Beloved: grace and peace be yours abundantly from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. I welcome you to another week of this year and pray that, as we move into a new month during it, God’s favour will overflow without measure on your behalf, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If there is any time that the Scripture that says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers,” should find expression in our lives as believers, it is now. Without doubt, things are very hard for many now because of COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on world economy. And there is really no one that will say that they are not being affected by the whole thing, to one extent or the other. (Cf. Galatians 6:9-10)
Nevertheless, the word of God tells us not be weary in doing good. In other words, we should not allow the current situation of things to take away from us the desire to support others or help them with our resources, time, skills and so forth. It is true that many of us may not have access to as much resources as we used to. But it is not really about how much we give to people; rather, it is about the motivation for doing so.
For instance, Paul says to the Corinthians, “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.” (2Cor 8:12NIV) Did you see that? If it comes from your heart to bless someone else from what you have, God will accept your love gift based on what you have and not on what you don’t have. That is why the Lord once commended in a meeting a widow, who gave just a fraction of a penny as her offering, as having given more than the rich people in the meeting, who brought a lot of money as their own offerings. According to Him, that widow gave everything she had to live on, though all she had to live on was little. So, she gave out of her poverty while others gave out of their abundance. (Cf. Mark 12:41-44)
In like manner, we too can still bless others today, even out of our poverty, if the love and the desire to do so are there. I know that the general thinking is that you give to others only when you have more than enough. But when exactly are you going to have more than enough? Right now, there are people that you are still better than, regardless of how bad your financial condition may seem to be. And if the desire is in you to help, God will definitely open your eyes to see what you can give such individuals.
Paul says this about the church of the Macedonians: “Our friends, we want you to know what God’s grace has accomplished in the churches in Macedonia. They have been severely tested by the troubles they went through; but their joy was so great that they were extremely generous in their giving, even though they are very poor. I can assure you that they gave as much as they could, and even more than they could. Of their own free will they begged us and pleaded for the privilege of having a part in helping God’s people in Judea.” (2Cor 8:1-4GNT) Look at that. These brethren gave to help other believers, even in their poverty. More so, they begged to be given the privilege to do so. Why? It was because they saw that those other brethren had legitimate needs, which God could use them to meet from the little they had.
So, I am not saying you should use your resources to sponsor laziness or irresponsibility in others; neither am I saying you should use the little you have to enrich someone that perhaps has more than you do. Rather, I am saying you should allow God to use you to make someone that is really in need smile during this period of international crises. So, watch out for opportunities to help those in need around you, especially those of the household of faith, and utilise them. And as you do this, God, who sees everything, will make sure you are duly rewarded at the right time.
Have a great week.
Copyright © 2020, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to alaythiabiblechurch@gmail.com/alaythia4all@gmail.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)