Friday after the Seventh Sunday after Trinity, 8/11/00

Genisis 41: 25-27 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same.

God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind. They are seven years of famine." --NIV

In the name of the One Who gives years of abundance and years of famine, amen.

Roughly four thousand years ago God gave the king of Egypt a couple dreams that the king didn't understand. He gave the king the dreams to warn him of a famine that was coming. But before the famine there would be enough years of bumper crops get the nation through the bad times. The dreams showed that God is in control, and God used these dreams to take one of his faithful servants out of the depths of prison to the highest position of authority in Egypt, next to the king.

In our lives there are years of abundance, and there are years of famine. When we have years of abundance it is not a time to waste our wealth, but to prepare for days of famine. Many people in our world today live for the moment, and when tough times come they are totally unprepared. But a faithful Christian will be a good manager of everything that God gives him. He will give back to God a proper amount. He will put something aside for retirement. He will keep his desires in control and not spend today what he hopes to earn tomorrow. When he is faithful in worldly wealth, God gives him heavenly wealth to manage.

The thought that we often spend today what we hope to earn tomorrow gives many of us a sinking feeling, doesn't it? But, no matter how deep we are in debt, we can ask God's forgiveness for our greed and impatience, and ask His help in digging our way out. The Lord does help those who call on His name. Amen.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we often times show that we are not satisfied with what you give us, and we buy things with money that we do not have. Forgive us when we do that. Help us to work hard and pay off any debts we have acquired because of our lack of satisfaction with what You give to us. We also ask that You give us enough so that we are never forced to borrow against tomorrow. Finally, open our eyes to see the years of abundance, and help us to prepare for difficult times when we have enough to do so. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

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