16 Aug 2011, Tuesday

First Reading
Judges 6:11-24

11 Now the angel of the LORD came and sat under the oak at Ophrah, which belonged to Jo'ash the Abiez'rite, as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Mid'ianites.
12 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor."
13 And Gideon said to him, "Pray, sir, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this befallen us? And where are all his wonderful deeds which our fathers recounted to us, saying, `Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has cast us off, and given us into the hand of Mid'ian."
14 And the LORD turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Mid'ian; do not I send you?"
15 And he said to him, "Pray, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manas'seh, and I am the least in my family."
16 And the LORD said to him, "But I will be with you, and you shall smite the Mid'ianites as one man."
17 And he said to him, "If now I have found favor with thee, then show me a sign that it is thou who speakest with me.
18 Do not depart from here, I pray thee, until I come to thee, and bring out my present, and set it before thee." And he said, "I will stay till you return."
19 So Gideon went into his house and prepared a kid, and unleavened cakes from an ephah of flour; the meat he put in a basket, and the broth he put in a pot, and brought them to him under the oak and presented them.
20 And the angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and put them on this rock, and pour the broth over them." And he did so.
21 Then the angel of the LORD reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and there sprang up fire from the rock and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight.
22 Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the LORD; and Gideon said, "Alas, O Lord GOD! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face."
23 But the LORD said to him, "Peace be to you; do not fear, you shall not die."
24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it, The LORD is peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiez'rites.

Psalms 85: 9, 11 - 14

9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.
11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.
12 Yea, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him, and make his footsteps a way

Gospel Reading
Matthew 19: 23 - 30

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
25 When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
27 Then Peter said in reply, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?"
28 Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.
30 But many that are first will be last, and the last first.

Meditation: Matthew 19:23-30

“It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24)



Why do you think Jesus made such a strange, disquieting statement about the wealthy? Did he disdain the prosperous and abhor their affluence? No! Jesus had wealthy friends like Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, along with a group of wealthy women from Galilee (Luke 8:1-3). And it wasn’t because the rich are inherently more sinful, either. Rather, Jesus was warning that money and possessions can be significant obstacles to living life in his kingdom.

Jesus never said that wealth was evil. But he did know that having a wrong mind-set toward money and possessions can deny God his rightful place as Lord. We may become self-serving, thinking only of our comfort and our perceived need for financial security. Or we may be easily distracted by the cares and responsibilities that come with greater wealth. For instance, we may spend all our time and energy worrying about our investments and trying to protect all that we have. Or we can get a false sense of security that gives rise to a greater sense of pride and self-sufficiency. No wonder Jesus gave such a strong word of warning!

If you’re well-off financially, take Jesus’ caution to heart, but don’t worry. Remember: “For God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Be grateful for all he has blessed you with, and make sure that you are being a good steward of these blessings. Remember, too, that where much is given, much is expected. So use your resources wisely, not only for your own good but for the good of others. Be generous to the church and those in need. Set your heart on the Lord— and seek to give him glory with everything you own.

On the other hand, if you’re struggling just to make ends meet, don’t let anxiety or cares weigh you down. Keep following the Lord! Trust his love and provision for you. Ask him to give you a generous heart as well, so you can give to others in a way that’s in line with your means. The Lord will shower blessings on you according to his unlimited resources!

“Jesus, give me a generous heart that is free from worldly attachments. I want you to be my greatest treasure.”