Tuesday after the First Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on June 4, 2024 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
This is a critical text for Americans to properly understand, because we live in one of the most prosperous countries in the world at a time that is likely one of the most materialistic and leisure-focused eras of mankind. Due to this reality, we are certainly facing the sin that Saint Paul warns against in this epistle to the young bishop Timothy.
While the letter is sent to a pastor in the Office of the Holy Ministry, this section certainly has much to offer for all believers as regards living the Christian life and faithfully fulfilling any and all Christian vocations. The theme running throughout is “Fight the good fight of the faith,” focused on “eternal life” while you pursue “godliness with contentment”.
Often this text is misquoted as “money is the root of all evil,” when the Apostle is clear that the “love of money” is where the danger lies. For this type of love is covetousness or idolatry that ends up placing money before the Lord and His Word. Such love always bears the fruit of sin, which receives the holy wrath and righteous judgment of God.
Collect: 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.
