of our Savior will inspire our imitation.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only son…” (John 3:16)

“The Son of God…loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

“He (Jesus) laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” (1 John 3:16)

Ask the Holy Spirit to help the love and generosity you’ve received from Christ overflow to others more and more. (Philippians 1:9-11)

What’s in the way of your obedience? Confess and turn to God for delivery of that sin.