These first verses seem to be talking about something different than we might expect from today’s title, and yet, these verses expand upon what we were reading in the beginning of yesterday’s passage.
Verses 3-10 are cautionary verses; be careful what guides you, and who you listen to. Yesterday I was reminded of the first commandment, and this says plainly, (in case I wasn’t paying attention) that desiring riches – above desiring to serve and follow the Lord, is a snare. Yes, today’s passage starts by talking about those who teach, and yet just as I thought yesterday, these are words for anyone. The descriptions of the “unhealthy craving[s]” are of those things that can & do draw us away from living a life filled with contentment.
…as for the rich in this present age…we have seen that all we have is a gift from God, and so it is foolish to be “haughty.” [The rich] “are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”
This explanation then followed by the admonition to “guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.”
How are these things related? It seems to me that these false ideas; that riches or acquired knowledge are of our own doing, lead us off course. These are all snares, because if we take our eyes off God, and put other things in the place of or before God we miss out on living a life filled with contentment.
What do you think?
See you tomorrow.
-maggie
-maggie
No comments:
Post a Comment