money

Ars Longa – Vita Brevis – Deus Eternus – Luke 16:1-13

/ Bob
The aphorism “Ars longa, vita brevis” literally translated is “Art long, life short.” It comes from a quote by Hypocrites and it means that our art and/or what we create and build will outlive us because life is short. In the Parable of the Shrewd Manager, Jesus deals with the same issue, but He has a solution. First, recognize the brevity of your life and it’s relationship to eternity. Second, prioritize accordingly.

The ways of the world are not the ways of God. The thoughts of humans are not the thoughts of God. It is foolish for us to think that we can shrewdly manipulate our way through this life without considering what follows that shrewdly manipulated life. It is the well-lived life that subjects itself to the Eternal God of the Universe and lives to please Him rather than satisfy our temporary desires.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21




This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, March 17, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Jesus Storyteller: Timeless Truths from His Parables. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at: https://gc2press.org/jesus-storyteller-luke-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


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Judgment of Affluence – James 5:1-6

/ Bob

Judgment of Affluence – James 5:1-6

According to 1 Timothy 6:10 the love of money is the root of all evil. James addresses that issue in the first six verses of chapter 5 . He comes down really hard, like Old Testament hard, like Old Testament prophet hard, like Haggai chapter 11 hard, on those who have money and use it to fatten their own coffers. with vivid imagery James paints a picture of wealth and how it can dissolve and of how it can burn your very soul.

In speaking these words of judgment to the rich he is also sharing a message to those have nots who would be listening. There is the obvious warning about the harmful effects of seeking worldly gain, but there is also a warning to watch out for those people.  Furthermore, as we will see next week, we need to keep wealth in perspective. 

For us as Americans there is a message concerning our wealth and affluence. We like our creature comforts like air conditioning, soft beds, comfortable and yet stylish clothes, and good food. In short, all of the things that make physical life pleasurable are things that we seek out. There is nothing wrong with having money. There is nothing wrong with spending money on things we need. However, there is something wrong when we spend money without considering what God wants us to do with our money.

In light of this passage we must all take a hard look at how we handle the abundance of what God has given us. May we always seek to honor Him with our finances.


This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, November 5, 2023. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is The Making of Authentic Faith. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at:
http://gc2press.org/the-making-of-authentic-faith-james…/ .
Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .
Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Twitter – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com
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Giving Is the Living of the Christian Life

/ Bob

Giving is the living of the Christian Life. When thee church was in its infancy there were many unusual events that helped establish the church and outline the role it would play in the lives of the believers and the world at large. In Acts 4 & 5 we find one of those times when things were happening that would lay the groundwork for the church for centuries to come.

The church’s financial position was sound because the members of the church were of one mind and one body. (4:32) They claimed no ownership of their possessions and shared willingly with those in need. They even sold houses and land and gave the proceeds to the apostles to distribute as situaltions arose requiting such funds. No one was lacking – all had all they needed to live.

(Note: It was not a communistic society, for no one was compelled to surrender their possessions to those in authority. The generous actions on the part of church members was totally voluntary.)

One such generous church member was Joseph – nicknamed Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement. He sold a piece of property and brought the money and gave it to the apostles in an act of worship. His gift was certainly an encouragement to the early church.

Another man, Ananias, also sold a piece of property after which he and his wife Sapphira kept some of the proceeds from the sale for themselves and gave the balance to the apostles. The Holy Spirit was grieved by this action but not because they kept some of the money. They had lied saying that they were giving all of the proceeds from the sale to the church. Peter (no doubt enlightened by the Holy Spirit) called their hand on the matter and each, in separate incidents, died as a result of their deception.

Giving is at the heart of Christianity. “For God so loved the world that He gave. . .” And while this foundational truth is real, so is the truth that truth is foundational to the living of the Christian Life. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” He also said that the Father seeks those who would worship Him in spirit and in truth. And don’t get me started on passages like 1 Timothy 1:9-10 where liars are included in a list of sinners and reprobates. Lying is a big deal to God. After all, it is one of the Big 10!

So, in this one passage we have the high standard of giving and sharing juxtaposed with the low standard of deception and greed. And the lesson is obvious. Giving is the living of the Christian Life while lying is the living of the life honored and adored by the Father of Lies – Satan himself.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, April 24, 2022. It is part of a series of Bible study sessions from The Gospel Project – a Bible study curriculum developed by Lifeway Christian Resources. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

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What Do You Treasure? Who Do You Trust?

/ Bob

Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34) In Luke 12:13-34 Jesus teaches those who were following Him about the need to trust Him for everything we need. If we treasure material things, then our full love and attention will be focused there and eventually those things will let us down. If we treasure Him, we will have the material things we need – perhaps not all that we want, but definitely all that we need. And He will never let us down. As Paul says in Philippians 4:19, “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

WHAT DO YOU TREASURE?

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 12, 2021. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Twitter – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org

Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

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