Based on Luke 12:13-21 and Jesus’s warning to watch out for greed, I asked several Rez people and my brother Steve, a Christian financial planner, to provide some diagnostic questions so we can spot any greed in our hearts. I suggest that sometime in the next week you bring these questions before the Lord and ask him to search your heart. Repent where you need to. Share with your roommate, spouse, or Rez group, and ask for prayer.
Heart-Level Questions
- What do I daydream about? Do I obsess about money and frequently think about the next thing to buy, trip to make, experience to have?
- What do I fear losing the most? Would the loss of my possessions or financial security shake my trust in God?
- Do I compare what I have to others? How do I respond when I see others with more than me?
- Do I ever feel discontent with what God has already provided? Why?
Spending & Giving Questions
- Does my spending support the spread of the Gospel and the needs of the church?
- Have I prayed and planned how I will give (with my spouse/family)? Are we intentional, sacrificial, and cheerful in our giving?
- Do I feel a sense of entitlement when it comes to money (I work hard for all I have), or do I view my money and things through the lens of stewardship (God is the giver of all good gifts)?
- Would an outsider looking at my bank or credit card statement know I follow Jesus?
Lifestyle & Contentment Questions
- Am I living within my means, or always stretching for more? Is debt being used to live beyond what God has provided?
- What does how I spend and what I spend my money on say about what I truly love?
- Am I accountable to anyone about how I spend? Have I ever asked anyone’s advice or for prayers about money/stewardship/greed issues? Or do keep this issue completely private?
- Do I trust God enough to give generously, even when things feel tight financially?
- Am I storing up treasure in heaven—or just planning for retirement on earth?