All I Want for Christmas – My Finances – Ecclesiastes 5:8-20

All I Want for Christmas

My Finances – Ecclesiastes 5:8-20
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Pastor Mike Bailey

Introduction

This Christmas season, we’re taking a fresh look at the attitudes that shape our holiday season, examining our hearts as we focus on our finances, our family, our faith, and our future. Through the wisdom of the Teacher, the tender redemption of the Prodigal Son, the wonder-filled obedience of the Shepherds, and the steady, peace-filled encouragement of the Apostle Paul, we’ll discover how the story of Jesus transforms each of these areas in surprising and hope-filled ways. We will see Christmas not just as a season, but as an invitation: to hold our finances with wisdom, to love our families with grace, to strengthen our faith with joy, and to look toward our future with peace. Let’s experience the kind of Christmas our hearts long for.

December 7: My Finances – Ecclesiastes 5:8-20

December 14 – My Family – Luke 15:11-32

December 21 – My Faith – Luke 2:8-20

December 28 – My Future – Philippians 4:4-9

IMPACT Church 101 E. First Ave. Parkesburg, PA 19365
(610) 857-3887 [email protected]

My Finances

Ecclesiastes 5:8-20

1. Money can cause us . (Ecclesiastes 5:8-12)

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” Matthew 6:24

⁷ Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender. ⁹ Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor. Proverbs 22:7,9

Notes:

2. Money can make us . (Ecclesiastes 5:13-15)

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke 6:38

Notes:

3. Money can make us . (Ecclesiastes 5:16-17)

 Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! Ecclesiastes 5:10

“And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35

Notes:

4. Money can simply be another . (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)

The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down. Proverbs 21:20 (NIV)

Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Luke 12:15

Notes:

Challenge:

Find three things to change about how you honor God with your finances.

1.

2.

3.

Now, DO THEM!

It’s sins that have cut you off from God. Isaiah 59:2a

For everyone has sinned; we fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 3:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the free of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be . Romans 10:9

Growth Challenge:

This Christmas season choose to honor God with your finances.

Read

Luke 15:1-32 in preparation for next week’s message.

All Bible verses are from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.