Kingdom Building

September 26, 2019

Scripture Reading:

1 Timothy 6:6-19

Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. –1 Timothy 6:6-19

I grew up with country music. My dad sang and played the guitar. He loved the songs of the blue yodeler, Jimmie Rogers. So, I am enjoying learning about country music history on the PBS Ken Burns country music documentary. The song that came to mind after reading this scripture from Timothy was A Satisfied Mind.

How many times have you heard someone say,
“If I had his money I’d do things my way.”
But little they know that it’s so hard to find
One rich man in ten with a satisfied mind*.

We are suffering from an epidemic of greed in our world that is plunging us into ruin and destruction. Riches is the idol of our times and idols only possess the illusion of satisfaction. Greed is an addiction worse than tobacco or heroin. When we were in college, my roommates and I had very limited funds. We pooled our resources to pay rent on a garage apartment that had one large room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Hamburger was the most expensive food we bought, and we always bought the cheapest kind that was 20% fat, If I remember correctly. Since that experience, I observed that most of us live lives dedicated to obtaining more and better stuff, whether we need it or not, while some of our neighbors near or far do not have enough of the necessities of life. There is more to life than the pursuit of prime steak.

What we value in life matters from our food, clothing, and shelter to our work, education, and entertainment. Jesus calls us to value God first and people second. All material resources are only a means to the end of living within those values.

Prayer: God of Justice, forgive us when we turn to greed for our satisfaction. Open our eyes to the idols we worship and grant us the courage to resist their temptations. Amen.

*First verse of A Satisfied Mind by Red Hays, see at http://www.bobdylanroots.com/satisf.html

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.