Well, I made it out to church today – in Chilliwack. My grandson Ben was playing the part of a sheep in their church children’s Christmas program and of course I did not want to miss that. The 45 minute trip (one way) in the car was a bit daunting but I survived – and Bec did a great job driving and keeping me from any tendency toward anxiety. I sat in the back as I am not supposed to sit in a seat with an air bag yet.
The children’s Christmas program was very sweet and Ben did his best to be a non-rambunctious little lamb. Afterwords, at Ben’s insistence, we went upstairs in the church to see the room where his age group normally has “children’s church”.
The driving, the walking, the climbing stairs and the interaction with lots of people was a little tiring but I think I did ok.
I was intrigued by the passage of Scripture that was chosen as the theme for today’s meditation.
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 NIV
In light of the Christmas season when we are bombarded by the commercial messages that we “need more things” it is instructive to note that the emphasis in these two verses is about generosity and sharing and doing good. The object of our hope is not to be in material things but rather in God himself. Then our perspective changes and we can see that all that we have is a gift from Him. That understanding of material things deflects the shrill message of consumerism that sees the acquisition of those things as our highest goal. It helps us to understand where our true centre is to be – in God!