Lessons                                                                       Bread of Life                                                         16 October 2021

Ecclesiastes 5:10–20

          ₁₀He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. ₁₁When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? ₁₂Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.

          ₁₃There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, ₁₄and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. ₁₅As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. ₁₆This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? ₁₇Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.

          ₁₈Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. ₁₉Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. ₂₀For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

Psalm 119:9–16

Beth

₉How can a young man keep

his | way pure?*

         By guarding it

         according | to your word.

₁₀With my whole heart I | seek you;*

         let me not wander

         from your com- | mandments!

₁₁I have stored up your word |

in my heart,*

         that I might not sin a- | gainst you.

₁₂Blessèd are you, | O Lord;*

         teach me your | statutes!

₁₃With my lips | I declare*

         all the just decrees | of your mouth.

₁₄In the way of your testimonies |

 I delight*

         as much as in all | riches.

₁₅I will meditate on your | precepts*

         and fix my eyes | on your ways.

₁₆I will delight in your | statutes;*

         I will not for- | get your word.

Hebrews 4:1–16

          ₁Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. ₂For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. ₃For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

“As I swore in my wrath,

‘They shall not enter my rest,’”

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. ₄For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” ₅And again in this passage he said,

“They shall not enter my rest.”

₆Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, ₇again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts.”

₈For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. ₉So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, ₁₀for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

          ₁₁Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. ₁₂For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

₁₃And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

          ₁₄Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ₁₅For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ₁₆Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Mark 10:23–31

          ₂₃Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” ₂₄And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! ₂₅It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” ₂₆And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” ₂₇Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” ₂₈Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” ₂₉Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, ₃₀who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. ₃₁But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”