1Timothy
6::7 ...for we brought nothing into
the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; 8 but if we have food and clothing, we will be
content with these. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation
and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into
ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds
of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the
faith and pierced themselves with many pains. 11 But as for you, man of God, shun all this;
pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 12 Fight the
good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were
called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many
witnesses. .....
1Timothy 6:17 As for those who in the
present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on
the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with
everything for our enjoyment. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good
works, generous, and ready to share, 19 thus storing up for themselves the treasure
of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life
that really is life.
Here
is a letter to a church that is in disarray and in need to correction. The
leadership is embroiled in dispute and “godless chatter”[1]
and so renewal is required. An essential step towards this is the
renunciation of the pursuit of wealth: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their
eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith.” This is not a denunciation of wealth, but is
rather the invitation to use wealth “to
do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share”.
Why invest time and energy in the pursuit of the
uncertainty of riches when there is a better option: Jesus-followers choose to
trust Jesus’ call to a simple lifestyle as offering certain hope for spiritual renewal.
Ordinary 26 / Pentecost +19
48 God Supplies Our Every Need
The Scripture passage
for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other
Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 292.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.
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