Large group - Money and power

1. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power (1 Corinthians 4:20). Context for this (as always) is important; read 1 Corinthians 4. Focus on 1 Corinthians 4:1-5. What does ‘Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful’ (1 Corinthians 4:2) mean? Where does power come from (Deuteronomy 8:17 and Romans 13:1-7). What does it mean to subject to authority? How do these passages connect to the real world? Does the bible describe reality (John 19:11)? How do power, responsibility, and respect connect? What is the purpose of power; why does God give out power (Isaiah 58)?

2. One form of power is money. Is money (or anything) inherently evil (1 Corinthians 10:23-33)? However, can money (or other idols) lead you astray (e.g. Matthew 6:24)? Consider that there are righteous (Acts 13:22) and unrighteous (Luke 23:11) rich and righteous (Mark 12:42) and unrighteous (Genesis 18:32) poor.

3. Money can be used for good (e.g. imagine how much good you could do with infinite amounts of money to feed people with) and is something to be stewarded well. God gives His gifts (including money) based on His own plan (e.g. Job’s life) not as a reward. Beware of both the Prosperity Gospel (e.g. twisting 3 John 1:2) and the Poverty Gospel (e.g. twisting Mark 10:21)! What are pitfalls of both these ‘gospels’?

4. How do these verses work together? 1 Timothy 5:8, Proverbs 13:22, Matthew 6:3, Proverbs 21:20 (compare with Proverbs 10:14), Matthew 25:14-30, Job 1:21. How can we be good stewards of the blessings that God has given us?