Who Cares? - Week 4

Community Group Discussion Guide
Scripture focus: Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 24:19; Matthew 6:31-33

WHO CARES!
WHO CARES?
WHO CARES.

The phrase “who cares” can come in the form of a direct statement with firm exclamation!
Perhaps in another situation “who cares” presents itself in the form of a question.
Or “who cares” period.

The statement can be provoked by fatigue, frustration, anger, or finding oneself overwhelmed.

*Share an example of a time that you responded by saying “who cares.” What were the circumstances and what factors were at play? (anger, fear, frustration, fatigue)

In today’s message Paul shared the following opening statements.
Our lives are so busy and fast-paced. The lack of margin increases our stress and shortens our tempers. It can distract us from the most important things in our lives, relationships. It can even affect our relationship with God because there’s a connection between our willingness to create margin and our faith. All relationships are affected when we start to have one area where we throw our hands in the air and think “who cares”

*Share an example of a time when your relationship with God was affected because of the lack of margin or the amount of stress in your life.

*Share an example of a time when an interaction between a stranger, friend, or family member was affected by the lack of margin or increased stress in your life.

Some of you may be on the verge, relationally, of throwing up your hands and saying, “WHO CARES.”

Let’s dig into the Word and see what God has for us as it relates to our response to others and our care for them.

Read Leviticus 19:9-10; 9 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 You shall not strip your vineyard bare or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the Lord your God.

Scripture Support
v. 9,10; this passage was a reminder that God was the owner of the land and the people were only the “care-takers” of it. Laws such as this showed God’s generosity. As people of God, the Israelites were to reflect his nature and character through their actions and attitudes.

*Share an example of how you’ve seen others reflect the nature and character of God through their actions or attitudes.

*How are you being an example of God’s nature and character through your actions and character?

v. 9,10; God instructed the Hebrews to provide for those in need. He required that the people leave the edges of their fields unharvested in order to provide for the poor and travelers. He did not want them to ignore the poor and forget about those in need.

*Share an example of how you can leave the “edges of your field” for those in need.

Read together Deuteronomy 24:19-22; 19 When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be left for the alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all your undertakings. 20 When you beat your olive trees, do not strip what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow. 21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, do not glean what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow. 22 Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore, I am commanding you to do this.

Scripture Support
v. 19-22; God wants us to treat each other fairly and do our part to help meet the needs of one another.
v. 19-21; This second gathering called “gleaning” was a way that those in need were able to provide food for themselves. For example, Ruth obtained food for herself and Naomi by “gleaning” behind the reapers in Boaz’s field, picking up leftovers. (Ruth 2:2)

How are you able to answer the question, “who cares?”

How are you cultivating care for others?

Paul reminded us that if we don’t care, we will have planted nothing in relationships and we will have nothing relational to care about. And we will think it is everyone else’s fault because they don’t seem to care, but that’s not entirely true. You need to care, so that you can harvest care.

“Your happiness can be measured by the quality of your relationships, not your prosperity or your progress.”
“Who cares?”