Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Saturday, 15 November 2014 “Take hold of what is truly life”

Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Saturday, 15 November 2014 “Take hold of what is truly life”
Scripture Text: 1 Timothy 6:6-8 A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough.
9-10 But if it’s only money these leaders are after, they’ll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.
Running Hard
11-12 But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.
13-16 I’m charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn’t give an inch: Keep this command to the letter, and don’t slack off. Our Master, Jesus Christ, is on his way. He’ll show up right on time, his arrival guaranteed by the Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High King, High God. He’s the only one death can’t touch, his light so bright no one can get close. He’s never been seen by human eyes—human eyes can’t take him in! Honor to him, and eternal rule! Oh, yes.
17-19 Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.
Paul’s first letter to Timothy ended by pointing to one of the “great reversals” Jesus’ message brings. Some people in Timothy’s church had lots of money. Paul didn’t want this often short-lived wealth to blind them to God, “who richly provides” for our well-being. After describing the spiritual dangers that go with a lust for money, Paul told Timothy, “Run for your life from all this” (verse 11, The Message).
• How rich (or poor) are you, by the measure these verses suggest? If your “contentment quotient” is strong, reflect on how it got that way. What changes might disrupt your contentment, and for what reasons? If your quotient is lower, ask God to help you raise it. 
Ask the most contented person you know what values and choices led toward contentment. Verse 19 said generosity, sharing and a wealth of good deeds allow God’s people to “take hold of what is truly life.” What moments have you had that let you know that generosity and sharing are key aspects of a life truly worth living?
Prayer: Dear God, my TV and most of the items in my mailbox and inbox push me toward measuring my life in terms of material things. I’m thankful the Bible points me to your very different values. Teach me how to live more fully by your measure of what is truly life. Amen.
Family Activity: Gather or create the following: play money, pictures of items a child might want to buy (toys, vacation, junk food) and pictures of ways to give (missionary, charity, church). Assign a pretend purchase price to each of the items. Pass out play money, giving each family member different amounts. Show your family members their choices of items to buy and ways to give. Invite your family to spend their play money however they would like by
purchasing the items on pictures or giving to the places/people in need. After each person has spent their money, read Mark 12:41-44[Mark 12:41-44 Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, “The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.”]. Discuss the choices people made. Ask God to help you each become cheerful givers.
Prayer Requests
Prayers for Health and Healing: Mackenna Berg, Shirley Betts, Elliott and Elise Davis, Mike Fordella, Shirley Hicks, Jennifer Obermueller, Marilee Schwist, Aleta Spreer, John Anderle, Chip Hardage
Praise for the Birth of: Madelyn Finnegan Weston, 10/14
Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
• Steve Chisholm and family following the death of his mother, Barbara McGruder, 11/5
• Nick Wolford and family following the death of his grandmother, Elizabeth Kessler, 10/26
Prayers for Members of Our Church Family Receiving Long-term Medical Care: Individual names are available online at www.cor.org/prayer.
Prayers for Members of Our Church Family Who are Serving in the Military: Individual names are available online at http://www.cor.org/ministries/care-and-support/serving-all-who-serve/
Insight from Bryan Cisler
Bryan Cisler serves as the Digital Media Specialist at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.
There’s a book that came out recently called, The Paradox of Generosity. It’s focused not just on who gives or why they give but what effect generosity has on the giver. It delves into the neurochemical changes that happen in the brain when we routinely and sacrificially give. As you read in today’s scripture, this isn’t some new theory. The Bible has been stating that this is the only way to live for thousands of years.
So why don’t we do this? We have always known it’s a crucial requirement in serving God, and now over the last several decades we are learning more and more about its tangible health benefits as well. For me, it’s not that I suddenly wake up and say, “I am going to start worshiping money and not God,” it’s just that serving the Lord becomes less of a priority. Several weeks ago Pastor Adam gave us a coin with the instruction that we should move it from pocket to the next when we do an act of kindness. The first several days I was very disciplined about doing that, and I could feel the effects. Now that we are at the end of the sermon series, the coin … I think it’s one of my pant pockets that’s crumpled up in the laundry basket at home.
As you think about today’s scripture, be proactive in putting yourself in situations that you’re going to be generous. Also, note that when you’re in worship that the people sitting around you are trying to do the same thing. It’s a struggle for everyone, so when you see people making the effort to live sacrificially, make sure you encourage and cheer them on.
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