Sing to the Lord, and praise him! Proclaim every day the good news that he has saved us (Psalm 96.2, GNB).
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Opening
Speak these words out loud:
By his power God raised Jesus from the dead,
and he will raise us also.
1 Corinthians 6.14 (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.
The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing. (NIV)
Lazy people who refuse to work are only killing themselves; all they do is think about what they would like to have. The righteous, however, can give, and give generously. (GNB)
Proverbs 21.25-26
How materialistic are you? How much do care about stuff: having it, having more of it, wanting things you can’t have?
Another way of asking that question that may get a more honest answer (!) is this: when you think about stuff (money, possessions, etc), do you think about what you could have, or what you could give?
This Proverb starts off talking about lazy people – but actually I’d like us to think about the contrast in the second half of the Proverb. Look at the difference between the ‘sluggard’ and the ‘righteous’ in their attitude to stuff:
..the sluggard ‘craves for more’, ‘all they do is think about what they would like to have’
..the righteous ‘gives without sparing’, they ‘give, and give generously’
In other words, they work hard not so they can have more but so they can give more.
Is that your attitude to stuff? I’m challenged by this! If I’m honest I rather like my stuff – even my computer (though this year I’ve seen far too much of it!). And there’s nothing wrong with that in itself; this Proverb is about our attitude, what drives us.
How generous are you? Do you want more so you can have more, or so you can give more?
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:
Jean Austin, Joshi Family (Alan, Jess, Paul)
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: Local Secondary Schools & Colleges
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.