Prayer Tip: God's Economy
Daily Scripture
Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 6:38; Acts 20:35 (NRSV)
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust [Greek eating] consume and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.
35 In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Daily Reflection & Prayer
We tend to think of “treasure” as something we can touch, or money we can spend. As Christians, we know that Jesus expects us to share those treasures and not be focused on keeping them for ourselves. Most of us try very hard to be generous, giving, sharing people. It’s harder, sometimes, to share the things that aren’t touchable or spendable.
The treasures I find hard to part with are things like time, peace and quiet, physical and/or emotional energy, long-held opinions, and even prayer. In other words, I find it much easier to give away my coat to the person in need than to invite them to sit, tell me their story, hold my hand and pray together.
Writing to Timothy (1 Timothy 6:19), Paul says that if we are generous with all the gifts God gives us, we can take hold of what is truly life. That can be costly in terms of time. It can demand emotional energy to let our hearts be broken open by a stranger’s story. It can be frustrating to find our minds changed as we connect with someone else’s struggles. It can be humbling and scary to hold a stranger’s hand and take our hurts and broken parts to God together in prayer.
For some of us, it is harder than giving away our physical treasures, but we are promised that this generosity of self and spirit builds a life that is truly worth living. In the end, isn’t that the treasure we ask God for the most?
Lord God, help us to give the gift of ourselves,
not just our things.
Help us to open our hearts and minds to those
who need us most, without fear or hesitation,
so we may have the life you want for us,
and others see you in the way we live.
Amen.
Prayer
GPS Insights
Jennifer Creager
Jennifer Creagar is the Community Assistance Coordination Director in Resurrection's Congregational Care Ministry. She is married and loves spending time with her family, and she enjoys writing and photography.
