Skip to main content

Christmas 365


It's no secret that during the Christmas season more people are inspired to help the less-fortunate.
I use the term less-fortunate to include those in that position, be it no fault of their own, or those whose bad decisions are manifest by current circumstances. It is often said, to never give money to a homeless person because they will use it on drugs or alcohol. Maybe they will--maybe they wont. Does the Bible ever tell us to not help those in need? No, never. Why is this so? Because giving may help the one in need but ultimately it is for our spiritual benefit.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:3)

Why would Paul mention the phrase, "profits me nothing?" Because giving is a spiritual exercise. We give because the sanctification of the Spirit, who is transforming our lives day-to-day to be conformed to Christ's image. It's all a part of laying up treasures in heaven. If opportunity confronts me to help a destitute person or not, but I throw up a defense because they may use the help for drugs or alcohol, then why am I giving in the first place? Is it because I want to be rewarded by the person using the help in the way I desire it to be used on earth? Or is it because I want to be obedient to Christ and allow the gift to have the desired affect God desires?  "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 (NKJV)

The Apostle tells us that we are not to offend by our actions but to seek the profit of others on earth not ourselves. This is completely different than, "The Offense of the Cross" spoken of by Paul in Gal. 5:11. In that passage persecution of believers is the context. Many will be offended by the fact that we are Christian. But we do not deliberately go out to offend others because it does not bring glory to God. The sanctifying work of the Spirit of God within us compels us to help those in need, not to worry about how they use our help. That is God's business.

During this time of the year we find it easier to help others. But shouldn't this be done 365 days of the year? God's sanctifying work does not begin and end with Christmas. Think about it. And when finished take a look at the following post and allow God to have His perfect work in your heart.

A few years back Richard Bean shared the following insight:

"'Jesus said to him, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.'(Matthew 19:21)

Here we see the purpose that God has in providing for the poor. Obviously, if God so chose, He could simply make manna fall from heaven like He did for those wandering in the Wilderness. God could easily provide every morsel of food, every drop of clean water, etc.. Why doesn't He? Two main reasons. The first is sin. Sin causes many of the conditions which cause starvation, famine, etc. God's solution for sin is faith in Jesus Christ. But this faith is not simply a belief in the mind, it involves sanctification (becoming more like Christ). God desires us to provide for the poor on His behalf as a means for us to become more Christ-like. Our sanctification is the primary reason that God commands us to provide for those in need. Look back at the verse, "If you want to be perfect." What does Jesus describe as the reason for giving to the poor? Does Jesus cite the benefit to the poor person? No. Jesus cites the sanctification and treasures in heaven. God commands us to provide for the poor for our own spiritual benefit first and foremost."*

God Bless all

*http://www.examiner.com/article/helping-the-poor-and-those-need-what-the-bible-really-says




Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

25 Reasons to Believe - In Jesus FREE EBOOK

FREE EBOOK click to download - When book comes up click down arrow on Upper Right to save a copy . A while back the Barna Group released a report titled, "Six Reasons Young Christians Leave Church." 1  Under reason two, " Teens’ and twenty-somethings’ experience of Christianity is shallow" they write:  "A second reason that young people depart church as young adults is that something is lacking in their experience of church. One-third said “church is boring” (31%). One-quarter of these young adults said that “faith is not relevant to my career or interests” (24%) or that “the Bible is not taught clearly or often enough” (23%). Sadly, one-fifth of these young adults who attended a church as a teenager said that “God seems missing from my experience of church” (20%)."  If one takes a look at the modern church-scape I can see why. The gap between those pastors and teachers that are fired up about Jesus and those that do not preach all of th
4 comments
Read more

Fornication - The Acceptable Sin?

In the Bible there are several sexual sins that are categorized under the term,"Sexual Immorality." Not the least of these is, "Fornication." However fornication has become an outdated, and in many places, the acceptable sin in the late twentieth and twenty-first centuries. As a matter of fact, many do not even know what the term "fornication" means. Since the advent of the modern Bible translation, many have never heard of it. This article focuses on what the Scripture says about this out-of-control acceptable sin. Fornication is mentioned thirty-six times in the Bible (MT), thirty-two times in the New Testament. In almost all modern translations the word has been substituted with, "sexual immorality" and has come to mean any number of sexual sins. However, sin (missing the mark) is still sin and sin still separates a person from God. So why has this sin become so acceptable even in modern churches???? UPDATE : Here is a testimony of life
5 comments
Read more

The Bride of Christ Has Made Herself Ready!!

The Bible teaches of an upcoming Wedding Day that the Church should be on cloud nine over!! Rev. 19:7-9 states: Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come , and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." The passage above speaks of two distinct events, the Marriage of the Lamb and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Both of these events are reminiscent of the ancient Jewish wedding ceremony where the Bride would become betrothed to her Groom and he would go away to build her a home. In the meantime she would wait anxiously for his return with shouts from his wedding party of "The Bridegroom Comes!" When the shouts were he
2 comments
Read more

Understanding Grace…without it no one can be saved!

Years ago as a pastor, I faced an issue concerning the topic of “Grace.” I had noticed some congregants who were taking Grace to the extreme and beginning to teach that since our sins were bought and paid for at the cross—all of them, past, present, and future—there was no need to strive against sin. Thanks to our Lord, this was noticed and the He quickly allowed it to be curbed. This heresy occasionally rears its head in Christian circles and indeed must be stopped before it becomes out-of-control. The good thing is that a proper understanding of Grace can arrest the heresy in its steps. Because this false perception thrives in loose living, many well-meaning Christians go completely to the opposite extreme and throw the Biblical teaching of “Grace” out altogether. That too is heresy. How should we approach it? Grace, as a doctrine, should always be presented in its entirety. By that I mean, a starting definition, followed by why it is important, and concluding with keeping it scri
15 comments
Read more

Guest post: Hind's Feet

Adrian Bateman, 2016          The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like hind’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. — Habakkuk 3:19 For most human beings the primary goal of life, after survival, is the pursuit of happiness. Indeed it’s one of an American’s “unalienable rights”. But what is happiness? The definition of happy is surely situationally derived. For the hungry it would be having enough food; for the homeless, a home. For the average person it might be having more time, more leisure, more friends, more comforts, more things. Ultimately, happiness involves the removal of obstacles and the correction of problems so that we might live a life without struggle. Or, at least, without what we view as onerous or unnecessary struggle. But this is not God’s definition of happiness. No. True peace—biblical peace, that deep inner peace which we cannot explain—is found only in the presence of God. When we are continually aware of the Pr
Post a Comment
Read more