Be Thou My Vision, ELW 793 v. 3
Devotion
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise,
thou mine inheritance, now and always:
thou and thou only, the first in my heart,
great God of heaven, my treasure thou art.
My husband and I chose this hymn as the song of the day for our wedding. Today, we celebrate twelve years of marriage. Over the years we've returned to these words as a source of wisdom and peace as we seek to be followers of Jesus, first as a couple, then in our careers, and now as parents. When we think about our desires for our children, we pray that they do not lose their identities in searching for wealth or status or the approval of others, but rather that they will be firmly rooted in their identity as children of God in Christ Jesus. Money comes and goes. Pleasing others only gives us short term satisfaction. The faith we have been given in Jesus—that's a treasure worth sharing with others and in our case, with our children. We pray that our churches continue to be places where children of God, of all ages, find a place where they can know they are loved, forgiven and claimed as God's beloved.
Prayer
Great God of heaven, help your people to understand that true joy comes not from wealth or status, but from a deep and abiding relationship with you. We pray that your churches will be communities overflowing with the good news of your son Jesus, sharing that news with those they are called to serve. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.