Preparing for Worship - October 20, 2024

The Scriptures this week continue to give warnings that we heard last week about the dangers of focusing on wealth and personal gain instead of the Word of God and His will and His blessings for us.

The Psalm is Psalm 119:9-16, part of the longest psalm in the Bible, but summarizing key ideas emphasized again and again in this psalm. The psalmist knows that God and His Word will guard and keep him in his life. He “stores up God’s Word in his heart” to help him avoid sin and remember God’s gracious ways. He seeks to delight in His Lord more than all earthly riches. He will not forget God’s Word, which he needs the most.

We hear from King Solomon, a very wealthy and powerful man, in worldly terms, in Ecclesiastes 5:10-20. He reflects on his life and knows that “loving money and wealth” does not really satisfy. “Increasing goods” and “a full stomach” don’t let him sleep and can actually “hurt” him. Riches can come and go, and he can’t take any of them with him or provide for what his son and family really need, in this way. There is much “vexation and sickness and anger” in his life. It is much better to focus on the “gifts of God” and trust Him for the joy and blessings the Lord alone can give to his heart.

We heard last week the story of a very rich man who left Jesus gloomy and sorrowful because he was centered on himself and his efforts and did not want to give up any of his great possessions. Jesus comments on that in our text for today, Mark 10:23-31, saying twice how hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. The disciples are astonished, for the attitude of many in Judaism was that wealth was a sign of God’s approval for a person. Jesus has to remind them that no one can be saved by his own effort, but only by and through God Himself and His work for them. Peter struggles with this and asks what reward he and the disciples would get for their own sacrifices. Jesus then speaks of blessings, but also persecution, for them. Only in the age to come would be the clear blessings of eternal life, by God’s grace, through Jesus and His sacrifice for them. Many who seem to be first in this life will end up being last, while Christ Himself, who seemed to be lost and last as He died on the cross as a criminal, will actually be first, with blessings for those who simply trust Him.

The Epistle lesson continues readings from Hebrews, this week from Hebrews 4:1-13 (14-16). The author continues using the example of so many of God’s people on the way to the Promised Land, but losing out on it and never entering it and God’s rest, because of rebellion and sin and finally unbelief toward God Himself and His way and plans. They had received God’s “good news” but refused to “rest from their own ideas and works” and simply trust Him. They were disobeying and rejecting the Word of God, which ultimately showed the unbelieving thoughts and intentions of their hearts. God’s saving plan centered not on us and our efforts, but on Jesus, our great High Priest, who lived a perfect life for us and gave up everything for us and our salvation. We have received His mercy and grace and pray that we may hold fast our confession of Him, trusting that He will help in every time of need until we reach our own time of eternal rest in Him in eternal life. In Him alone is our peace and hope. This teaching of justification by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ is the central teaching of our Christian faith.