Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 6: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 78:1 to 39; Evening, Psalm 78:40 to 72;
1st Samuel 1:21 to 2:11; Acts 1:15 to 26; Luke 20:19 to 26:
“So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said, so as to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. So they asked him, ‘Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, ‘Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?’ They said, ‘The emperor’s.’ He said to them, ‘Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s:” (Luke 20: 20 to 25)
My history sources inform me that the use of coin money predates the appearance of our Lord Jesus by about five thousand years, that is, about the year five thousand B.C. There were, and are good reasons for money. Foods and other needed products have short shelf lives. Coin money maintained its serviceability for a long time, but not forever. Money quickly became the great tool for the establishment of the rich and the poor – the haves and the have-nots.
I have the highest admiration for people who live well within their means. Let me say that another way: I have the highest admiration for people who, while not rich, do not wish to be. They have learned to maintain themselves and have some enjoyment in life on the money they have coming in from month to month. They don’t want more money because they don’t need more money. If they had more money, they would just become more charitable. They live happily within their means. They have not turned to worshiping money.
Money worked its way into our relationship with God, albeit without God’s approval. God does not want our money. God wants our hearts, our love. Love then is what we should give to God as our Lord Jesus teaches us in this Gospel account. Neither metal money, nor paper money or even our plastic money of today, is eternal; but love is. Thank You Lord Jesus.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, and our schools.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 