THURSDAY, May 6

Matthew 6:25-34. Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

This is the thing that makes people shake their heads. Of all periods of human history, ours is the one when science and reason have unlocked so many secrets of nature that production has increased many times over.

And yet we cannot allay the specter of war nor save millions from starvation. Intellect alone cannot bring about a better world.

It is because we have not put first things first. We have not first sought the kingdom of God and his righteousness. We have first sought our own profit and our own security and have wanted God to back us up to these ends.

We wanted financial return above everything else. We got it, and now we cannot buy with it what we would like to buy. Slowly, painfully, we are beginning to realize that security for any one of us lies in greater abundance for all of us. "Seek ye first the kingdom." (1947)

PRAY for the Diocese of Chotanagpur (North India)

Ps [70], 71 * 74; Leviticus 19:26-37; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

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May 06, 2010 at 7:25 am

Written by Andrea,

Wow, powerful words this morning. May I seek to put the kingdome first today and always.

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May 06, 2010 at 8:21 am

Written by Steve Doutt,

Again, here is a bolt of lightening from the past. I feel like this writer is talking to me now about today.

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May 06, 2010 at 8:50 am

Written by Mike Patterson,

I am struck by the juxtaposition of when this passage was written (1947) with the events of the world at that time. Emerging from the shadows of WWII, the U.S. had helped defeat the greatest evils ever encountered on earth and was pouring in millions of dollars to help rebuild its former enemies, including saving scores of refugees from starving to death. With this in mind, I wonder how the writer could say that we first "sought our own profit and our own security..." Not that we couldn't say that about life these days, but I'm not sure I would be thinking that after the blood and financial sacrifice our country had just made. I would be thanking God that we had the strength to prevail.

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May 06, 2010 at 9:17 am

Written by Steve Doutt,

Mike, I just re-read the meditation with your comments in mind. I'm not sure that I'm correct; but, I think this is a matter of perspective. We have come to see World War II as a "pure" war, with clear lines of responsibility. I'm sure that most of the Americans who fought did so with the best of intentions. That can usually be said about most soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. I believe the writer is addressing all humanity in the context of the industrial revolution and modernization. When looked at from that perspective the words make perfect sense to me. We all contributed to the set.

-1

Tipping points and overpopulation

May 06, 2010 at 9:43 am

Written by Tom Pritchard,

I don't see any silver bullet solutions on the horizon and the sooner we focus on spiritual development rather than physical comfort and affluence, the better off all of God's creation will be. I su*gest that we're too speciocentric. I also su*gest that Genesis 1:26 and Psalm 8:6-8 should have used the word stewardship rather than dominion and a lot more attention should be paid to Leviticus 25:2-28.

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May 06, 2010 at 10:36 am

Written by Andrea,

To add to Steve's response to Mike, maybe the writer in 1947 was seeing people settle into post-war complacency, as standards of living in the US soared and people began to equate material success with happiness. Maybe the writer is reminding people that the fruits of the industrial revolution didn't prevent the great depression or a horrific world war, in which tens of millions of people died. On re-reading this meditation, I can't help wondering how the world now would be different if people then would've heard this writer's message about seeking first the kingdom of God - and not cars, houses, TVs, radios, and all the other trappings of middle class success.

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May 06, 2010 at 10:38 am

Written by Mary kier,

I heard the words directed to individuals. If everyone put god first, ideally they wouldn't worry about their own needs and feel secure no matter what happens and you "stay on the path" meant for you- "thy will be done"-
that is the only security there is. When people put all of there energies into mote money bigger hoiuses,
etc to feel secure. It is a house of cards. When we put our sites on god that is our o ly se urity.

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