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 people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.

Isaiah 9.2 (NIV)

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.

Proverbs 19.17

At first glance it seems awful that Solomon appeals to our own self-interest when encouraging us to be ‘kind to the poor’! And yet it’s quite common in the Bible, because there is a different between right self-interest and greed.

Jesus told the rich young man: ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven’ (Mark 10.21). He told the crowds: ‘But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great’ (Luke 6.35). And again: ‘when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you’ (Matthew 6.6). And so on.

There is nothing wrong with being motivated to do good things because doing them is good for us. That’s wise and sensible! The difference between that and being greedy, is that greed is focused inward, on ourselves. And actually in the long run greed benefits no-one, even ourselves.

This Proverb is a great example of that: being ‘kind to the poor’ is good for them and good for us.

So if you struggle to be motivated to take issues of social justice seriously, perhaps this motivation might help?

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:

Wayne, Claire & Jude Pinner-Rosenbach

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: Church Musicians

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.