Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Tuesday after the First Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Posted on June 8, 2021 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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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 men go into the Ministry for wrong reasons. Some want to have authority, others want prestige, and still others want a large congregation that provides a big salary. None of these motives serve the Gospel. They don’t serve the Lord, and they don’t serve God’s people.

Faithful pastors often suffer poverty; they serve small flocks, and sometimes have to work secular jobs to survive. Rather than pursuing lucrative careers, the man of God pursues righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. And in their service to Lord they learn to be content with the simple things that He provides for them. They value faithfulness to God’s Word and Sacraments above the value of riches. “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Tim. 2:21).

Having learned to be content, pastors are to teach their people to do the same. A Christian’s wealth should not be wealth of money or goods, but of love and good works. His treasure should not be on earth, but laid up in heaven, and his mansion is in the house of His Father. If a Christian is blessed with temporal goods, he should learn the honor of sharing those goods with those less fortunate. Let the child of God put righteousness above riches, that the Lord may be glorified in everything!

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. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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