Saturday Ember Day after Invocavit Sunday
Posted on March 12, 2022 by under
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:9-20 (NKJV)
5:9 Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field.
10 He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.
11 When goods increase, they increase who eat them; So what profit have the owners except to see them with their eyes?
12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.
13 There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.
14 But those riches perish through misfortune; When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand.
15 As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came;
And he shall take nothing from his labor which he may carry away in his hand.
16 And this also is a severe evil—just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind?
17 All his days he also eats in darkness, and he has much sorrow and sickness and anger.
18 Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. 19 As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.
Devotion
There are many who misquote a text of God’s Word saying: “Money is ‘the root of all’ evil.” But here is what Holy Scripture actually proclaims: “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.” (1 Tim. 6:10).
Today’s text from Ecclesiastes casts a similar warning: money is not the answer! You might think you will be happy with more money, but if it comes in abundance it usually carries with it some bad circumstances. For example, you will never be satisfied, no matter how rich you become (if not monetarily, then materially); as your riches increase, so will your expenses, and so will your anxiety over holding on to what you have acquired. Also, the more you hoard for yourself, the more susceptible you will be to misfortune and ruin. And no matter how much you acquire, you will leave this world with none of it, and you will end up making your life on earth miserable.
Our prayer isn’t for riches, nor poverty. The prayer is simply for contentment. And how might that come? Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (which is only declared through faith in Christ Jesus) and all these things will be added to you. Christ is your contentment—and the joy of your heart!
Prayer: O Lord, mercifully hear our prayer, and stretch forth the right hand of Thy Majesty to defend us from them that rise up against us; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for Ember Saturday
O Lord, we beseech Thee, look down graciously upon Thy people, and mercifully turn away from them the scourges of Thy wrath, through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Lent
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with the 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.
