1 John
3:16-18 - Sunday’s Hymn is “We Give Thee But Thine Own,” (LSB #781).
Here is the definition of love. It is found in a person. It is found in an
action. Jesus laid down His life for us. We in turn love and serve our neighbor.
Actions speak louder than words. Thus John can say “If anyone has material
possession and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the
love of God be in him? The faith is taught and it is caught. May we in love
befriend and serve our neighbor.
Note: The tune is sometimes attributed to Lowell
Mason, since it first appeared in a book published by him and George Webb. It
is named Schumann as German composer Robert Schumann was thought to have
written it. However, there is no real evidence that he did.
The people of Israel had given freely to the project
of building a temple in Jerusalem (I Chron. 29:9). Though it was to be David’s
son Solomon who would direct the construction, David, in his last years,
gathered the materials needed. Afterward, he offered a prayer of praise and
thanksgiving for the blessings of God (vs. 10-19).
In the latter verses, it is emphasized several times
that we give what the Lord has equipped and prepared us to give. All that we
have comes from Him, and we are stewards of it. In our offerings, we present to
Him, for use in His service, what belongs to Him.
“All that is in
heaven and it earth is Yours….Both riches and honor come from You….All comes
from You, and of Your own have we given You….All this abundance…is from Your
hand, and is all Your own” (vs. 11, 12, 14, 16).
It is the statement in vs. 14, “of Your own have we given You,” that gave how the opening line of
his hymn. However, the author put Proverbs19:17 above the text: “He who has pity on the poor lends to the
LORD, and He will pay back what he has given,” which looks at giving from
another angle. When we give to the Lord, He will most certainly bless us.
This is a fine stewardship hymn. Since the Lord has
been so gracious to us, we ought to use what He has given to serve Him, and
help those around us. Some churches use the opening stanza just before
offerings to the Lord are received.[2]
Prayer for likeness to Christ: O God, by the patient suffering of Your
only-begotten Son You have beaten down the pride of the old enemy. Now help us,
we humbly pray, rightly to treasure in our hearts all that our Lord has of His
goodness borne for our sake that following His blessed example we may bear with
all patience all that is adverse to us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Collect for Saturday
of the week of Pentecost 14: O Thou who does call us to Thyself, that in
union with Thee we may know Thee as Thou art, grant that such fellowship may be
ours and that, walking in the light, we may be inspired in thought and word and
act, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Anonymous)[3]
-17 September, 2022
[1] Luther’s Seal, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[3] Collect for Saturday of the week of Pentecost 14, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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