Tuesday after the First Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on June 13, 2023 by under
Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-19 (NKJV)
6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Devotion
Some people have a way of making biblical instructions into a catchphrase or cliché. The passage we read today can often be taken that way, as a blanket charge against all money. However, the Apostle says that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,” as he gives instruction to rich Christians, as he gives instruction to Timothy.
Instead of catchphrases that exalt worldly righteousness, we as believers ought to strive for the pure Word of God, as it is the only thing that makes us wise to salvation. We receive the good confession, which is to be confessed before the world, and no part of that should be watered down, added to, or taken away.
If we only know God’s Word through a cliché or catchphrase, then we rob ourselves of the joy to which the Word truly points, which is Jesus Christ. Therefore, let us pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness, which are implanted in us by the pure Word of God.
Prayer: O God, the Strength of all them that put their trust in Thee: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without Thee, grant us the help of Thy grace, that in keeping Thy commandments we may please Thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
