God, grant us the contentment (alternate tune)

God, grant us the contentment

            Of knowing what we need,

Not wanting after riches

            That cause the soul to bleed.

Deliver us from evil

            That comes of loving wealth,

But hold us in your true love,

            Your life and breath and health.

 

Give us the grace, our dear Lord,

            To seek your gift of love;

To choose that which is faithful

            And peace-like as the dove.

With righteousness and goodness

            And gentleness to give,

O God of all our living,

            Hold us and help us live.

 

For we who know abundance,

            Let us live not in pride,

But only in your goodness,

            Lord, teach us to abide.

Keep us from vain desiring

            That leads to pain and strife,

But give to us your best gift:

            Life that is truly life.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2019, after 1 Timothy 6:6-19.

MUSIC: Tune PASSION CHORALE, Hans Leo Hassler, 1621; harm. J.S. Bach, 1729.

So, about three years ago I came up with this text on the indicated reading from 1 Timothy even though I wasn't actually preaching from it at the time. So I let it sit, and for the fall I decided to get into these difficult little epistles for preaching material for the first time. I had originally set the text to the SALLEY GARDENS tune, but the version in our hymnal is not accessible with the copyright licensing we have, so I needed another. Once I decided to adapt Martin Luther's supposed line and say "Why should Good Friday have all the good tunes?", I was set.