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We who have received an abundance from the Lord should always be quick to
be kind, compassionate and giving to those in need around us. Having a
surplus of goods and only wanting for our own benefit does nothing to bless
those in need around us. We must do as God commands and be givers in life.
Living only for ourselves does not fill the heart with joy and contentment,
but wanting to bless those in need and helping to make their situation a
little better speaks volumes to ones character. This is what we should
strive to do. We should be focused on being givers. We can give in a
multitude of ways. Giving can be done emotionally, spiritually,
physically, and financially. We can be someone's shoulder to lean on, we
can mentor someone to follow the right path, we can volunteer our time for
many worthwhile endeavors and we can give monetarily so that others can
also partake from what we’ve been given. (Luke 12:48) (Galatians 6:2)
The Bible declares in 1 John 3:17-18 “But whoso hath this world’s good,
and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion
from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us
not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” We must
follow the Lord's command and give from what we've been given. Jesus says
in Matthew 10:8 “Freely you have received, freely give.” We cannot be so
shut up and selfish that we only want for ourselves. Everything we've
received comes from God and holding onto what doesn't belong to us will
not be good for our receiving in the future. The Lord will reward the
cheerful giver. We read in 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Every man according as he
purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity:
for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (Matthew 25:44-45) (Matthew 6:2-4)
Be encouraged to think on how you can give. What do you have that you can
give away? As long as it comes from your whole heart, it will be counted
as righteousness for you. The Lord will bless you because you cheerfully
gave to those in need around you. Do all that you can for as long as you
can and use every opportunity that comes before you to give. It will be
more for your benefit than the recipient, I assure you. (Luke 6:31)
I hope this message encourages and challenges your heart to do all that you
can to bless those around you. By being givers, we will forever impact our
world one soul at a time.
WANT SOME CRACKERS?
When I was growing up, every summer my family would pile into our old car
and make the 8 hour trip over the mountains to spend a week visiting my
Grandma in Tennessee. Each year too my Grandma and Aunt Charlotte would
make us an early Thanksgiving dinner. The table would be full of mashed
potatoes, turkey, gravy, corn, yams, sweet potatoes, green beans, rolls,
butter, pumpkin pie, and whipped cream. It was a feast of love and we
would relish every bite of it.
During one of those visits on the day of our big meal, I met a new boy in
the neighborhood while playing outside. Thy boy and his mom had just moved
into town after his dad had left them. Like most young boys we became
friends right away and spent the rest of the afternoon playing and
talking. After we were pretty worn out from all of our adventures, he
invited me over to his home.
It was an older house that had seen better days. He said his mom was
renting it and was away at work, but that we could get a snack if we
wanted. We searched the kitchen but there was nothing but empty shelves. I
was shocked. I had never seen a house with no food in it before. Finally I
heard, “Want some crackers?” My friend had found half a box of crackers
and a peanut butter jar with a tiny bit left in it. He told me not to
worry. His mom was getting paid soon and would fill the shelves again.
Still, I didn’t eat any of his crackers that afternoon.
That evening as I sat down to our early Thanksgiving dinner, I looked at
all the food and realized that my new friend had given me a gift. For the
first time I was truly thankful to God for everything on my plate. For the
first time too I truly saw the need in another’s life.
I never saw my new friend after that. They moved again later that year. I
still pray for him even today, though. He opened my heart that day to
gratitude and compassion. He made me see that we are all one family in
this world in need of both food and love.
By Joseph J. Mazzella
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Philippians 2:13-15 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to
do of His good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in
the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights
in the world.”
Colossians 3:16-17 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all
wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And
whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”
Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon
earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through
and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither
moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor
steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
1 Peter 3:8-11 “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of
another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for
evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye
are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will
love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his
lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him
seek peace, and ensue it.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem84.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony27.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
