Our church building may be closed, but God’s eyes are open and his ears are attentive to our prayers (2 Chronicles 7.15).
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Opening
Speak these words out loud:
The Lord has established Zion,
and in her his afflicted people will find refuge.
from Isaiah 14.32
Today’s Proverb
Read the proverb through three or four times, slowly. Pause in-between, maybe write it out by hand – savour the words, let them speak deeply to you.
The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin. (NIV)
Righteous people keep their wealth, but the wicked lose theirs when hard times come. (GNB)
Proverbs 15.6
What’s the most expensive thing in your house? I suspect it’s likely to be an item of jewellery, furniture, or technology (my laptop is our most expensive item).
It’s easy to make the mistake in thinking that the most expensive thing is the most valuable thing, or the ‘greatest treasure’. One of my greatest treasures is my leather Bible, given me by my father’s church when I left to start my curacy in Studley; most of you will have seen it as I use it every time I preach. Then there is the ladybird paperweight my Mum made me years ago, which has sat on my desk ever since.
In Solomon’s day many would have understood this proverb to be about material wealth and possessions – as the Good News puts it. Wealth was seen as a sign of blessing, of God’s approval. However other proverbs show Solomon knew it isn’t that simple (see Proverbs 15.16-17, 16.8 etc.).
And what did Jesus say about treasure, and where we should store it up? In a bank? No! ‘Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal’ (Matthew 6.20, NIV). And, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field’ (Matthew 13.44, NIV).
Where is your treasure? What is the most valuable thing in your life?
Prayers
Pray for Five – pray for your five friends / family from Thy Kingdom Come.
Our daily prayer sheet includes the names of everyone for whom we have a signed church family directory form – and local parishes and senior church leaders. Today we are praying for:
Robins Family (Daniel, Joanna, Rachel, Steve)
Father, please bless them with your peace, and a deep awareness of your presence with them, every day and in every way.
We also pray for: PCC & Standing Committee
Please pray for our leaders and healthcare workers, and all those working to keep us safe, well, and fed. Please pray that people would unselfishly put others before themselves.
Church Family Prayer
Come Holy Spirit,
and make us one in heart and action,
so that we can serve God faithfully:
abounding in love,
maturing in holiness,
and seeking out the lost.
Help us grow as disciples of Jesus –
in commitment, in depth, and in number –
that we may be a blessing to Amington;
to the glory and praise of God the Father.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Closing Prayer
Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labour in vain.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus
the only way to the Father.
Psalm 127.1, Hebrews 12.2 & John 14.6
May Christ our Saviour give us peace.
Amen.