Sample Devo

Trusting in Wealth

Pro 11:28 NKJV

(28) He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.

I. Observation

A. Terms

1. trusts (Thayer)

a) have confidence, be secure, lean on

2. flourish

a) to bud, sprout

3. leaf: figure of prosperity and fertility (NET)

4. fall: cast down, waste away, die

II. Interpretation

A. the one who trust in, is confident in, and is secure in his own riches will fall, be cast down

B. the righteous who do not trust in riches but in God will flourish like a green leaf

C. our security should be in God alone

III. Application

A. where is my security, my confidence in?

B. do I want to prosper?

C. If I want to prosper, my trust, security should be I n God alone and not in wealth.

IV. Prayer

A. Adoration—reflecting on God; praising Him for who He is

B. Confession—admitting and repenting of sin

C. Thanksgiving—being grateful for His provision

D. Supplication—specific requests for yourself and others

Living Unrestrained

Jas 5:5 NKJV

(5) You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.

I. Observation

A. Terms

1) luxuriously

a) to be given to a soft and luxurious life

b) leads to vice, corruption of manners (JMSB)

2) pleasure (Wanton)

a) to life luxuriously; to give one’s self to pleasure

b) wandering from moral rectitude, licentious, dissolute; indulging in sensuality with out restraint (Webster)

3) lewdness

a) unlawful indulgence of lust, fornication or adultery; idolatry; licentiousness (Webster)

4) licentious

a) using license; indulging freedom to excess; unrestrained by law or morality; loose; unrestrained desires (Webster)

5) day of Slaughter

a) fattened cattle ready to be slaughtered

b) divine judgment (JMSB? NET)

II. Interpretation

A. James says that these rich people in the church have lived on earth in the pursuit of pleasure, indulging themselves in sensuality without any limit and luxury and have therefore fattened themselves like cattle ready to be slaughtered

B. they have allowed their desires for lust, fornication, adultery, greed, money, power to go free or unhindered

C. they were using money that was not theirs (v.4)

D. they will be judged by a just God (Rom 2:6-11)

III. Application

A. am i living for pleasure—self indulging in sensuality without any limit?

B. Am I living in exceeds riches?

C. am I letting my natural fleshly desires go unchecked?

D. God wants us to enjoy all things He has given (1Tim 6:17) but not in excess and without restraint

E. freedom in excess and unrestrained by God’s will is sin

1) there is no freedom when things possess and take over you

2) self control brings freedom

3) sin has power (1 Cor 6:12)

4) freedom in Christ does not mean license to sin (1COr 6:12; Rom 7:6; 8:13, 21 JMSB)

IV. Prayer