September 30, 2025

Today's Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-19

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 1:37-2:15; Matthew 6:1-15

“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:6-10)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Money has no more character. It cannot be good or evil. It makes no choices. It cannot be tempted. Money cannot be righteous either. It simply is.

Like so many things in creation, money is a First Article gift that we abuse. Money provides us with a way to trade toil for goods. Since the fall, we have eaten only by the sweat of our brows. I can break the ground myself and raise grain to make bread. I can also labor for someone else, trading my sweat for money and my money for bread.

Greed for selfish gain, the love of money, brings about all manner of evil. St. Paul offers this warning under the Seventh Commandent. We should not look to defraud or deprive our neighbor, but help them keep and improve what is theirs. God’s Word here serves to turn us from our selfish sins.

Instead, He would have us dwell in contentment. It’s not a contentment we generate from within. This is a contentment given to us by the Gospel. In Jesus, our Lord, we have received forgiveness in water, Word, and the Body and Blood of Jesus. Our Lord’s generosity flies in the face of our greedy desires. What use are small things like money? We have a treasure stored up in the heavens. Jesus has forgiven our debt and continually refreshes us in that forgiveness.

Not only that, but He also sent us the Holy Ghost, bringing the Third Article Gift of faith. Through Him, we receive the very thing that clings to this forgiveness. The Holy Spirit continues to gather us together as a church to hear and receive. We have received the goods from His hand, forgiveness by His blood, and faith itself to trust this promise.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O God, our Father, You have graciously given us all that we need for this Earthly life. Guide our hearts into contentment for our temporal gifts and exceeding joy over the eternal gifts of salvation and eternal life by the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ, our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Rev. Jason Kaspar, pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, La Grange, Texas.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Join author R. Reed Lessing helps with this chapter-by-chapter exploration of the Book of Numbers in Hope in the Wilderness. With helpful maps, diagrams, and connections to the rest of the Bible, you’ll be able to understand the beauty of Numbers.