10/09/2022
As Christians we believe in God, and have faith in Jesus Christ His Son. We also work at behaving as Jesus did in our own lives, we love our neighbors, feed the hungry, visit the sick, and many other things that we have learned through the study of the gospels, but there might be one lesson that is particularly hard for us… sharing what we have. As hard as this might be for some of us to do it is something that is pleasing to God. When the occasion presents itself to do good, do we also share what we have been given
“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Hebrews 13:16 ESV
We tithe to the church, but that is not what we are talking about today. We are talking about sharing what we have with those in need. This is something that we might do through our church, but we should really do this as individuals outside of our church giving. This is the act of giving our time by standing in a hot kitchen at the local mission serving food, or paying the electric bill for a neighbor who has fallen on hard times. In the time of Jesus this was giving someone a place to sleep, feeding a hungry soul, or one of many mercies and kindnesses one might show… and it still is today. These acts didn’t happen in the temple, but in the city streets and neighborhoods, and it still should happen there today. It is a personal act we call sharing, and it’s root is in our heart.
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:2 ESV
Sharing… it is easier to do when we are giving those things to others that has cost us little to nothing. Yet, it becomes very hard when it requires that we share something that has cost us dearly to obtain, or which places us in some form of hardship when we give it. Sharing is also easier when we get something in return for what we have given, such as the praise of others when we have fed our food to those who are hungry, or receive the love and service of someone after we have given them something that helps them in some way. John the Baptist preached this even before he baptized Jesus; listen…
“And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.””
Luke 3:11 ESV
Sharing what we have is foundational to our faith because it is a form of self sacrifice. When we are a billionaire and give a few dollars to charity when the need of the suffering is much greater than that, we need to look inward in introspection, and ask ourselves if that was really a sacrificial gift. If we are a farmer and give enough rice to someone for a single meal when they need to make it until the spring planting, we need to ask ourselves if we have helped as our Father would want us to. These are just examples but how does this concept apply, and hold up in our own lives?
“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”
Proverbs 19:17 ESV
This particular proverb tells us three very important things about sharing. The first is that we should be generous, the second is that when we do give, that our gift isn’t to the person(s) in need, but to God for them, and the third is that even though the gift we share is given to someone without the expectation that it will be repaid, God still considers it a loan to Himself, and He will repay us for it.
Isn’t this an amazing thought? Isn’t it incredible that everything we have comes to us from God, and yet when we share it with others (as if it were ours), that God considers it a loan to Himself… even though He had shared it with us in the first place, He repays us as if it were His debt to repay, and He does so with interest by increasing the wealth of the giver…
“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.”
Proverbs 11:24 ESV
Last Sunday in church a woman who is well known, and beloved, by me, led some children into a pew near me. These were not her children, as a matter of fact she has no children of her own, but she was sharing herself to the point of exhaustion with these neighborhood kids, and does so every day. She is not wealthy, and yet she gives. She has no children and yet she shares her love with these. As a church, we watch her life, shared willingly in so many ways, and see Christ in it, and yet she doesn’t do this to receive praise or accolades from us… she does this out of her love for God, and as she believes Jesus would have her do. As I watched her last Sunday, I looked at my wife and whispered “There is a true saint.”, and I knew at that moment that God must certainly be well pleased with her, much as He was with His Son Jesus when John baptized Him…
“and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.””
Matthew 3:17 ESV
Is our Heavenly Father well pleased with us? Are we sharing the gifts, and bounty, that He has given us when the opportunity arises? Or, do we make excuses saying “I have nothing to give.” as we drive past a neighbor’s house who has recently lost their job while the rear seat of our car brims with groceries, and we are simply saying a prayer that God would provide them employment? How do we share, and is it done willingly with an open heart, or so that we can say we did this when asked at judgement?
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for all you have given us, and blessed us with, but thank you all the more for giving us the heart for those in need, and leading us to share your provision lovingly with them as you direct us to. Open our hearts Lord, and lead us to share it with others. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who gave your Son Jesus that we would be saved, and who shares yourself with us continuously. Praised be your name for presenting us with opportunities to share ourselves, and the bounty you have given us, with those in need. Merciful are you as you share yourself, and as you direct us to help others. Mighty are you who healed the world through Christ, and who does the same in microcosm through us. Humble us Father, and take away any pride, or excuse that might prevent us from showing mercy to the hurting and unfortunate among us. Wash us clean with the blood of Jesus, and remove the encumbrance of sin as we do your will, and perform works in your name. Transform us from the selfish people we once were into saints, and prepare us to be judged worthy, and faithful, by you on our day of judgement. Call us your children, and seat us at your table for all eternity. Sing ballads of our kindness, and giving hearts, over us Lord, as you rejoice in our love for you and our obedience to your will.
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 ESV
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
James 2:14-17 ESV
Rich Forbes