Verse of the Day 1/15
1 Timothy 6:17-18 To all the rich of this world, I command you not to be wrapped in thoughts of pride over your prosperity, or rely on your wealth, for your riches are unreliable and nothing compared to the living God. Trust instead in the one who has lavished upon us all good things, fulfilling our every need.
18 Remind the wealthy to be rich in good works of extravagant generosity, willing to share with others.
The Passion Translation (TPT)
The small groups in our church are all doing the same study for the next 4 weeks, "How to Be Rich", based on the book by Andy Stanley. Today's verese are the backdrop for the study. Paul tells Timothy as he tells us about the "rich" but with the underlying tone that they are rich.
In my read through the New Testament plan that I'm following, this year I'm reading in The Passion Translation" so I looked up the verses in that translation. The words that caught my attention were "wrapped up". The nature of people then and now is to be so wrapped up in themselves that they don't even realize that they are rich. They are not aware of how God has blessed them and that the reason God blessed them was so that they in turn could be a blessing to others. (see Genesis 12:2-3 for starters).
The wealthier we are the more we tend to rely on ourselves and our bank accounts than to rely on and call on God. The call of the passage, the study, is to trust in God who has given us, lavished good things upon us so that we may in turn be "extravagantly" generous ourselves, sharing God's blessings with others.
As we head out today may we consider how we can be generous, even extravagantly generous, to someone today.
Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.
Make me a blessing, make me a blessing,
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.
2
Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,
Tell of His pow'r to forgive;
Others will trust Him if only you prove
True, every moment you live.
3
Give as 'twas given to you in your need,
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
Unto your mission be true.
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.
Blessings
Mike
1 Timothy 6:12-21 English Standard Version (ESV)
12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before[a] Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.
Grace be with you.
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