"In the midst of a busy life, they will wither away."

The New Testament lesson appointed for today is the beginning of James’ letter:

 

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

 

If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

 

Let the believer who is lowly boast in being raised up, and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.

 

Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. No one, when tempted, should say, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:1-15).

 

It is striking to me how James understands so well what happens when we focus on the material things in life: “It is the same with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away. … But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.”

 

Caught up with getting ahead and doing better than the next person to accumulate bigger and better things, we find that our lives are wasted away.  We have missed being with our spouse. We have missed our children growing up and find out that we really do not know who they are. We have missed giggles of our grandchildren and the surprised look on their faces as the experience new things. And we find that we have withered away. 

 

James tells us that there are matters that are much more important, and they are relational.  There is our relationship with God, our relationship with our families and friends and the greater community.  It is sharing in these things which have an eternal element to them that blesses our lives.  If we live rooted in God and love of him and our neighbors and ourselves, we will have rich lives which will continue in God’s eternity.

 

Let us pray:  Gracious God, give us the grace by the Holy Spirit to know when we have turned away from the eternal only to seek temporal satisfaction only to see the truly important slipping away.  May we turn to your Son Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life to show us what really matters.  Amen.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  The Lujan family is in need to 2 couches.  If anyone has a couch they are trying to find a home for, this would be a great place.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Adult Christian Education: Focus on Islam.  We concluded our review of the book.  The next session for this class will be when Dr. Ahmed Ahmed will join us for a question and answer session.  Once the date is finalized, I will announce it.

 

Sunday Screening Mammogram Program at St. Augustine on November 16, 2014.  Please get the word out on this important project.  They can contact Karen Lidstone at klidston@utmb.edu.

 

Our Church Thanksgiving Lunch will be Sunday, 23 November 2014 following the 9 AM Eucharist.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List especially Patricia Florence’s family.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550