Righteousness
As we approach the spring and the sun gets stronger, we can look forward to a lot happening here at St Marks beginning with the “Get-together and Games night”, the Fair and Synod!
But first let’s talk money and debt - and no the parish is not in financial crisis! This week’s psalm 112 tackles both money and debt which are two things that Jesus preached about.
What does it mean to be righteous, to be upright? Often the word righteous brings with it imagery of a kind of person or way of living that is morally upright. This usually entails following clear and often strict rules governing how life is lived and seen to be lived by others.
The psalmist though makes it very clear that the correct answer to righteousness is to be generous. To be righteous is to be generous in both giving and lending. The righteous are those who are generous and conduct their business fairly.
So, what stops us? The psalmist tells us it is often fear. Fear, that if we enter a financial relationship, the fear of losing control or getting caught up in a tangle that we may struggle to escape from. Or our own fear of vulnerability.
We are told that the righteous are those who trust, are obedient to the Lord and delight in following the Lord’s commands. The psalmist assures us that those who follow the command to be generous can be confident and fearless trusting in the Lord.
May we all be generous and be confident and fearless trusting in the Lord.
God bless you
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From the Vicar
