'Wealth' Tagged Posts (Page 3)
Daily Devotions: September 28, 2019
September 28, 2020 For full passage click: Luke 16:19-26 … “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.’” vs. 25 This familiar story paints a stark contrast between the fate of the rich and the poor after death and satisfies a basic human desire for ultimate justice. We are reminded that both the rich and the…
Daily Devotions: September 23, 2019
September 23, 2020 For full passage click: Amos 6:1a, 4-7 … “Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory–who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp–who drink wine from bowls–but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!” vss. 4a, 5a, 6a, 6c Amos was not impressed with the life-styles of the rich and famous in the Israel of King Jeroboam II. He was a non-credentialed prophet from an obscure village in the hill country of…
Daily Devotions: September 16, 2019
September 16, 2019 For full passage click: Amos 8:4-7 … “Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land, saying, ‘When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain; and the sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will make the ephah small and the shekel great, and practice deceit with false balances…’” vss. 4-5 When Amos wandered out of Judah into the kingdom of…
Daily Devotions: September 8, 2019
September 8, 2019 For full passage click: Luke 14:31-33 … “So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.” vs. 33 Jesus regularly reminded his followers that discipleship was a costly undertaking and not something that could be taken lightly. Here he tells them that it will include the abandonment of all their possessions. Following his death and resurrection, it seems those who became disciples were willing to do exactly that.…
Daily Devotions: August 10, 2019
August 10, 2019 For full passage click: Luke 12:32-34 … “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” vs. 32 Whether we like it or not, we are treated to hourly reports, Monday through Friday, on how the stock market is doing. There is generally no rhyme or reason for the daily fluctuations but we can’t escape knowing how it’s doing. Some folks like that! They have multiple investments and…
Daily Devotions: August 3, 2019
August 3, 2019 For full passage click: Luke 12: 13-15 …“And he said to them, ‘Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.’” vs. 15 In our age of extravagant consumption, it’s easy to point fingers at the super-rich and accuse them of living greed-driven lives. Their garish displays of ostentatious wealth are regularly splayed across our television screens for all to see. But we don’t…
Daily Devotions: July 31, 2019
July 31, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 49:1-12 …“Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me, those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?” vss. 5-6 The Psalmist was not impressed with those who flexed muscles and boasted about their riches. He considered them his persecutors and knew that they had accumulated their wealth at the expense of the lowly. In his eyes they were…
Daily Devotions: February 17, 2019
February 17, 2019 To read full passage click: Luke 6:24-26 …“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.” vs. 24 A series of warnings immediately following a list of blessings is not unusual in the Hebrew scriptures. The prophets used that tactic regularly in delivering their oracles. But Luke is the only gospel that has Jesus using this method. In his Sermon on the Plain, Jesus follows his favorable assessment of the poor with cutting…
Daily Devotions: October 13, 2018
October 13, 2018 Mark 10:23-27 …“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” vs. 25 It’s funny how upset folks get when their pastors talk about money. They might tolerate a few words on giving come Consecration Sunday, but at other times of the year pastors are expected to talk about spiritual stuff. Unfortunately, no one ever got the word to Jesus!…
Daily Devotions: August 9, 2018
August 9, 2018 Ephesians 4:25-28…“Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.” vs. 28 There’s something delightfully naive about this verse from Ephesians. Usually the writers of scripture come down hard on sinners; thieves are given warnings to change behavior or face harsh consequences. But here there are no threats or condemnation, just a heartfelt admonition for thieves to stop stealing and…