I. Prayer to enter the Lord’s presence:
Be still for a moment. “Lord, I give the day that is now past to you. It is yours. I give the day that is to come to you; help me to see where you are working and to join you there. Speak to me during these moments. I commit them and myself to you.”
II. Prayer of Confession:
“Lord, you are faithful to forgive me and cleanse me of my sin when I confess it to you. I confess my sin(s) of ______________. Thank you for forgiveness.” (1 John 1:9)
III. Prayer of Thanksgiving:
Choose to be thankful, speak out loud of what God has done.
“Thank you, Father, for _________________. Fill my heart and my mouth with gratitude throughout this day.”
IV. Scripture Reflection
Read: Proverbs Chapter 23
Reflect:
Proverbs 23:4-5
4 Don’t wear yourself out to get rich; because you know better, stop!
5 As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
The motto for the current culture might be summed up like this: “Wear yourself out to get rich!” This proverb is a warning that the ceaseless struggle to be rich is a form of “wisdom” to be avoided. As one commentator puts it, “It means that you are spending your life pursuing false values and putting your trust in what doesn’t last.” It warns against overworking for the sake of gaining riches. To be clear, the proverb is not speaking against being industrious, but against consuming oneself for money. We should work hard to provide the necessities of life; after all, it takes money to live. But that is much different than living for money.
We must be wise and use restraint in the area of wealth because materialism can drive us to work excessively in order to accumulate more money. The problem with money is that it’s temporary and unstable. The ironic thing about money is that as we fly after it, the wealth we pursue ends up flying away like a bird. There comes a time when enough is enough. This proverb helps people put riches in a proper perspective.
We only have to look around and see how true this proverb is. Think of those NFL star players who are paid millions and within a few years of leaving are now completely broke. Then there are those folks who spent money they didn’t have on the lottery and hit the jackpot, only to become destitute within a few years of hitting the jackpot. We have all heard of people who have won millions of dollars and then lost it all. Even the average person can spend an inheritance—or a paycheck—with lightning speed and have little to show for it. Listen, we don’t need to spend our time chasing fleeting earthly treasures. These treasures are all subject to decay. Matthew’s and Luke’s gospel give us the right perspective of wealth. We are to store up treasures in heaven, for such treasures will never be lost. (See Matthew 6:19-24 and Luke 12:33-34)
Here’s a “Terryism” I often remind myself of, because it is so true: What matters most, in the end, matters most now. Those things that matter—relationship with God and people—is what matters most. These are the things we should treasure and pursue.
Respond:
Choose to treasure what God treasures. Ask Him to cultivate a heart of gratitude for the treasures He’s given you, rather than ingratitude for what He has not given you. Let your eyes fly to the things Christ values.
V. Prayer for others:
Pray specifically for the concerns of your life and the lives of others.
VI. Prayer of commitment:
“Lord God, I commit to love you with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength and with all my mind and to love my neighbor as myself. Empower me today to love you and others with everything that I am.” (Luke 10:27)
This Week’s Scripture Memory:
Proverbs 31:10
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.