Don’t just say it, do it!

1 John 3: ¹⁶ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? ¹⁸ Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

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“Wow, I look pretty good” I thought to myself as I strutted down the street in my new suit headed to work. “I bet everyone in the office will notice since they are very fashion conscience.” Then a homeless person approached me. I looked at him, smelled the wine extruding from his pores and thought “No Way!”

I quickly bypassed the guy only to run into a homeless woman. My wallet was all the way in my briefcase and I only carried twenties so I quickly passed her as well because I have to eat lunch later. Would you believe I saw four or five more homeless people on the way to work that day. “What’s going on, a hobo convention?”

• My heart on material possessions can quickly blind me to others needs.
• My heart on material possessions makes me fight to keep them instead of thinking about serving people.
• My heart on material possessions helps me justify getting in debt to get "what I want", "when I want it" thus never being in the position to share my wealth with the poor.

I used to see the donation commercial with the baby with flies crawling on its face as being a sad situation. “Aw, someone should do something about that” I would think to myself as I turned away to search for something better on my “cable TV.”  GOD wants much more out of me.

• The love of GOD in my heart enables me to have compassion on the poor, helpless and homeless.
• The love of GOD in my heart makes me notice people in need.
• The love of GOD in my heart helps me do without that gadget, suit or even a meal or two so I can serve others.
• The love of GOD in my heart “is” GOD helping HIS people and doing something about it through me but only if I am willing to serve.

It’s amazing what I can do without and it’s even more amazing how many people are in need right up under my nose. I never noticed people in need until I started serving them. If you think being homeless is bad, try seeing a homeless person in a country where there is NO FOOD or shelter for miles. GOD loves these people and wants me to serve them.

• Have you thought about buying the next thing?
• Are you scared of running out of money if you give to someone?
• Can you buy that thing later and give to someone in need right now?
• Do you know it’s alright to have material possessions as long as you have a heart of sharing?
• Can you share your wealth, no matter how small, with someone in need today?