Daily Reading Week 9
Sunday
Matthew 6 Focus V. 19–24
Discover:
Jesus often teaches in ways that run counter to our natural, sinful tendencies—not rejecting authority, but calling us to something higher. We see this clearly in Matthew 6:19–24.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus stresses wholehearted devotion to God. Only a heart fully committed to Him can live out these teachings—from enduring persecution for righteousness (5:10) to practicing piety quietly, without seeking human praise (6:1–18).
Today, the love of money often competes with our loyalty to God. Our culture pushes us to chase bigger homes, nicer cars, and more stuff, sometimes at the expense of family and faith. Jesus' words here speak directly to us.
First, earthly treasures don't last. Moth, rust, or thieves can take them, and we can't bring them along when we die. Instead, let's store up treasures in heaven through good deeds done for God. These endure forever (see 1 Cor. 3:10–15). Our works don't save us, but God graciously rewards them with greater heavenly blessings.
Jesus then warns about the "eye" (vv. 22–23). In His day, a "bad eye" meant greed or covetousness, while a "good eye" described generosity. A generous person reflects God's own giving nature, walking in light and righteousness by the Holy Spirit. Greed, however, fills us with darkness.
Finally, He drives it home: "You cannot serve God and money" (v. 24). Trying to serve both means serving neither well—and ultimately, it means not truly serving God at all.
Money itself isn't evil; it's possible to be wealthy and still serve God faithfully. But it's easy to fool ourselves into thinking we're serving Him while really chasing worldly "stuff." God gives us possessions to enjoy, yet it all belongs to Him. Let's make sure we're giving Him our best—not just leftovers after we've taken care of ourselves first.
Respond:
• Where have you been storing most of your time, attention, and money?
• In what ways might money be competing with God for your loyalty?
• What would it look like this week to invest in something eternal?
Monday
Luke 12 (Focus V.15–21)
Discover:
In today’s passage, a man in the crowd asks Jesus to intervene in a family inheritance dispute—telling his brother to divide the estate fairly. In first-century Jewish custom, people often turned to rabbis or teachers like Jesus to settle such legal matters, as they were experts in the law.
But Jesus declines to act as judge here. Instead, He uses the moment to warn against covetousness (greed).
One feature of the Ten Commandments is that God includes a command against coveting (Exodus 20:17). Most human laws focus on outward actions like murder or theft, but God targets the heart—our inner desires. Covetousness is a root sin: it fueled Adam and Eve's fall when they grasped for what belonged only to God (Genesis 3), and it has sparked countless family breakdowns, conflicts, and even wars throughout history.
Covetousness shows up as ingratitude and selfishness. Wealth or prosperity itself isn't wrong—it's a tool God can use for good. The danger comes when we make riches our ultimate goal, never content with what we have, believing more "stuff" will bring lasting happiness or security.
That's exactly the rich fool's problem. His land produced abundantly, yet he never thanked God. Instead, he planned bigger barns for himself, chasing self-sufficiency and ease—"eat, drink, and be merry"—while ignoring the poor and his dependence on God (vv. 16–19).
God called him a fool and ended his life that very night (vv. 20–21). Those who cling to wealth with unrepentant greed face similar judgment for their lack of thankfulness and generosity.
Scripture never condemns wealth outright—it can powerfully serve God's kingdom. What it condemns is serving wealth as our god, failing to thank the Lord for His provision. God calls us to grateful, generous hearts. If we're not living that way, covetousness may be creeping in. Let's repent, trust Him fully, and use what we have to bless others and honor Him.
Respond:
• Are you building bigger barns or a bigger heart?
• What would it look like to plan less for comfort and more for impact?
• What one act of generosity could you take this week?
tuesday
Proverbs 11 (Focus V.24–25)
Discover:
Today’s passage reminds us that divine blessings often shape our lives in unexpected ways—and generosity plays a key role in receiving them.
Jacob schemed to secure Isaac’s better blessing because he understood its power to shape destiny (Gen. 27:1–45), and Esau grieved deeply when he lost it. Yet Scripture also shows that humans can bless one another—and God promises to bless those who use what they have to bless others.
God’s economy turns worldly wisdom upside down. The world says: hoard everything for yourself to get ahead. But the Bible declares the opposite: “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer” (Prov. 11:24). Paradoxically, the more generously we give—to those in need and to God’s kingdom—the more we tend to receive blessing (though not always in material form).
This doesn’t mean we should give away every cent with no thought for the future. Scripture praises wise saving and planning (Prov. 13:11; 21:20; 30:24–25). The difference lies in the heart: generous giving paired with prudent stewardship is commended, while clinging to wealth, refusing to help in genuine need, and trusting only in savings is condemned (Luke 12:13–21).
Proverbs 11:24–26 isn’t a mechanical “give-to-get” formula guaranteeing specific returns (and those who preach this “prosperity gospel” tragically deceive their listeners). It simply observes a pattern: those who obey God’s call to generosity are often blessed more richly in this life—sometimes materially, often in deeper ways.
Blessing also comes through honest business. Verse 26 praises the seller who doesn’t withhold grain during a shortage to inflate prices and exploit the poor. Merchants who refuse such greed, instead making needed goods available, can expect God’s favor.
Producing and selling needed resources honestly is an honorable way to serve others—and it carries God’s blessing. Generously giving portions of our income to feed the hungry, support the church, and meet real needs does the same. If we want to experience more of God’s blessings, let’s look for creative, joyful ways to give, share, and provide for those who cannot provide for themselves. In God’s kingdom, generosity truly is the path to greater blessing.
Respond:
• When have you experienced joy from giving?
• What are you tempted to hold too tightly?
• How might you refresh someone today?
Wednesday
1 Timothy 6 (Focus V.17–19)
Discover:
1 Timothy 6:17–19 gives clear, gracious guidance for wealthy Christians—showing that Paul’s earlier warnings about the love of money (vv. 2b–10) are not a blanket condemnation of having wealth.
The apostle assumes there will be rich believers in the church. He doesn’t rebuke them for their possessions or demand they give everything away. Instead, he instructs them how to use their resources in a way that honors Christ, blesses others, and benefits their own eternal future.
Paul starts with two key commands for the wealthy:
1. “Do not be haughty” (v. 17) — Riches can tempt us to feel superior, as if wealth proves we’re smarter or harder-working than others. But every blessing comes from God alone. Remembering this keeps pride in check and shifts our hope from “the uncertainty of riches” to the trustworthy, living God.
Wealth is notoriously unreliable—Scripture repeatedly warns of this (Luke 12:13–33; James 4:13–17), and recent global financial upheavals remind us again. Those who trust in money rather than the Giver will ultimately be let down, both now and forever.
2. Be rich in good works (vv. 17–19) — Wealthy believers are called to generosity, sharing freely, being ready to give, and willing to share. Yes, God wants us to enjoy His good gifts (Eccl. 5:18–20; 1 Tim. 6:17), but those gifts are meant not only for personal comfort but also to advance His kingdom.
This call to generosity isn’t just for the rich—it applies to every believer—but it’s especially urgent for those with more. As Dr. John MacArthur notes, “Those believers who have money must use it in meeting the needs of others, unselfishly and generously” (The MacArthur Bible Commentary, p. 1,799).
When we do, we “store up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future” (v. 19), becoming truly rich in the life to come.
Respond:
• Do you trust your money or God more for security?
• How could you use what you have to bless someone this week?
• What would generosity cost you—and why is it worth it?
THursday
2 Corinthians 9 (Focus V. 6–8)
Discover:
The Mosaic Law, under the new covenant, isn’t applied in a one-size-fits-all way. Some elements—like animal sacrifices for atonement—have been fulfilled and are no longer required, since Jesus perfectly accomplished their purpose through His death (Heb. 10:1–18). Yet other commands reflect timeless moral principles that continue to guide believers. Stealing, for example, didn’t suddenly become acceptable after Christ’s coming (Ex. 20:15; Eph. 4:28).
The same is true for the grain offering in Leviticus 2. While the literal ritual no longer applies, its underlying principles remain active today. God promised Israel that genuine repentance would bring restoration—including renewed fruitfulness so they could once again offer grain offerings (Joel 2:12–27). We now live in that era of restoration: through His Spirit, God is restoring Israel’s fortunes and expanding His covenant people to include believers from every nation (Isa. 55; Matt. 28:18–20). As new covenant believers, we’re called to bring the “fruit” of our labors—our time, talents, and resources—to God, fulfilling the heart of the grain offering in our day.
In the old covenant, the grain offering supported the priests’ ministry, worship, and teaching at the tabernacle/temple (Lev. 2:3, 10). Giving in the new covenant serves a parallel purpose. In 2 Corinthians 8–9, Paul urges the Corinthian church to give generously to a collection for the struggling believers in Jerusalem. In the climactic section (9:6–15), he highlights the joy and blessing that come from cheerful, abundant giving.
God desires our hearts above all. Giving grudgingly—with a tight fist—misses the point entirely. Instead, we’re invited to give joyfully, seeing it not as a burdensome duty but as a delightful opportunity to advance God’s kingdom. As Dr. John MacArthur observes, “God loves a heart that is enthusiastically thrilled with the pleasure of giving” (The MacArthur Bible Commentary, p. 1,640). The Lord Himself multiplies that joy.
Prosperity preachers twist Scripture when they promise a guaranteed hundredfold financial return for every gift. That’s not the biblical pattern. Still, God does promise to bless cheerful, generous givers—often abundantly, though not always with money (2 Cor. 9:6–11). Let’s eagerly seek ways to support the church’s work: funding missions (near and far), caring for the poor, and meeting real needs. When we give with open, joyful hearts, we partner in kingdom work—and experience God’s overflowing grace in return.
Respond:
• Do you give out of duty or delight? Why?
• What does cheerful giving look like in your life?
• Where is God inviting you to trust Him more with your resources?
Friday
Hebrews 13 (Focus V. 5–6)
Discover:
The Ten Commandments stand apart from other ancient law codes because they don’t just forbid outward actions—they target the heart. This is clearest in the tenth commandment: “You shall not covet” (Ex. 20:17). Covetousness—longing for what rightly belongs to someone else—is often the root that feeds every other sin. Adultery doesn’t begin in the act; it starts with desire. Theft doesn’t happen without first craving what isn’t ours.
That’s why the author of Hebrews moves naturally from warning against sexual immorality (Heb. 13:4) to addressing covetousness in verses 5–6: the love of money. Christians are called to be content with what we have, free from greed.
As we have already noted this week, Scripture doesn’t condemn wealth itself. The Bible speaks positively of riches in many places—Abraham was wealthy, and God sometimes blesses the faithful with prosperity (Prov. 22:4). Wealth and poverty aren’t inherently moral; a rich person can be free from the love of money, while a poor person can idolize it.
What God opposes is the love of money—making wealth our chief goal and ultimate security. As Paul writes, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evils” (1 Tim. 6:10), because people will compromise integrity, relationships, and faith to get more. Those who love money look to riches as their provider instead of trusting the God who gives us the power to gain wealth and meets every need.
Contentment doesn’t mean we can never seek to grow our resources—Scripture commends wise saving, investing, and honest work (Prov. 13:11). True contentment means being genuinely satisfied with what we have right now, even if efforts to gain more don’t succeed. It means refusing envy or jealousy toward those who have more.
Augustine of Hippo commented the following based on today’s passage: “Put your hand in the purse in such a way that you release your heart from it.” We may earn, save, and enjoy wealth, but we must hold it with an open hand. Riches can never provide lasting comfort, safety, or eternal security—only God can. Loving money is ultimately foolish because it seeks from wealth what wealth can never give: true and lasting happiness in Him. Let’s keep our hearts anchored in the Lord, content and generous, trusting Him for everything.
Respond:
• What do you struggle to be content with?
• How does trusting God change your relationship with money?
• What would you need to release to experience more peace?
Saturday
Proverbs 3:9–10
Discover:
Proverbs 3:9–10 calls us to a heart-level act of worship: “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.”
Scripture repeatedly urges God’s people to give Him the first and the best—not the leftovers. Cain’s offering was rejected because he brought what was second-rate, while Abel gave the choicest of his flock (Gen. 4:3–4). Israel celebrated the Feast of Firstfruits, presenting the earliest portion of the harvest to the Lord (Lev. 23:9–14). Even in visions of restoration, Ezekiel saw God’s people bringing their firstfruits again (Ezek. 44:30).
This principle isn’t about God needing our money—He owns everything already. It’s about us: giving the firstfruits visibly declares our trust that He will provide for every need. When we prioritize ourselves first and give God whatever remains, we subtly (or not so subtly) say, “I’m not sure You’ll take care of me—I’d better secure my share now.” That robs God of the honor He deserves and robs us of deeper faith (Mal. 3:6–12).
Giving first puts us in a place of real dependence: we surrender the “best” upfront and trust Him to fill what’s left. As Matthew Henry puts it, “God, who is the first and best, must have the first and best of every thing; his right is prior to all other, and therefore he must be served first.”
The promise in Proverbs 3:10 is vivid—abundant provision, overflowing barns and vats. While not every believer is a farmer today, the principle holds: God honors sacrificial, faith-filled giving with blessing—both in this life and supremely in the life to come (Mark 10:29–30).
Respond:
• Do you give God your first or your leftovers?
• What would honoring God with your resources look like this week?
• How does trust shape your giving?