Date: January 4, 2026
Session Title: When Your Finances Fall Short
The Point: Trust in God is far richer than financial prosperity.
Get Into the Study
Read after GUIDE:
Americans’ spending trends have gone up in 2025. The biggest spending categories this year were travel, general merchandise, and restaurants. That includes electronics, hobbies, and pet care, which saw the largest relative increases year-over-year.
Electronics lead the increased spending, up nearly 26% from last year. Spending on pets and their care rose 11%. Despite the increase in costs in everyday life, spending on travel is up 10% from last year.
Most surprising might be that Gen Z grew their wealth in percentage terms more than any other generation in 2025, across both 401(k) savings (up 14%) and overall net worth (up 3%), with Millennials following closely behind.
When we are faced with material comforts, it can be easy to let our relationship with God slide. However, we should increase the spending of our time and tithe with God just as we are increasing our financial spending.
What is a way that you could increase your spending on God, through time, funds, physical goods, support for a friend, etc.?
Wealth Watch: What Americans Spent and Saved
Live It Out
Read after GUIDE:
Counting our blessings can be very difficult, especially for those going through a difficult season of life. Maybe it’s the death of a loved one, financial struggles, a broken relationship or a difficult employment situation. Or maybe in the holiday rush, excitement, joy and pressures, we might find ourselves being overwhelmed. This, however, is when counting our blessings becomes even more important.
Counting our blessings isn’t about financial success or what we own, but about inner reflection on all that God had done for us. Coming as a baby, dying a gruesome death on the cross and raising again—God gave us everything. When we reflect on God, we can experience gratitude, joy and peace in the midst of deep hurt and pain.
One of the best ways to make it through the big emotions and holiday activities is to give back or pay it forward. What can you do this season to be a blessing that someone else can count on?
The week’s writer for Extra is Erika Morrison. Erika is the daughter of missionary parents. She lives in Southwest Michigan, where she serves as the executive director of a human services non-profit, and speaks regularly on poverty culture, and having a relationship with Jesus.
Additional Questions
Icebreakers
- How can believers maintain a godly perspective about their finances?
- What are three things in your life that bring you joy?
- What do you typically carry in your pockets or pocketbook?
Luke 12:13-15. Financial prosperity has no bearing on what truly matters.
- What are the behaviors and attitudes of someone who is motivated by greed?
- What truly matters in life?
- What did it cost you when your priorities were possession focused?
Luke 12:16-21. True riches come from God as we store up treasures with Him.
- What happened to the rich man and his treasures?
- How does the sudden turn in the story challenge your understanding of wealth and security?
- What did this man think was an effective strategy for a long happy life?
Luke 21:1-4. God is honored when we trust Him in our giving.
- What lessons do we learn from both examples?
- How can giving be an act of trust?
- How has God provided for you financially?
Podcast
Click here for a podcast episode built for both the group member and the leader.
Leave a Reply