Hope In God
Opening Prayer
God, You are our hope, our protection, our shield. I hide in You and I am safe.
Read 1 Timothy 6:17-21
[17] 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. [18] Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. [19] 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. [20] Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, [21] which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Where are you investing that has eternal consequence?Now Paul instructs the rich Christians. Notice in verses 17 to 19 how he uses the words “rich,” “wealth,” “richly,” and “treasure” to make his point. Read them again. Earthly wealth is useless compared with spiritual, heavenly riches. We can’t depend on it. It can’t protect us from anything, especially death–God alone can–and it can’t buy us eternal life. The only sound investment now is in people in need.Oh, and just in case Timothy has forgotten, Paul slips in a last instruction about those false teachers (20,21). Timothy has the responsibility of making sure the Gospel message is passed on just the same as when Jesus taught it–it has been “entrusted” to him. The same responsibility endures through the centuries.
Apply
Pray that God helps us faithfully hold to the truth about Jesus and live together in the way Paul describes.
Closing prayer
King of love, I yield myself to You. Have Your way in me so that You will be reflected unhindered by me.
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