A Prayer About Generous Enjoyment
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 1 Timothy 6:17-18 Heavenly Father, oh my… there are so many things in this portion of your Word that are timely and “spot on.” I don’t think I’ve ever lived when the uncertainty of wealth has been more certain than today. Even as the stock market goes up, the dollar goes down. Our economy has never felt so fragile, fractured, and fickle. Your command for me not to put my hope in money, stuff and wealth is not only well founded, but so very, very loving. Even your commands are a grace-kiss and your warnings are the wooing of hope!
I want my hope is to be in you, and you alone, Father. For you richly, abundantly, joyfully have given me everything I need for life and for godliness (2 Pet. 1:3), and whatever you give me, you give for my enjoyment! In times of excess, “normalcy,” even in scarcity, you want me to enjoy what you give. Indeed, you commend, even command, my enjoyment! Whether it’s a banquet or a biscuit; whether it’s a symphony or the song of a chickadee; whether it’s a trip to Cape Town, or a drive across town for a cup of coffee, enjoyment is not only good, but godly.
Even as you command my enjoyment, you command my generosity-but the two really aren’t two, are they? How can I possibly deeply enjoy anything without sharing it? The more I understand the gospel the more I see this, Father. The greatest joy is not found in fearful hoarding, but in outlandish giving-in your giving Jesus to us and for us. Your utter delight is seen most clearly in your outward generosity.
Dear Father, whatever you command, you supply-you resource. Increasingly free me for a life of generous enjoyment… no matter what this crazy economy does. May the measure of my enjoyment be determined by the gladness of my generosity. So very Amen, I pray in Jesus’ name.
