1 Timothy
6:6-19— Timothy is charged to
seek spiritual values. There are countless people who have no aim in life, no
purpose, no reason for living. Others have low aim, such as the massing of
world possessions. Some aim only to make as much money as possible, own at
least one home, get a higher education, or climb the ladder of success.
The question explored here is this; what are the
riches that are truly worth a fight? The first half of our epistle reading
dismisses the every present wrong conclusion that material wealth is the grand
prize for those who believe in Christ.
There is gain; literally, “good business.” In godliness,
but Christ crucified and risen, as well as the life lived in Him (v.11) is what
the real “good business” is about.
Today, as in apostolic times, some say, in effect, that the resurrection
is past already; that is, that “two chickens in every pot,” are the object of
the Christian hope. But we move on to what the real fight is all about. Here is
what the emphasis ought to be as Paul explains in verses 11-16.
What is the aim of a Christian? Paul would suggest the
Christian’s aim in life is to seek the highest values – vs. 11 and to fight for
the faith vs. 12 while we keep the Lord’s commandments –vs.14.
Father, You show Your almighty power in Your mercy and forgiveness. Continue to fill us with Your gifts of love. Help us to hurry toward the eternal life Your promise and come to share in the joy of Your kingdom. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen [2]
Collect for Thursday
of the week of Pentecost 15: Lord, without Thee I can do nothing; with
Thee I can do all. Help me by Thy grace, that I fall not; help me by Thy
strength, to resist mightily the very first beginnings of evil, before it takes
hold of me; help me to cast myself at once at Thy sacred feet, and lie still
there, until the storm by overpast; and, if I lose sight of Thee, bring me back quickly to Thee, and
grant me to love thee better for Thy tender mercy’s sake. Amen (Edward Bouverie
Pusey)[3]
-22 September, 2022
[1] The rich man and Lazarus, Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
[2] Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. St. Louis
[3] Collect for Thursday of the week of Pentecost 15, 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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