Quote:
Originally Posted by aron
Notice that Paul teaches this in every church. He teaches the Rome church, the Corinth church, the Galatian church (1 Cor 16:1), the Macedonian churches (2 Cor 8:1-5). He told Timothy to stay behind and teach this in Ephesus.
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1 Tim 1:4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship [oikodomian, literally 'home-building'] from God that is by faith. (ESV)
Now, where does Paul teach about pray-reading, if this is what he promoted in every church? I was told, "Paul tells us 'pray unceasingly', so why shouldn't we pray while we read?" Well, yes we probably should, but is that God's economy? Shouldn't we then also pray while we give to one another, while we prepare our evening supper? How is pray-reading the practical application of God's economy?
Then I was told, "Thy words were found and I did eat them", but I addressed that in post #11 with Jesus' interpretation of John 4:34. Eating was obedience. Just as Jesus was obedient to the Father's word and lived, so we also should be obedient to his word, and live. See, e. g., John 15:10
And what is his word, which we must obey? Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself. He even gives further interpretation - Who is my neighbour? The answer is in the Good Samaritan - one who reaches beyond himself, and gives without thought of return. The Samaritan's return is in heaven.
The economy of the world is "Every person for themselves, and the devil take the hindmost". The economy of God is, "Everyone gathered, but none had too much, and none lacked", according to 2 Cor 8:15. Once you see it, it's pretty obvious.
A last point. If you look at the feeding of the five thousand, with a few loaves of bread and fishes, Jesus had them all sit in ordered companies. Then he praised the Father for supplying all the needs. Then he broke the bread and handed to the disciples in the front rows.
Now, the disciples in the front rows had a decision, and faith came in. They could either take their fill, gorge until sated, and too bad for the back rows. Or, by faith, they take only what is needed and pass the rest on. They chose the path of faith, and obedience. Take some, share with others. And everyone got fed. This is the economy of God. Nobody is with too much, nobody is hungry. Everyone is taken care of. (And this isn't barrel-of-the-gun Marxism or Socialism - it's loving one another.)