Follow-Up Study Guide To:
When Too Much Is Not Enough
Part 5 of 6 of the series “Out Of
Control”
March 2, 2008 Pastor
THINK BACK TO SOMETHING YOU HAD TO WORK REALLY HARD
TO PURCHASE OR ACHIEVE
Ê What was the satisfaction that
you felt? Why?
Ê How long did that feeling last?
Ê Can you think of something you
achieved, but later took for granted? Why? What caused you to lose focus?
READ I SAMUEL 8
Ê Why do you think
Ê Who had been their king or
leader up to this point?
Ê Why was that no longer enough?
Ê Where did they get the idea of a
king?
Ê What did God say about who they
had rejected?
READ ROMANS 1:26
Ê What did God do in this verse
and how is that similar to what God did to the Israelites?
Ê Why would God give them what
they wanted instead of demanding that they be obedient?
READ ECCLESIASTES 5
Solomon was a man who achieved great riches, success, and worldly achievement
Ê Why do you think he classifies
everything he had as ‘vanity’ or a ‘chasing after the wind’?
Ê In what ways do you see our American
culture living in vanity?
Ê How much is our culture consumed
by stuff, money, and getting ahead?
Ê What cost do we pay for these
pursuits?
Ê Is it wrong to have these
things?
Ê Is it wrong to want to achieve
more?
Ê Where is the balance?
Ê In verse 20, what does it say
that is occupying the man’s heart?
READ EXODUS 32
Ê Where had the people recently
come from?
Ê How do you think the conditions
of slavery would have been affected their joy, family, and feeling of worth?
Ê How did God rescue them?
Ê Now that they are free people and
Moses has gone on top of the mountain to talk to God, what are the people
doing?
Ê Where was their focus?
Ê What was God’s response?
Ê Why is it so easy to forget what
God is doing and focus on the challenge at hand?
Ê Did the Israelites have
leadership issues or heart issues?
Ê Why is it easier to look at our
outward struggles over our inward heart condition?
READ LUKE 12:13-21
Ê What does the story teach about
greed?
Ê What was the focus of the man’s
life?
Ê Did God condemn the things or
the heart?
In vs. 21, Jesus says what the results will be for
those who build up for themselves, but not for God
Ê How does money cause such
division and strife in the heart of mankind?
Ê What is the lure of money?
Ê What is the difficulty of being
faithful in our giving?
Ê Why do you think God asked us to
give our tithes and offerings?
Ê Does God need the money?
Ê What does giving faithfully do
in regards to our hearts?
Spend time this week looking back at the ways God has
blessed your life, marriage, finances, children, friendships, church, work,
etc.
Thank God for the way that He has already blessed you
Ask God to help you keep your heart focused on
serving Him and occupying your time with His agenda
Pray for opportunities to pass your blessing on to
those around you