Untitled Document

1 Corinthians

Lesson 1

Questions:

What is the primary reason children look forward to Christmas every year with such intense anticipation? (Toys.)

Children grow up; what do you think these same children would ask for when they become adults if they could be granted just one wish? How many do you think would say money—lots of it—to be rich forever?

Have you ever heard someone say, “If I ever won the lottery, I would…”? Why do you think so many people would love to win the lottery?

(1 Corinthians 1:1-9 NIV) Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, {2}To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ--their Lord and ours: {3}Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. {4}I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. {5}For in him you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking and in all your knowledge-- {6}because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. {7}Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. {8}He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. {9}God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

According to verse 2, this letter was written to the believers in Corinth, Greece…as well as another group. Who is in the other group?…to gether with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ--their Lord and ours:…i.e., this letter is also to believers today…us.

What bit of information does verse 5 have for those who ‘call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ’? (…believers… ‘have been enriched in every way’)

What do you think this enrichment includes…does it have anything to do with material wealth?
…In light of the balance of verse 5, is the enrichment only in the area of speech and knowledge?
…Or, in light of verse 7, does it relate to receiving any—and all—of the spiritual gifts that we need?

Webster’s Dictionary lists the following ‘…to make rich or richer…’ as the primary definition of ‘enrich’.
Do you think that when a person makes a commitment to become a follower of Jesus Christ, they have any expectations that God will improve…or at least protect…their economic situation?

Let’s suppose that the enrichment that Paul speaks of in these verses has more to do with the spiritual gifting in our lives than material abundance; how exciting is that to us? If we were totally honest, we might be more excited about being enriched materially than spiritually: for example, in the average Christian’s life, which do you think he/she spends more time asking God for…spiritual—or financial enrichment?

There is a joke about the man who suddenly had an angel appear in his life. The angel told him, “I have been sent by God to grant you one of two things: 1. Incalculable wealth, or 2. Unsurpassed wisdom. Which do you choose?
Remembering the story of Solomon that he learned as a boy in Sunday School in which God blessed Solomon for asking for wisdom rather than great wealth, the man reluctantly went against his heart-felt desire and replied, “Give me wisdom!”
The man confided with three of his close friends, telling them about the encounter with the angel. As the days passed, the three friends spent hour after hour with him hoping to witness firsthand his new-found wisdom. To their disappointment, the man said nothing. Unable to bear his silence any longer, one of the friends blurted out, “We’ve been waiting for some tidbit of wisdom for days and you’ve said nothing! Tell us—what is the most profound revelation you’ve had since your visit from the angel?”
Slowly the man turned and replied in a quiet and despondent voice. “I should have taken the money.”

Are we not also like this man? We know that ‘wisdom and knowledge’ is the right answer, but we’d really rather have the money! The question you may be asking is, “Are the two related or are they mutually exclusive? We’re going to look at several passages of Scripture which will answer this question.

(2 Chronicles 1:11-12 NIV) God said to Solomon, "Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, {12}therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have."

What did Solomon ask God to give him?
How did God respond to Solomon asking for wisdom rather than money and power?
What did God promise to give him because he didn’t ask for money?
On the basis of this passage, do you think God feels that the issues of spiritual enrichment and material enrichment are related?

Are God and wealth mutually exclusive?
(Deuteronomy 8:10-14 NIV) When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. {11}Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. {12}Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, {13}and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, {14}then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
(Deuteronomy 8:17-18 NIV) You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." {18}But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

In this message Moses was giving the Israelites from God, is there anything that indicates that God did not want the Israelites to prosper?
Prosperity wasn’t the potential problem spiritually—what was? (Vs.14,17)
How would you briefly state what God wants us to do—or not do—when He blesses us materially?

(1 Chronicles 29:11-14 NIV) Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. {12}Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. {13}Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. {14}"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

This is the prayer of David…the King of Israel…prayed before the assembly of all the leaders of Israel after the Israelites had freely given all the material resources needed to build the temple of God. According to verse 12, what does this prayer—recorded in God’s Word in 1 Chronicles—say is the relationship between God and wealth?
How would you summarize what David was saying in verse 14?

To have…and enjoy prosperity…is a gift from God…
(Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 NIV) Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him--for this is his lot. {19}Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God.

Is it O.K. to enjoy the wealth and possessions God gives us?
How are we to view these? (Gift of God.)
How would you state in your own words what verse 19 tells us about wealth and possessions?

But…being driven to get rich is going the wrong direction—away from God…
(Proverbs 23:4-5 NIV) Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. {5}Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

What is needed (v.4) for us to know how to handle $$$ properly in our life? (Wisdom)
What does v.4 say we will do to ourselves if we don’t have this wisdom? (Wear ourselves out.)

(Proverbs 28:20 NIV) A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

A ‘faithful’ person is one who has a consistent faith and trust in God. What will happen to the person who trusts in God? What is the alternative in the second part of the verse?

The issue is not whether material wealth is right or wrong—good or bad; it is our focus in life—how we prioritize $$$.
(Mark 10:17-30 NIV) As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" {18}"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. {19}You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'" {20}"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." {21}Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." {22}At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. {23}Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" {24}The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! {25}It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." {26}The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" {27}Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

This man’s priorities were ‘God if convenient—$$$ at all cost’…which is why he walked away sad. Our priorities should be ‘$$$ if convenient—God at all cost’. Since Jesus knew the man’s priorities were skewed, he made the option between God/$$$ an either/or, all-or-nothing, mutually exclusive choice.

However, he went on to explain to his disciples what happened to $$$ after making the right choice.

…in fact, when our focus is where God wants it to be…material issues are resolved.
{28}Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" {29}"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel {30}will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.

What did Jesus say would happen if we choose to follow Him instead of chasing $$$?\par

The wrong focus has a dangerous impact on our relationship with God…
(Mark 4:3-8 NIV) "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. {4}As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. {5}Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. {6}But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. {7}Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. {8}Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."
(Mark 4:14-20 NIV) The farmer sows the word. {15}Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. {16}Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. {17}But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. {18}Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; {19}but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. {20}Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."

According to vs. 18,19, what impact does a focus on $$$ have on our spiritual growth and fruitfulness?

People often expect their relationship with God to ‘solve’ their financial woes…v.5
(1 Timothy 6:3-19 NIV) If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, {4}he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions {5}and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

The people in these verses are pursuing ‘false doctrines’ that are at odds with ‘the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ’. According to verse 5, how do these people think their relationship with god affects their $$$.

When in reality, the solution for all of us is a combination of godliness and something else…
{6}But godliness with contentment is great gain. {7}For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. {8}But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. {9}People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. {10}For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. {11}But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. {12}Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

According to verse 6, what do we need to blend with godliness to have the wisdom we need to handle $$$ in our life?
According to verse 9, what ‘trap’ do we need to avoid falling into? Why—according to v.10?
What should we pursue instead…v.11?

Where do we put our ‘hope’?
{17}Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Where should we not put our hope? Why?
Where should we put it instead? What will God do?
Do you realize how many Christians can’t comprehend giving them anything…much less everything…simply for their enjoyment!

Once we have our hope in God, then we are able to do the ‘good works’ with our $$$
{18}Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. {19}In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Bottom line:

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:8-9 NIV)

Other verses on God enriching us in every way…

Only Death will determine our focus…vs.12-15,20
(Psalms 49:5-20 NIV) Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me-- {6}those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? {7}No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him-- {8}the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough-- {9}that he should live on forever and not see decay. {10}For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others. {11}Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves. {12}But man, despite his riches, does not endure;
(will not live forever because of his riches)
he is like the beasts that perish. {13}This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. Selah {14}Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions. {15}But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. Selah {16}Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; {17}for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him. {18}Though while he lived he counted himself blessed-- and men praise you when you prosper-- {19}he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of life. {20}A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

However, at the point of death is too late to change anything if we are wrong.
(Luke 16:13-31 NIV) "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." {14}The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. {15}He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight. {16}"The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. {17}It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law. {18}"Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. {19}"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. {20}At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores {21}and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. {22}"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. {23}In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. {24}So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' {25}"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. {26}And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' {27}"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, {28}for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' {29}"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' {30}"'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' {31}"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

(Psalms 39:6 NIV) Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.

(Ecclesiastes 2:26 NIV) To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

(Matthew 6:19-34 NIV) "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. {20}But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. {21}For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. {22}"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. {23}But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! {24}"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. {25}"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? {26}Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? {27}Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ? {28}"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. {29}Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. {30}If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? {31}So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' {32}For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. {33}But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. {34}Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.