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Devotion Time: Money & Worldliness Weeks 5 & 6: May 30-June 11, 2011
Monday, may 30
Prayer For Today’s DT
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
Bible Text
John 12:1–8
Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
John 12:23-24
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
Reflection Questions
John 12:1-8, 23-24
“Spices and ointments were quite costly because they had to be imported. Frequently they were used as an investment because they occupied a small space, were portable, and were easily negotiable in the open market. Mary’s offering was valued at three hundred denarii (v. 5) approximately a year’s wages for an ordinary workingman. Perhaps it represented her life savings. […] Wiping his feet with her hair was a gesture of utmost devotion and reverence. The penetrative fragrance of the ointment that filled the house told all present of her sacrificial gift.”[1]
· What is the only thing that can explain Mary’s outpouring of this expensive perfume? Why is this appropriate in light of what Jesus was about to do (vv. 23-24)?
· What is the fundamental difference between Mary and Judas as revealed by his objection to what she did?
· With whom can I identify more?
· What can I learn about the progression of sin from Judas who “helped himself” to the communal money and “was later to betray” Jesus?
· How might things have changed for Judas if he had been honest about what was going on in his heart at this point?
PERSONAL PRAYER
· Please write out a prayer of commitment or confession either based on today’s text, or upon reflection over recent events in your life.
Tuesday, may 31
Prayer For Today’s DT
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. (Psalm 20:7 )
Bible Text
Acts 2:42–47
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 4:32–5:11
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
5Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.”
5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”
“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”
9 Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
Reflection Questions
Acts 2:42-47, 4:32-37
· Again, in these passages we see that genuine spirituality resulted in sharing of goods and money. If this description of concrete generosity was missing in Acts 2 & 4, how different would our response be to the life of the early church? Or, how different would our reaction be if the early church was devoted to the Apostle’s teaching and to prayer, etc., but each person or family continued to keep all their money for themselves?
· These passages that highlight the concrete acts of love, freely expressed amongst the family of believers, serve as a harsh rebuke to modern notions of what it means to be the church. How do I feel about this level of freedom regarding possessions and goods?
Acts 4:36-5:4
· What was the sin of Ananias and Sapphira? What may have led them to lie?
· What are some deceptive ways in which people seek to attain a higher reputation than that which is rightfully due, especially in the area of finances?
· How might such tendencies hinder and damage the witness of the church?
· Are there such deceptive patterns that God is prompting me to repent of?
PERSONAL PRAYER
· Please write out a prayer of commitment or confession either based on today’s text, or upon reflection over recent events in your life.
Wednesday, June 1
Prayer For Today’s DT
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (Psalm 23:1-3)
Bible Text
Ephesians 5:5
5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
1 Corinthians 5:9–13
9I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—
10not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
11But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
12What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
13God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
Reflection Questions
Ephesians 5:5
“Greed motivates all other sins, and J.A. Bengal has noted that it is the highest act of revolt away from God… Both halves of the verse are intended to show how inappropriate sexual sin and greed are among those whom God has set aside for himself.”[2]
· Why does it make sense that “idolaters” have no “inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God?”
1 Corinthians 5:9-13
· Note the distinction made in this passage between “people of this world” and the one “who calls himself a brother.” What is the responsibility of Christian leaders with respect to someone who calls himself a Christian but is “sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler?”
· Is it too harsh to say, “with such a man do not even eat?” What values are being upheld by this instruction from Apostle Paul, and what are some results that flow from failing to uphold these values under the banner of tolerance or kindness?
· In v.11, what is the key point of the phrase “calls himself a brother but…?” What damage and negative effects are caused by those who call themselves Christian but do not live according to the teachings of God’s Word? Are there these kinds of hypocrisies in my life?
PERSONAL PRAYER
· Please write out a prayer of commitment or confession either based on today’s text, or upon reflection over recent events in your life.
thursday, june 2
Prayer For Today’s DT
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. (Psalm 24:1-4)
Bible Text
2 Corinthians 8:1–15
1And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. 6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
10 And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15 as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.”
Reflection Questions
2 Corinthians 8:1-7
· What truths about life do the paradoxical words describing the Macedonian churches in vss. 1-3 show?
· Why would anyone give “beyond their ability”?
· What is my attitude towards giving? Do I approach it as a “privilege of sharing in this service to the saints?” How can I “excel in this grace of giving?”
2 Corinthians 8:9
· Meditate on the fact that for my sake Christ became poor, so that I “through his poverty might become rich.”
· Who are the people in my life who I can enrich through my life?
2 Corinthians 8:10-12
· Why is it important that the “eager willingness… may be matched by [the] completion of it?” What does this say regarding the nature of giving and other Christian work?
2 Corinthians 8:13-15
· In what way have I experienced vv. 14-15 through the community of faith?
· Meditate on the implications for Christian sharing arising from the words “that there might be equality.”
PERSONAL PRAYER
· Please write out a prayer of commitment or confession either based on today’s text, or upon reflection over recent events in your life.
friday, june 3
Prayer For Today’s DT
Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths;guide me in your truth and teach me,