Time in the Word
5–10 October 2015
Preparation for next week, The 20th Sunday after Pentecost
5–10 October 2015
Preparation for next week, The 20th Sunday after Pentecost
The theme for the Twentieth Sunday after
Pentecost is The Root of Evil. You will sometimes hear a person say
‘Money is the root of all evil.’ Usually it is said in a judgmental tone, used
to condemn another. But such a one doesn’t quote Scripture correctly, for the
Bible does not say that money is the root of all evil, but ‘the love
of money is the root of all evil.’ (1 Timothy 6:10 )
All of next Sunday’s readings exhort us not
to depart from the Lord, but to remain faithful to Him. Oftentimes, not only
the cares of this world, but the things of this world divert our attention
from the Lord.
The sin of the rich young man in next
Sunday’s Gospel reading was not that he had great riches, but that those riches
were the most important thing to him. A Christian who is wealthy need not be
ashamed of his wealth, for it is a gift from God, but he must not let his
wealth rule him. He must realize that he is but a steward of the gifts God
gives, and must use those gifts in a manner pleasing to God.
Collect for Pentecost 20— Lord Jesus
Christ, whose grace always precedes and follows us, help us to forsake all
trust in earthly gain and to find in You our heavenly treasure; for You live
and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Collect
for Proper 23 – Lord
Jesus Christ, whose grace always precedes and follows us, help us to forsake
all trust in earthly gain and to find in Your our heavenly treasure; for You
live and reigns with the Father rand the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.
Amen
Prayer to resist the love of money: Almighty God, heavenly Father, You have called us
to be Your children and heirs of Your gracious promises in Christ Jesus. Grant
us Your Holy Spirit that we may forsake all covetous desires and the inordinate
love of riches. Deliver us from the pursuit of passing things that we may seek
the kingdom of Your Son
Prayer for the proper use of wealth: Almighty God, all that we possess is from Your
loving hand. Give us grace that we may honor You with all we own, always
remembering the account we must one day give to Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for the unemployed: Heavenly Father, we commend to Your care those
who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Grant that the wealth and
resources of this rich land be profitably used so that all persons may find
suitable and fulfilling employment and receive just payment for their labor;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of thanksgiving to God: Lord God, heavenly Father, from Your hand we
receive all good gifts and by Your grace we are guarded from all evil. Grant us
Your Holy Spirit that, acknowledging with our whole heart Your boundless
goodness, we may now and evermore thank and praise You for Your loving-kindness
and tender mercy; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for grace to love and serve God: O God, through the grace of Your Holy Spirit You
pour the gifts of love into the hearts of Your faithful people. Grant Your
servants health both of mind and body that they may love You with their whole heart
and with their whole strength perform those things that are pleasing to You;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for agriculture: Almighty God, You bless the earth to make it
fruitful, bringing forth in abundance whatever is needed for the support of our
lives. Prosper the work of farmers and all those who labor to bring food to our
table. Grant them seasonable weather that they may gather in the fruits of the
earth in abundance and proclaim Your goodness with thanksgiving; through Jesus
Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Monday, 5 October 2015—Psalm 112:3–6 ;
Antiphon, Psalm
112:1 —Sunday’s
Introit tells of the blessedness of the man who fears the Lord and delights in His commandments. This man delights especially in the First
Commandment, You shall have no
other gods. He fears, loves, and
trusts in God above all things, especially earthly things. Thus, he is truly
wealthy, for he possesses wealth that is far greater than material things; he
has the righteousness of God that comes by faith.
Tuesday, 6 October 2015—Psalm 90:12–17 —Psalm 90 is a psalm
written by Moses, and is a great comfort in times of sadness. It starts out
with a confession that the Lord abides with us always: Lord, you have been
our dwelling place in all generations. Verses 12–17 are a prayer for
the continuation of God’s favor, and the wish that He would carry out His work
of salvation and bless His people’s undertakings to that end.
Wednesday, 7 October
2015—Amos 5:6–7 , 10–15 —The
prophet Amos lamented over the Israelites, who had turned their back on the Lord. Here the Lord exhorts the people through His prophet: Seek the Lord and live. He judges them for
delighting in material things—houses of hewn stone and pleasant vineyards—but
taking advantage of the poor and afflicting the righteous. Again they are
exhorted, Seek good and not evil, that you may live.
Thursday, 8 October
2015—Hebrews 3:12–19 —This
portion of our reading through the book of Hebrews also contains an
exhortation, that the hearers not be like the Israelites of old, who rebelled
against God. No person, on his own, can fully withstand temptation. But God has
given us His Word and Sacraments to keep us strong in the faith, and He also
provides what our Confessions call the mutual conversation and consolation
of brethren (SA III, IV). Therefore, we Christians exhort one
another, that none of us may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Friday, 9 October 2015—Mark 10:17–22 —The rich
young man was off in his thinking from the very start, when he asked, What
must I do to inherit eternal life? Inheriting eternal life is not a matter
of our doing; it is a gift of grace. Jesus tried to show the man that he could
not earn his salvation, by directing him to the commandments. Yet, the young
man persisted in his self-righteousness by proclaiming that he had kept them
all from his youth.
Still, Jesus looked on
him with love and compassion, as a wayward sheep. He directs the man to the
First Commandment, by asking him to give up all he had. This young man loved
the things of the world more than the things of God, and so he went away
sorrowful.
How can any person
enter the Kingdom of God? Not on his own merits, for with man it is
impossible…but all things are possible with God.
Saturday, 10 October
2015—Sunday’s hymn of the day, Thee
Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower (LSB 694) is a hymn of resolute
determination to love God above all things, not of our own selves, but
prayerfully asking, Permit me nevermore to stray (v. 4).
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