What Makes You Happy (4) – Happy Money

Welcome to CROLCC, we are so glad you are here worshiping with us. We have been talking about being happy, so are you happy today? If not, remember no thing makes you happy. Even though happiness is not immediately accessible, the good news is you can always sow your way towards happiness. Happiness is an outcome, and it takes hard work and the right behavior to reap happiness. Most importantly, happy people have peace. They have peace with themselves, with others and with God. And it begins with God as we discovered last week.

Today we are going to talk about money. When it comes to our finances, most of us believe that the connection between happiness and money is determined by the amount of money we have. If money hasn’t made us happy so far, it’s only because we don’t have enough. But if your goal is to find happiness, no amount of money will ever be enough. It’s not about how much money you have; it’s about how you manage it.

Moving Forward

Money won’t make you happy, but money can contribute to your happiness if you manage it well. Generosity and wisdom with money will make you happy. Imagine if you’d been wise and generous with your money all along. You’d be happier. That’s the direction Jesus taught us to follow.

Changing Your Mind

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Luke 16:13

Discussion Questions

1. Talk about a time when you thought a material possession would make you happy. Did you acquire that possession? If so, how long did your happiness last?

2. Have you ever met someone who was happy despite having little money? If so, what stood out about that person?

3. Read Luke 16:10–13. What are some reasons it’s so tempting for us to serve money instead of God?

4. How content or discontent are you currently with your life? How does it affect your sense of peace?

5. During the message you heard, “Giving will bring you joy, saving will bring you peace, and living on the rest will bring you freedom.” Is it difficult for you to believe that? Why or why not?

6. Is it most difficult for you to give, save, or live within your means? Why do you think that area of your finances is a struggle? What can you do this week to begin to re-prioritize your finances? How can this group support you?