Sunday’s Readings, July 31, 2022
Jesus is our priceless Treasure! He made possible everything that lasts forever. Without Him, there is only death and decay and life is meaningless. “Nothing but vapor,” Ecclesiastes said. “Totally vapor. Everything is just vapor that vanishes.”
In our Old Testament Lesson King Solomon, calling himself the pen-name “Ecclesiastes” (which means “the church guy”) gives his wise perspective after living years sampling the world’s pleasures and philosophies and finally returning home to the true faith of his youth. He teaches us what really matters by telling us so clearly what doesn’t. “I have seen all the actions done under the sun, and, look, it is all nothing but vapor. It is all chasing the wind. I also hated all the results of my hard work, for which I worked so hard under the sun, since I must leave it all to the man who comes after me. … This too is vapor that vanishes. So I changed my course….” Thank God he did! Let us change our course and make it our goal to be rich toward God, pursuing the eternal, lasting treasures of faith and salvation.
In our Epistle Lesson Paul tells us the same thing. “Therefore, because you were raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.”
In the appointed Gospel Lesson Jesus is called on by a stranger to arbitrate an inheritance dispute between him and his brother. Apparently, Jesus’ authoritative teaching made Jesus seem like one of the Old Testament Judges, who did in fact take care of arbitration. But Jesus came to be our Savior and ultimately our Judge on the Last Day, the Day of Judgment, not our earthly judge about finances and other worldly matters. Jesus judges the heart, and He tells us when our hearts are in the wrong place. Our hearts need to be focused on salvation and eternity. That’s the only thing that lasts!
Our sermon this week will focus on the Gospel Lesson under the theme: “Get Rich! (Toward God)”
This Week’s Lessons:
- Ecclesiastes 1:1-2,12–14; 2:18-26
- Colossians 3:1–11
- Luke 12:13–21Psalm 90