Money and Power

April 12, 2017

Opening Hymns:
I love to Tell the Story: http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh156.sht

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 21:12-17

Jesus at the Temple

¹² Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. ¹³ “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’^[e] but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’^[f]”

¹⁴ The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. ¹⁵ But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

¹⁶ “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants
    you, Lord, have called forth your praise’^[g]?”

¹⁷ And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Message:
Money has been called the “root of all evil,” and it’s also been said that “money is power.” I think that money can be evil, or it can be good. Power used in the right way can help people in need. Money can help people get a home, food, land, water. However, power in the wrong hands can be detrimental.  

 

The religious leaders of Jesus’ time were people of power. Even today we hold our priests and pastors in high regard. While they are also just men, they have been given the task to help teach and guide others in the Lord’s way. In Jesus’ time the Pharisees and religious leaders were not teaching others well in the way of the Lord. They knew the law well, but didn’t quite understand the meaning behind it. People with disabilities, aliments, losses and hardships could often feel rejected by the church.

 

Jesus reminds us that the most important commandment in Mark:12:

 

²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^{[e] 30} Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^{[f] 31} The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[g] There is no commandment greater than these.”

If you think on these commandments, they sum up the 10 commandments that the Israelites are given. If you follow these 2 commandments, you would out of love, be following the rest. While the religious leaders may have been following the letter of the law, they were not following the love of the law. People should be welcomed in, and not rejected, for who they are or their life circumstances.

 

There have been so many people in my life who have run away from the church because all they had heard was a message of judgment and not one of love. I’ve seen religious leaders taking advantage of the power that they hold. That is why it is so important for all of us to do the most good that we can. We need to use our power and resources to help those in need. We need to judge less, and open our hearts more. We need to accept everyone as our neighbor. Through our time energy and resources, we can make this world a more loving and beautiful place to live.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, forgive us if ever we use our power other than for good. Let us put our judgments aside, and offer to all we meet our love and kindness. Teach us to love all of our neighbors, and to fully share the love that You have given us. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
Jesus Loves Me: http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh191.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.
Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God