This week’s passages are from Psalm 107:1-9 & Luke
12:13-21.
Psalm 107:1-9
Psalm 107 is a song about the mighty works of God and how thankful
His people should be for delivering them, time and time again. The events
described in the psalm could relate to the time of the Patriarchs, the
Wilderness wanderings, the time of Kings, and even to the years after the
Babylonian exile. In fact, the references could also be taken as prophecies
about events that occurred during Christ’s lifetime.
The main point of the psalm is that God’s people frequently get
themselves into trouble and end up needing God’s help to rescue and deliver
them. Sound familiar, folks?
Questions for study and
reflection
What makes us most
thankful towards God? How do we experience His enduring love in our lives?
Why do you think the
psalmist refers to God’s people as ‘the redeemed of the LORD?’ Redeemed from
what?
What do the people do
when they find themselves in dire situations beyond their control? What are
they hoping will happen?
Where do we see God’s
unfailing love in the world today? How can our churches become the channels of that
love in our communities?
Share or think about a
situation when you cried to the Lord for help. What happened? Did you thank Him
for the outcome?
Luke 12:13-21
Christ tells the parable of the rich fool in response to a demand
that someone makes about a family inheritance dispute. Jesus uses the issue to
tell His people that life is not about how much we possess or accumulate, but
about maintaining a healthy relationship with God.
Jesus wanted His disciples to learn this important lesson in order
to prepare them for the years of hardship that lay ahead of them. If they
became too attached to their home comforts and possessions, they would
eventually lose their connection to God. The whole parable, then, is a
cautionary tale about ambition and greed, power and possessions.
Questions for study and
reflection
Why do you think someone
approached Jesus to settle the financial dispute with his family? How did Jesus
initially respond?
Why does Jesus tell
people to be on their guard against greed? How could an abundance of
possessions affect someone’s faith in God?
How successful was the
rich man in the story? What did he want to do with that success?
How close does verse 19
relate to our own circumstances? Isn't this what our society defines as success?
What does this parable
teach us about life? Why should we be bothered to think seriously about our own
mortality?
Have we fallen into the
folly of storing up possessions for ourselves instead of building up the riches
of God within us? What should we do to make God more of our focus in life?
Any other thoughts or
questions?
Next Sunday’s readings: Psalm
50:1-8 & Luke 12:32-40
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