18th Sunday After Pentecost
26th September 2010 - First Service
Readings: Amos 6:1-7/1Tim 6:6-19/Luke 16 :19-31
In the Book of Genesis we learn that we were all created in the image of God and given the mandate to subdue the earth as well as enjoy it. God therefore gave us the ability to be resourced.
‘Resources’ are the qualities and skills one has and can use to solve problems. Therefore when the people in Amos’ time were complacent and abused the prosperity and resources God gave to His people, he threatened them with a curse as in Amos 6:1
Am 6:1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and to them that are secure in the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel come!
In the third Reading, the rich man, with all the blessings and prosperity he enjoyed on earth, failed to prepare for eternity. Whatever our status on earth we must remember that death comes to both the rich and the poor; and so we must prepare for eternity.
Preparing for eternity involves sharing our resources or riches and giving to God’s work; and there are a lot of opportunities around us to enable us to do these. For example, the story is told of a tomato seller who earns very little income and yet decided to help train a Catholic Priest; and she did, consistently with her little contributions. Many of us have clothes we have never worn and which can be given out to Charity but which we are holding onto. Opportunities exist in the Seminary and in the Church to offer such things as our contribution to the training of Ministers of the Gospel and the support of less endowed brothers and sisters in the Church.
In the Second Reading, 1Tim 6:6-12
6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 11 But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses; the Apostle Paul instructs us as follows:
1. We must Flee: foolish and hurtful lusts; the love of money
2. We must pursue: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
3. We must Fight: the good fight of the faith.
4. We must lay hold on eternal life
He further instructs us to
1. Keep these commandment, without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2. He warns the rich not to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches; but on God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
May God grant us the grace to manage our resources wisely and to seek eternity in whatever we do.
Revd Martin Obeng is a Lecturer in Old Testament at Trinity Theological Seminary
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