Day 1
Faith Fact
I will use my gifts for God.
Faith Verse
"With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever." Psalm 86:12
Read:
How should we use the things God has given us to honor Him?
Matthew 25:14–18
Jesus used stories called parables to help people understand spiritual ideas. Think about this story with God as the master and His followers as the servants. The master trusted His servants to handle some of His money. It was up to the servants to decide exactly what they did with what they were given. Were they going to use what they were given to make more, or would they do nothing with it? Two of the servants chose to make good use of what they had been given and tried to grow it for their master. One servant chose to do nothing with it.
Although this parable describes what the master gave as money, we can think about it in terms of everything that God gives us. God gives us money, time, talents, and skills. All of these things can be used to further the kingdom of God. When we use these things the way God wants us to, we not only show Him honor and worship, but we also point others to Him.
Talk About It:
Prayer:
Dear God, thank You for all the things You’ve given me: my talents, money, and time. Help me to worship You by living generously with everything You’ve trusted me with. Amen.
I will use my gifts for God.
Faith Verse
"With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever." Psalm 86:12
Read:
How should we use the things God has given us to honor Him?
Matthew 25:14–18
Jesus used stories called parables to help people understand spiritual ideas. Think about this story with God as the master and His followers as the servants. The master trusted His servants to handle some of His money. It was up to the servants to decide exactly what they did with what they were given. Were they going to use what they were given to make more, or would they do nothing with it? Two of the servants chose to make good use of what they had been given and tried to grow it for their master. One servant chose to do nothing with it.
Although this parable describes what the master gave as money, we can think about it in terms of everything that God gives us. God gives us money, time, talents, and skills. All of these things can be used to further the kingdom of God. When we use these things the way God wants us to, we not only show Him honor and worship, but we also point others to Him.
Talk About It:
- Question 1. How many servants were talked about in this story?
Answer 1. Three (Matthew 25:15) - Question 2. What was the difference between how two servants handled what was given to them and how the third one handled what was given to him?
Answer 2. Two of them invested what was given to them to grow it, and one hid it. (Matthew 25:16–18) - Question 3. What has God given you that He wants you to use for Him?
Answer 3. Answers will vary. - Question 4. When you think about what God has given to you, which of the servants are you most like?
Answer 4. Answers will vary. - Question 5. How should we use the things God has given us to honor Him?
Answer 5. We shouldn’t hide the things God has given us like the third servant did. We should put them to use, like the first and second servants did.
Prayer:
Dear God, thank You for all the things You’ve given me: my talents, money, and time. Help me to worship You by living generously with everything You’ve trusted me with. Amen.
Day 2
Faith Fact
I will use my gifts for God!
Faith Verse
"With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever." Psalm 86:12
Read:
What happens when we do a good job of using what God has given to us?
Matthew 25:19–30
Maybe you’ve learned how to ride a bike with training wheels. When you’ve learned to ride that well, someone takes off the training wheels. Then, you learn how to balance the bike on two wheels. After riding a bicycle for a long time, you may get to drive something bigger, like a scooter or a golf cart. Then, when you turn the right age and you take some classes and have lots of practice, you’re trusted to drive a car. Most people usually don’t jump straight to driving a car. By the time you do, you’ve usually proven yourself to be trustworthy to handle a vehicle.
This is similar to how it works with the gifts God gives us. In Jesus’ parable, the master represents God and we’re the servants. God gives us gifts—time, skills, and money—that we can use for Him. And as Jesus’ parable explains, if you do a good job with what God gives you, He will give you more. We can show God that we can be trusted to handle bigger things. When He knows that He can trust us to use what He gives us for His honor, He will trust us with even more.
Talk About It:
Prayer:
Dear God, thank You for showing me what it means to live generously. I want to use everything I have to worship You. Amen.
I will use my gifts for God!
Faith Verse
"With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever." Psalm 86:12
Read:
What happens when we do a good job of using what God has given to us?
Matthew 25:19–30
Maybe you’ve learned how to ride a bike with training wheels. When you’ve learned to ride that well, someone takes off the training wheels. Then, you learn how to balance the bike on two wheels. After riding a bicycle for a long time, you may get to drive something bigger, like a scooter or a golf cart. Then, when you turn the right age and you take some classes and have lots of practice, you’re trusted to drive a car. Most people usually don’t jump straight to driving a car. By the time you do, you’ve usually proven yourself to be trustworthy to handle a vehicle.
This is similar to how it works with the gifts God gives us. In Jesus’ parable, the master represents God and we’re the servants. God gives us gifts—time, skills, and money—that we can use for Him. And as Jesus’ parable explains, if you do a good job with what God gives you, He will give you more. We can show God that we can be trusted to handle bigger things. When He knows that He can trust us to use what He gives us for His honor, He will trust us with even more.
Talk About It:
- Question 1. Who does the master and the servants represent in today’s Bible verses?
Answer 1. The master represents God, and the servants represent those who follow God. - Question 2. What did the master do for the two servants who honored him with what they had been given?
Answer 2. He gave them even more. (Matthew 25:19–23) - Question 3. What did the master do for the servant who didn’t honor him with what he had been given?
Answer 3. The master took what the servant had and gave it to one of the other servants. Then the servant was punished. (Matthew 25:28, 30) - Question 4. Why do you think the master was so upset with the servant who hid what he had been given?
Answer 4. Answers will vary. - Question 5. What happens when we do a good job of using what God has given to us?
Answer 5. We will be given even more. (Matthew 25:29)
Prayer:
Dear God, thank You for showing me what it means to live generously. I want to use everything I have to worship You. Amen.
Day 3
Faith Fact
I will use my gifts for God.
Faith Verse
"With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever." Psalm 86:12
Read:
Does God care about my attitude when I give?
2 Corinthians 9:6–7
Imagine that your parents just bought a cool device that you’ve wanted for a while. Imagine they just threw it on the couch next to you and said, “I didn’t really want to get this for you, but I did.” How would you feel? Maybe you would feel awkward or hurt. Even if the device they gave you was cool, it wouldn’t mean much if it wasn’t given to you with the right attitude. Now imagine the same situation just a little different. Instead of them throwing it on the couch and saying they had to give it to you, they took the time to wrap it nicely. Imagine they planned the perfect time to give it to you and they said, “We knew you would love this, and we really want to give it to you.” That would make a big difference, right?
The attitude in which we give our time, money, and talents to God is just as important as what we give. Giving with a bad attitude is a sign of a bad relationship with God. Our giving should come out of our love for Him. God wants us to give as part of our worship to Him. He also wants us to give with a cheerful attitude because we want to, not because we have to.
Talk About It:
Prayer:
Dear God, I’m sorry for the times I’ve used the gifts You’ve given me with the wrong attitude. Help me to always have a heart of worship as I live generously to make You known to everyone. Amen.
I will use my gifts for God.
Faith Verse
"With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever." Psalm 86:12
Read:
Does God care about my attitude when I give?
2 Corinthians 9:6–7
Imagine that your parents just bought a cool device that you’ve wanted for a while. Imagine they just threw it on the couch next to you and said, “I didn’t really want to get this for you, but I did.” How would you feel? Maybe you would feel awkward or hurt. Even if the device they gave you was cool, it wouldn’t mean much if it wasn’t given to you with the right attitude. Now imagine the same situation just a little different. Instead of them throwing it on the couch and saying they had to give it to you, they took the time to wrap it nicely. Imagine they planned the perfect time to give it to you and they said, “We knew you would love this, and we really want to give it to you.” That would make a big difference, right?
The attitude in which we give our time, money, and talents to God is just as important as what we give. Giving with a bad attitude is a sign of a bad relationship with God. Our giving should come out of our love for Him. God wants us to give as part of our worship to Him. He also wants us to give with a cheerful attitude because we want to, not because we have to.
Talk About It:
- Question 1. When has someone given something to you with a bad attitude? How did it make you feel?
Answer 1. Answers will vary. - Question 2. How are we like the farmer in these Bible verses?
Answer 2. The size of the farmer’s harvest depended on whether he planted a small or large number of seeds. In the same way, what we receive as a result of our giving depends on if we give a lot or little, too. - Question 3. What kind of attitude should we not have when using our gifts for God?
Answer 3. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. (2 Corinthians 9:7) - Question 4. What kind of attitude should we have when using our gifts for God?
Answer 4. God loves a person who gives cheerfully. (2 Corinthians 9:7)" - Question 5. Does God care about my attitude when I give?
Answer 5. Answers will vary.
Prayer:
Dear God, I’m sorry for the times I’ve used the gifts You’ve given me with the wrong attitude. Help me to always have a heart of worship as I live generously to make You known to everyone. Amen.
Day 4
Faith Fact
I will use my gifts for God!
Faith Verse
"With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever." Psalm 86:12
Read:
How are others affected when you use your gifts for God?
2 Corinthians 9:10–13
The things God has given to you aren’t meant for you alone. When you give of your money, your local church can grow, and the kingdom of God can grow around the world. When you give of your time, people will know that you care. You will be sharing the love of Jesus with them. When you give of your talents, you’re using the skills and gifts God has given you to help other people see Him. When we give back the things God has given to us, God is glorified and made known.
The Bible helps us to understand that when we live generously, not only will people’s needs be met, but also they will thank God and come to know who He is. Living generously with your gifts isn’t about you. It’s about making Jesus known to others. It’s about helping others understand the generous love of God because they’ve seen His generosity in you.
Talk About It:
Prayer:
Dear God, thank You for all the things You’ve gifted me with. I want to be obedient to use them in the ways You want me to. I want others can come to know You and worship You with me. Amen.
I will use my gifts for God!
Faith Verse
"With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever." Psalm 86:12
Read:
How are others affected when you use your gifts for God?
2 Corinthians 9:10–13
The things God has given to you aren’t meant for you alone. When you give of your money, your local church can grow, and the kingdom of God can grow around the world. When you give of your time, people will know that you care. You will be sharing the love of Jesus with them. When you give of your talents, you’re using the skills and gifts God has given you to help other people see Him. When we give back the things God has given to us, God is glorified and made known.
The Bible helps us to understand that when we live generously, not only will people’s needs be met, but also they will thank God and come to know who He is. Living generously with your gifts isn’t about you. It’s about making Jesus known to others. It’s about helping others understand the generous love of God because they’ve seen His generosity in you.
Talk About It:
- Question 1. Who does this passage explain can increase our resources?
Answer 1. “God is the one . . . he will provide and increase your resources.” (2 Corinthians 9:10) - Question 2. What do these verses say is a reason we are given these resources?
Answer 2. “Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.” (2 Corinthians 9:11) - Question 3. What are some of the things God has gifted you with?
Answer 3. Answers will vary. - Question 4. What are some ways you think God may want you to be generous with those gifts?
Answer 4. Answers will vary. - Question 5. How are others affected when you use your gifts for God?
Answer 5. “As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:13)
Prayer:
Dear God, thank You for all the things You’ve gifted me with. I want to be obedient to use them in the ways You want me to. I want others can come to know You and worship You with me. Amen.