St. Edmund's, Crickhowell
Lent 2002

Home Group Study 4

Spending and Saving under Control?

Joseph's actions as Pharoah's Prime Minister show a prudent way of dealing with surplus. "Boom and Bust" is not part of God's economic policy.

Welcome

If you received £100 you were not expecting would you:

1. Put it into a savings account "for a rainy day"?
2. Use it to pay off some of your overdraft?
3. Buy something useful for the house?
4. Have a romantic dinner with someone special?

Worship

Genesis 1: 20 - 31

Praise God for the abundant resources of his creation.

Word

1. Read Genesis 41: 25 - 36 and Genesis 42: 1 - 5
   If Jacob's family suffered from the famine then they must also have enjoyed the surplus.
   • What does that say about the management of their family resources?
   • Does it have any relevance for the way we manage our family resources?
     
2. Read Genesis 47: 13 - 26
   Joseph brought the whole population of Egypt under Pharaoh's direct economic control.
   Did he exploit the weakness of others?
   What were his priorities? What should they have been?
   
3. Consider the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12: 15 - 31.
   • Where did he go wrong?
   • What can we learn from his mistakes?
     
4. Is there any way in which our ecomomic policies at a personal & domestic level can make a difference at a national or international level?
   Is it worth bothering?
   

Witness

• Pray for those in need in our community.
• Pray for those who lack the skill to manage their resources.
• The logo at the top of the notes is the badge of the Trade Justice Movement which is supported by Christian Aid and other aid agencies.
• Pray for those who are trying to bring about justice in World Trade.
• Is there any way that the group can be involved in these issues?