What is the World to Me?
Monday, November 5 “What is the world to me With all its vaunted pleasure”
Read 1 John 2. John makes a distinction between the things that are from God and from the world. Why is it important for us to make that distinction too? Do we ever confuse the two?
Tuesday, November 6 “The world seeks to be praised And honored by the mighty”
Read Philippians 3. Paul wanted to be praised and honored for being mighty. What did he discover was the better way? What is Paul’s goal?
Wednesday, November 7 “The world seeks after wealth And all that mammon offers”
Read Ecclesiastes 5. What does Solomon observe about riches? Why don’t riches leave us content? What do we think riches will give us? What are we really looking for?
Thursday, November 8 “I have a higher good, Content with it I’ll be”
Read Philippians 4. Paul speaks of being content right after he lists off all these virtuous things with which to occupy our thoughts. Is there a connection between thinking these things and being content? How has the church in Philippi helped Paul be content?
Friday, November 9 “My Jesus is my treasure”
Read Matthew 6. If Jesus truly is our treasure, then everything else in life is treasured less. Those “treasures” serve Jesus, the real treasure. Think of some examples where you’ve seen believers give up their “treasure” to serve the real treasure. What about you?
Saturday, November 10 “My life, my health, my wealth, My friend, my live my pleasure”
Read Psalm 37. What about me? King David writes this psalm to answer that question. What is the answer that David gives in the Psalm? What would happen in your life if you thought of everything you have as belonging to God?
Bethel Lutheran Church, St. Paul, MN – bethelstpaul.com
Listen to the hymn tune at http://lutherantacoma.com/hymns/ — “What is the World to Me” — The Lutheran Hymnal # 430
LSB 730 What Is the World to Me
What is the world to me
With all its vaunted pleasure
When You, and You alone,
Lord Jesus, are my treasure!
You only, dearest Lord,
My soul’s delight shall be;
You are my peace, my rest.
What is the world to me!
The world seeks to be praised
And honored by the mighty
Yet never once reflects
That they are frail and flighty.
But what I truly prize
Above all things is He,
My Jesus, He alone.
What is the world to me!
The world seeks after wealth
And all that mammon offers
Yet never is content
Though gold should fill its coffers.
I have a higher good,
Content with it I’ll be:
My Jesus is my wealth.
What is the world to me!
What is the world to me!
My Jesus is my treasure,
My life, my health, my wealth,
My friend, my love, my pleasure,
My joy, my crown, my all,
My bliss eternally.
Once more, then, I declare:
What is the world to me!
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