Daily Devotionals
november 1, 2021
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
I Timothy 6:17-19
Paul wrote a letter to Timothy, his “son” in the faith. He wrote to encourage him to remain faithful. He wrote to give him instructions for selecting church leaders and to give directions on other matters in the church. And he wrote to remind Timothy the messages he should give. In today’s passage, Paul tells Timothy to “command . . .” the people who were part of his flock. The commands, which come to us as well, are to use the resources God has given to them, and to us, appropriately. What do we learn from Paul’s instructions? We learn that our hope is in God, not in our wealth. We learn that we can generously share not only our money but also our “good deeds.” We learn that we can take hold of eternal life as we store treasure in heaven through our generosity. At Peachtree we’ve been praying, “Thy will be done” as part of a 21-day focused effort leading up to Generosity Sunday on November 7th. We’ve prayed for God’s will to be done in our individual lives and in our church. This week, the final seven days, we are praying, “Thy will be done in our community and world.” Asking God to lead us is exactly what Paul was teaching and what he encouraged Timothy to teach as well. As we seek to be obedient to God’s Word, living out the commands of this passage and praying for His will, we are going to need help. May we be open to God’s Holy Spirit guiding us, leading us, encouraging us, and shaping our lives as we seek faithful living in all areas of our lives.
For Reflection
In what ways can you be generous with the resources, talents, and time that God has given to you?
What is one thing you can do so that you can place your hope in God in a renewed way today?
Prayer
Thy will be done, God. Thy will be done in my life, in my church, in my community, and in the world. Amen.
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