Does God Want you to be Rich? It's Your Move Work Zone and High Way Eat then make announcements and introduce the session. Say: There is a radical and highly effective solution to all of our economic problems that will dramatically simplify, streamline, and revitalize human civilization. It will eliminate all poverty, debt, and the vast majority of crime, material inequality, deception, and injustice. It will also eliminate the underlying causes of most conflicts, while preventing evil scoundrels from deceiving, misleading, and praying on humanity, ever again. It will likewise eliminate the primary barriers to solving global warming, pollution, and the many evils that result from corporate greed and their control of natural and social resources. That solution is to simply eliminate money from the human equation, thereby replacing the current system of greed, exploitation, and temptation with freewill cooperation, just laws based on real wisdom , and socoal goals targeted at benefiting all, not just a self-chosen and proudly greedy few. By now, you have discovered the power of money! You're probably working for it and spending it. Many have bought into the idea that happiness and money are directly related. The Bible is clear on the topic of striving for wealth. It warns us that the minute we fix our gaze on the dollar, it sprouts wings and flies away. Tonight's lesson is designed to help you see that material gain without balance is the wrong place to put your focus, and remember that real eternal treasure is made up of things that don't disappear.   Split into Journey Groups   Which Way Are You Moving? Work Zone  Split into smaller groups Ask:    If you had a wish that would come true, would you wish for lots of money? Why or why not? What would you wish for instead?    What's the largest amount of money (your own money!) you've ever spent at one time? What did you spend it on? Do you have regrets about money you've spent in the past? What did you buy? Was it worth it or not?    Which Way Are You Moving? High Way  Ask: (One at a time) 1.  It's time to find a summer job. For one job you'll work 30-plus hours a week and make over $10 an hour doing work that's boring and you know the time will drag. The other job is really fun, but you'll be working 50-plus hours and making barely enough to get by. Which job would you chose? 2.  It's time to accept an offer to a college or university. One is very prestigious, from which you received a very large scholarship-but it doesn't have the program that you want to study. The other is less prestigious, has the program you're interested in, but will require you to take out thousands of dollars in student loans. Which one would you chose? 3.  You're finally ready to buy a car! You're debating whether to pay more for a brand new car that looks great, but will cost a bundle in insurance-or a car a few years older, less stylish, but affordable. Discuss: The options and why? List their reasons and priorities for choosing what they did on the white board.     What do they think most people in the world do in this situation?   Moving In  Work Zone & High Way Work Zone stay split into smaller groups What do you think is the biggest danger in wanting lots of money? Rank the following from the greatest danger (1) to the least (10). Cheating or stealing to get money Ignoring other priorities to make money Becoming consumed by greed Spending too much of it once you have it Not investing your earnings wisely Becoming addicted to gambling Worshiping money more than God Thinking you don't need to depend on God any more Getting lots of money but no happiness Using friends or family members to get money Ask:     Which ones did you rate the most dangerous and why?     How would your relationship with God be affected?   Moving On Work Zone and High Way Work Zone stay split into smaller groups Needed: Scriptures Read Proverbs 23:4-5 and Luke 12:15-21. What do these two passages say about the desire to get rich? The dangers of wealth Pro 23:4-5 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be wise enough to desist. When your eyes light upon it, it is gone; for suddenly it takes to itself wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven. Luk 12:15-21 And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." Ask:     Who can explain these verses in your own words?     Give an example of how these might apply to your own life.   Read Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 and Luke 6:38. What do these two passages say about living well? Live Abundantly  Ecc 5:18-19   Behold, what I have seen to be good and to be fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life which God has given him, for this is his lot. Every man also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and find enjoyment in his toil--this is the gift of God. Luk 6:38   give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back." Ask:     Who can explain these verses in your own words?     Give an example of how these might apply to your own life.   Read Deuteronomy 8:17-18 and John 10:10. What do these two passages say about prosperity? Balance His all Deu 8:17-18   Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth; that he may confirm his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as at this day. Jhn 10:10   The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. Ask:      Who can explain these verses in your own words?     Give an example of how these might apply to your own life.   Moving Out Work Zone Knock Some Sense in to You Materials: A soft ball and a point card (A card with the point of the lesson on it) Say: We're going to play a game that will allow you to put into practice tonight's lesson. Here's the catch, you will only be told how to play the game. You'll need to figure out what you must do to show that you understand the lesson to actually win the game. (What we're looking for&ldots; accumulate points but share with those that have fewer.) Explain the game: This game sounds much more dangerous than it really is. Part of the object of the game is to have the most point cards at the end of the allotted time. Points are scored by working as a group to pass the ball around and hit the individual in the middle of the circle in the head, or by being the individual in the middle of the circle and lasting a full minute with out being hit. To play, have the group sit in a large circle on the floor. Choose one individual to begin in the middle. Have the person in the middle lie on their back. The game begins when the leader tosses the ball to any kid in the circle and the group begins trying to peg the person in the middle in the head. The ball should be passed quickly around or across the circle to set up better shots. The person in the middle can defend themselves using only their feet. If they use a hand or arm to block a thrown ball, it counts as a hit and they are out. Who ever is in the middle can spin and dodge, but may not use hands, sit up, or roll over. The round ends when the kid in the middle gets hit in the head, uses an illegal technique, or lasts a full minute without being hit in the head. When the round ends, allow the person in the middle to select the next contestant. Of course, no one can go twice until everyone has gone once. Points are scored as follows: 1 point card for an assist (the pass immediately preceding a hit), 2 point cards for a hit (or for the throw that causes a disqualification), and 4 point cards for surviving the middle for a full minute.   Moving Out High Way Debate Say: You must choose a career. One job pays $100,000 per year but is really stressful and difficult. The other job is really fun, but pays barely enough to get by. Select the job you would choose for a career. If you're a 100k-er move to the left couches. If you're a "gimme the fun-er" move to the right couches. After they've chosen their sides. Make a list of their ideas and priorities for choosing what they did on the white board. Now take turns and debate the ideas and priorities.   Return to the Family Life Center   Closing Work Zone & High Way Ask:     What did you learn tonight?  Say: How do you spend your money? This week I challenge you to keep track of everything that you spend money on this week and write it down in two columns; One should be things you needed the other things you want.   Prayer  Invite the youth to join hands and offer a prayer.  Say: Dear Lord we leave here tonight full of Your love and willing to make a difference. We leave here tonight ready to examine our lives looking for your glory. We thank you for all of the blessings you &ldots;and only you have granted us. Help us to know when enough is enough and to see how we may be of service in your kingdom. We ask that You continue to bless us tonight and in the coming week, Amen.   Please cross your arms and join me in the UMYF Benediction.