Every Season

TITLE: Every Season
DATE: December 16, 2019
​
Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed.

TEXT: Eccl 3: 1-2 – ESV - Vanity[a] of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.3 What does man gain by all the toil under the sun? 4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.

We’ve all heard the expression, “Money isn't everything, but it sure beats whatever else is in second place.”

But most of us have also noticed that wealthy people aren't always the most content folks on the block.

They work for money, they strive for money, and when they have it, they don't go dancing in the streets. Instead, they worry about how to keep it, how to increase it, how to keep others from getting it.
Take for example, Charles Meynard of Bordeaux, France.

Charles was, in his day, the richest landowner of that country. Yet, three times a day, for over 60 years, he ate all of his meals from an open drawer. The reason? So that if company came, he could slam it shut and not share of the bounty. It’s just not the poor people who need to hear the good news of salvation.

Rich people need to hear the good news, too.

Do you think Mr. Meynard is alone? Hardly. In 1915 John G. Wendel died. To keep the family fortune that he and his six sisters had inherited, Wendel remained a bachelor and managed to keep five of his sisters unmarried and virtual prisoners in the house.

This he did for 50 years.

Naturally you would think there would be a revolt against such financial tyranny.

If that’s what you thought you would be wrong. John’s cheapness was contagious. When the last sister died in 1931, her estate amounted to over $100,000,000. But she never had a telephone, electricity or an automobile. The only dress she owned was one she had made for herself, one she had worn for over 25-years. Yes, it would seem that rich people need the good news, too.

And preaching the good news is something God is good at.

The Good News was first preached to Adam and Eve immediately after their fall into sin. Nobody had been richer than they. Since they had been made they had enjoyed the benefits of singular health. Work was not a burden and the most powerful of animals caused them no fear. The weather didn’t surprise them and their Creator was a frequent and friendly Visitor,

Even so, they were not content with their lot.

That’s why, when Satan came slithering in with his suggestions to sin, they were easy to tempt.  

Which is why,  rich or poor we need to hear God’s Good News.

First God gave them clothing and then He told them they would not have to die forever, they only needed to believe in the coming Savior.

That message of Good News was picked up over the centuries by both prophet and priest. The Good News they repeated again and again was that God cares, that God loves and God gives and through His Son He forgives both poor and rich alike.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, with the forgiveness and grace which is given to us only through faith in the risen Redeemer we give thanks. Through rich times and poor; through all the changing seasons of life may we rejoice that we remain in Your care: In Jesus’ Name., Amen.

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html