Message: Creation and Gratitude / 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19

 In today’s first Scripture reading, Paul asks us to reflect on money, saying, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains” (6:10).

But let us be clear. Paul does not say that money itself is evil. Money is actually a useful tool. Without money, we would have to trade one thing for another directly, which would make life very difficult and confusing. Money helps us exchange goods easily, meet our needs, support our families, and care for our neighbours.

The problem arises when the love of money becomes too strong. When we are obsessed with it, money can poison our lives. Wealth and success start to matter more than love and justice. Greed and worry take over our hearts, and we stop noticing the pain and struggles of the people around us. Life feels exhausting with constant competition, and our spirit grows weak. 

Many thinkers have warned about the dangers of a society where people live only for money. Max Weber (1864-1920), a German sociologist, said that capitalism often reduces people to mere tools, valued only for efficiency and profit. He described this as an “iron cage,” where people are trapped in meaninglessness and powerlessness. In such a system, people begin to live like machines, with their value measured only by what they can produce.

Chris Harman (1942–2009), an English economist, went further. In his book Zombie Capitalism, he argues that modern financial capitalism no longer generates real value through honest work, but instead focuses on making profit from money itself. Even when this system fails, it is kept alive by government support and heavy debt, acting like an undead monster. This makes people live like zombies, wandering without rest or meaning. Their hearts feel empty, and with unfocused eyes, they are always searching for their next victim.

So how can we avoid being trapped in the iron cage or living like a zombie? Paul offers guidance, saying “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (6:6)

According to Paul, true richness is not about having more money. It is about living with godliness and contentment. Godliness means walking closely with God. It is living each day aware of God’s presence. It is more than just coming to church on Sundays. Godliness is noticing God at work in every part of life.

During this Season of Creation, we are invited to practise godliness by paying attention to the world around us. Through nature, we can catch a glimpse of the mystery of God. A psalmist once looked at the night sky and praised God: “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have set in place, what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:3–4)

The experience of awe and wonder draws us to reflect on the deeper meaning of our lives. Many early astronomers felt the same way. They understood their work as both scientific and spiritual, believing that the universe revealed God’s mystery. Johannes Kepler (1571–1630), one of the greatest astronomers, described his research as tracing God’s fingerprints in the harmony of the stars and planets. He once prayed:

“O Creator, You have delighted me with Your creation, and I have rejoiced in the works of Your hands. Now I have completed the task of my calling, using as much of my mind as You have given me. To those who will read what I have written, I have made known the glory of Your works, as much as my limited understanding could grasp.”

Today, science reveals even greater wonders. For example, the starlight we see in the night sky is not from this very moment. It began its journey tens, hundreds, or even thousands of years ago before finally reaching our eyes. Among the stars we can see with the naked eye, the farthest is about 16,000 light years away. This means that when we look at it, we are seeing the star as it was 16,000 years ago.

Even the familiar stars of the Big Dipper are not close to us. They lie between 78 and 123 light years away. So, when we look at those seven stars, we are seeing them as they were long ago, some even before we were born. To gaze at the night sky is to see many different times all at once. Is that not amazing? When we are faced with such awe and wonder, we feel something deeper than words can express.

This experience helps us understand who we truly are and what life is really about. It allows us to treasure the present moment and reflect on the meaning of our lives. In this light, we realize that everything we have is a gift, and we do not need to spend so much energy chasing things that do not truly matter. Paul speaks to this truth when he writes: “For we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (6:7-9)

We can live without diamonds or luxury items, but we cannot live without water, air, and sunlight. These gifts are priceless, yet they form the foundation of our lives. Priceless does not mean worthless. The most important things in life are given to us freely.

Gratitude goes beyond simply saying “thank you.” It shapes the way we live each day. To live with gratitude means to show respect, practice restraint, and take responsibility. It helps us take only what we need and give back when we can. When we live with gratitude, we honour both the gifts of creation and the One who gives them.

Money is indeed necessary for our daily lives, but it is not ultimate. It cannot be the true purpose of life. When we hold on to it too tightly, our hearts become filled with worry, fear, and restlessness. But when we live with godliness, walking closely with God, and with contentment, giving thanks for the gifts God has given, we discover a deeper freedom that no amount of money can ever provide.

So let us open our eyes to see God’s hand at work in the world around us: in the stars that shine above us, in the rivers that flow and bring life to the earth, in the wings of butterflies that dance through the garden, in the eyes of loving pets that bring comfort and joy, and in the faces of our family and neighbours who share life’s journey with us.

As we walk through this Season of Creation, may we see the world not as something to own or control, but as a sacred gift entrusted to us. May we honour the earth by living with gratitude, respect, and responsibility. And may we experience the deep joy of life, not as slaves to money, but as God’s beloved children, embracing each day with gratitude and contentment.

Thank be to God. Amen.

Rev. Min Hwang


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