Have you ever wondered, “What does the Bible say about money?” Have you ever wondered why the Bible would even care about money; isn’t it supposed to be about prayer and heaven and Jesus? Yes to all three. Would you be surprised to know The Bible does talk about money and finances and spending habit as well because the Bible gives guidance and instruction for life…not just spiritual life.
Do you remember reading in Luke 10 where the lawyer stands up to test Jesus? The lawyer ask the all familiar question, “What do I have to do…what is following You, in the hopes of eternal life gonna cost me?” The paraphrasing is my own. So Jesus tells him he has to love God with everything he has and is and…AND…he has to love his neighbor as himself. And just to clarify, you know, make sure he understood, he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” This is where Jesus goes into the story of the Good Samaritan.
We all know about the Bible. But did you realize there is also The Photography Bible, Cooking with the Bible, The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible, The Original Beauty Bible, The Crochet Bible…you get the point. But guess what there is not…a Facebook Bible. Remember the old Arsenio Hall skit, “Things That Make You Go Hmm?” Does it make you wonder why there is no Facebook Bible? There’s even a Pinterest Marketing Bible and an iPhone case that reads, “Blogging Through the Bible.” Maybe there already is a Facebook Bible, it’s just wrapped to look like the Bible-Bible.
Or maybe the Bible and Facebook are incompatible? Surprisingly…or maybe not…the book of Sirach is filled with wise counsel for Facebook users.
Today we’re going to consider Three Ways to Spend More Time with God, all taken from the book of Sirach.
Do you regularly spend time with God? I’m not talking about Sunday’s or Wednesday’s. I’m not talking about being surrounded by your own little tribe of people either next to you in the pew, at your feet at the breakfast table or in your lap in the comfy chair. I’m not talking about your weekly Bible study, time with your prayer group or even praying with your husband. So let me rephrase the question; do you regularly spend time alone with God?
If not, you need to. Please, do not think I am trying to add one more thing to the pile of life you may already be under. But I am telling you…and myself, Oh how I am preaching this to my choir of one right now…we have to spend one on one time with God…each day. And I don’t everyday. Writing about it does not make me an authority on it. Writing about it does show I have a heart for it and I am a continual work in progress.
I think the book of Sirach is a gold mine few have discovered, much less dug deep into. I relate the book of Sirach to the story of Cinderella. A hidden gem kind of kept locked up and hidden. Once revealed, my oh my it sparkles. It’s beauty could almost surpass the more well known book of Proverbs, yet it’s simple thoughts and words of humility, keep it from doing so.
I am reading Sirach for 31 and writing to tell about it. A brief history…Sirach is accepted as part of the Christian biblical canon by Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and most Oriental Orthodox. The Anglican Church does not consider it canonical, but says it should be read, “for example of life and instruction of manners; but yet doth not apply them to establish any doctrine.” Similarly, theLutheran Churches include it in their lectionaries, and as a book proper for reading, devotion, and prayer. Its influence on early Christianity is evident, as it was explicitly cited in the Epistle of James, the Didache , and the Epistle of Barnabas.
I'm Jenny, a God lover, Word seeker, truth teller, wife and momma living my little life in a big way...or is it living my big life in a little way? I write about Bible and Prayer Journaling, Daily Affirmations, Inspiring Bible Quotes and Books...Oh the books! Read More…
Bible Journaling Tips, Inspiration and Permission 
Bible and Prayer Journaling Printable 
Catholic Child's Teaching Bible