Good day dear friends.
We continue our study of The Power of a Penny. I found out that the free penny you were supposed to receive was not distributed, so, imagine you did get a penny Sunday in worship!
As we pray, continue to pray for those being relocated after the hurricane. Also for those either recovering from or facing surgery. Ruth Phillips underwent successful neck surgery in Austin. Edna Moon is facing eye surgery. God is good, all the time!
Tuesday: Read Exodus 22:22-29. Please notice how in the same passage about widows, the commandments are addressing financial situations as well. Could Jesus’ witnessing of this widow’s actions in her giving her all be a fulfillment of what we associate with this passage?
I'm glad you're reading this online and not doing this study guide straight from the sermon insert (and I'm going to guess you who were in church Sunday did get an insert...) because, the correct passage is from Exodus and the sermon insert said Genesis and that took our non-online readers to a passage that I am sure will make them wonder, "What was Pastor Leslie/Eddie thinking about?"
Here is that correct passage from Exodus:
22 You shall not abuse any widow or orphan. 23 If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry; 24 my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children orphans. 25 If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, you shall not deal with them as a creditor; you shall not exact interest from them. 26 If you take your neighbor's cloak in pawn, you shall restore it before the sun goes down; 27 for it may be your neighbor's only clothing to use as cover; in what else shall that person sleep? And if your neighbor cries out to me, I will listen, for I am compassionate. 28 You shall not revile God, or curse a leader of your people. 29 You shall not delay to make offerings from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses.
What are your earliest memories about money? Do you have a vivid recollection about receiving money or understanding the power of money? For many kids during my era of growing up, to have placed a coin in their hand was to hand them a key that could unlock some wonderful things. I'm talking about the days when a quarter could buy, and yes, I'm old!, admission to the movie theatre (no videos/DVDs or video games at home) 10 cents, a soda, 5 cents, popcorn, 10 cents. That quarter could keep your children occupied all day Saturday because the theatre wasn't cleared out after each showing. One could sit in a really nice cold darkened theatre (we're talking Kingsville HOT here) and memorize the movie. To do that now you'd have to hand your child about twenty-five dollars and still they'd gripe they wouldn't have enough!
God cares about us. God cares about those who lack. God understands that many people on the face of the earth do not have the same "key" as others. God's concern is evident in this passage as He shares commandments about how we should treat each other. The abuse of a widow was not to be tolerated. The financial abuse of others also was not to be tolerated either. God knows that for some this "key" imprisons them, locking them in a cell of greed and self-centeredness. The key cannot open the door, it only seems to lock more doors as we journey away from freedom into complete slavery.
Jesus spoke more about money and possessions than about any other spiritual thing. Jesus knew the power of this key to corrupt and ruin. When He saw the widow sharing the last of her livelihood with God, Jesus saw someone knowing the true power of that key and she used it to walk into a new life of faith and trust with God.
Again, there is no commandment against our being rich. To have lots of money is not a sin. The sin comes when the money possesses us and we hoard it and hold it and withhold it from doing the things God could use with it. Those who are blessed with riches and know they can bless others with same are the richest people there are. Jesus spoke of the difficulty in serving two masters, God and money.
Who's your true master?
PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus, and share with us the wisdom of how to best use the blessings that come our way. Let us mature in our faith to being those who know how to live life in the fullest. Release from their prisons those who are locked up tightly by their own design. And keep us from falling into the same prisons. We pray in Thy name. Amen.
Have a great and wonderful day!
Blessings,
e.v.
