Removing Anonymity

Removing Anonymity

James 2: ¹⁴ My friends, what good is it for one of you to say that you have faith if your actions do not prove it? Can that faith save you? ¹⁵ Suppose there are brothers or sisters who need clothes and don't have enough to eat. ¹⁶ What good is there in your saying to them, “God bless you! Keep warm and eat well!”—if you don't give them the necessities of life? ¹⁷ So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead.

 

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After getting an increase in pay, giving became easier. I felt good about writing a check each week. But then the pastor asked something strange. “Who will go with me to serve people in the streets?”

 

• I thought I was “doing” enough by giving “my” cash.
• I thought I was “doing” enough by “going” to church.
• I thought I was “doing” enough by “attending” Bible study, deacon’s meetings and trustee meetings.

 

James challenges the norm of only  attending church and quoting scriptures. His challenge was probably aimed to get people out of their comfort zone and to “do” the things they “talked” about. This would take time, effort and face to face encounters with those in need.

 

My Observations:

• Serving people who are in need takes face to face encounters.
• Serving a group of people, without knowing their names, needs or problems, makes me think I am helping them vicariously through someone else’s efforts.
• GOD loves when I serve people face to face.

 

Overlooking the poor can be quite easy. I mean, when I give to a church and pass by a person holding up a sign, I begin to justify not serving the person holding up the sign, asking for help. I then justify not knowing or heling my neighbors on my block or in my apartment building. I also justify not seeking the lost on my own. BUT GOD wants me to be different.

 

HE knows my mind can become dull by sitting in another sermon or another Bible study or by watching another motivational video. Going out and actually serving people takes the anonymity away and opens my eyes to a world of need I would not have otherwise known. I am glad GOD wants me to get out of my comfort zone to serve those in need.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer challenge “faith?”
• Have you ever felt nervous about serving the poor?
• Have you served the poor directly outside of your church?
• Will you consider getting out of your comfort zone and serving the poor today so your faith will be made complete?

Pseudo Parent

Pseudo Parent

2 Corinthians 12: ¹⁴ This is now the third time that I am ready to come to visit you—and I will not make any demands on you. It is you I want, not your money. After all, children should not have to provide for their parents, but parents should provide for their children. ¹⁵ I will be glad to spend all I have, and myself as well, in order to help you. Will you love me less because I love you so much?

 

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“Come in and have some dinner” were the words I delighted ti hear. Many households invited me in to eat with them in the community I grew up. What was it about these people who took time out of their busy lives to help us kids? They did it from their heart.

 

• I was blessed to have many pseudo parents who cared for me.
• I was blessed to be watched over by those who had hearts large enough to care for others.
• I was blessed to have so many people who would take me places, feed me, and mostly teach me how to grow up.

 

Pau was about to visit. He explained that he was not coming there for their money. This may have been a selfish concern on their part that he wanted to ease. Instead, he was being a pseudo parent and wanted to show his love.

 

My Observations

• GOD doesn’t mind if I remain a child.
• GOD wants me to grow up to love others the way I can.
• GOD wants me to understand the purpose of having the HOLY SPIRIT live inside me is to stretch my heart to fit others.

 

When life is all about me, my words sound different. I mean, I have more complaints than solutions when I am a child. BUT GOD wants me to grow up and point others to HIM as the only solution to life’s problems.

 

HE allows fiery trials in my life to burn away the things that do not belong. HE then opens my eyes to other people HE wants me to reach. HE provides enough for me and her or him as I encounter each person. I am glad I have had great parents and pseudo parents to grow me in many ways.

 

Challenge

• Do you feel the care of the writer?
• Have you ever been tempted to speak about GOD only for money?
• Will you allow the HOLY SPIRIT to stretch your heart to fit other people and serve them so they can believe in JESUS in a saving way today?

Self-Protection

Self-Protection

2 Corinthians 8: Our friends, we want you to know what God's grace has accomplished in the churches in Macedonia. ² 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. ³ I can assure you that they gave as much as they could, and even more than they could. Of their own free will ⁴ they begged us and pleaded for the privilege of having a part in helping God's people in Judea.

 

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Getting off the train, I proceeded on the shortest route to work. I was met with a number of people asking for money. I reached in my pocket and gave what I could, but I needed to eat lunch so I held some back. This went on for a few days. I figured out a solution. I would take a longer route to avoid the usual people asking for money.

 

• I was concerned about “my” money.
• I was concerned about “my” body being fed.
• I was concerned about “my” time, resources and safety.

 

Paul is amazed at the generosity of a group of people in a certain area. Though they were poor, they were generous. Their generosity could not be stopped by their troubles. In fact, they gave more during their troubles, showing their joy.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to see beyond my troubles and be joyous.
• GOD wants me to participate in helping HIS people.
• GOD wants me to see that helping those who speak about CHRIST is a privilege.

 

Looking at situations from a financial perspective seems hopeless at times. I mean, it sometimes feels like the amounts I have or are getting are never quite enough. This makes me want to protect a little by stashing some away for “myself.”  Or “my” family. BUT GOD sees something different.

 

HE sees when I use self-protection as an excuse to not serve those who HE desperately wants me to serve. HE understands when I am blinded, but would prefer that I seek the privilege of serving to being people to CHRIST. I am grateful for those who have been generous to me to help me serve GOD’s people.

 

Challenge

• How does the writer feel about the givers in this passage?
• What do you notice about those who gave during their troubles?
• Have you ever just wanted a moment of peace so you protected yourself from giving your time, talent or treasures?
• Will you seek the privilege of serving GOD’s people in spite of your circumstances today?

Starving

Starving

John 6: 2 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”

53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.

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After the party I announced “the party is at my place!” Everyone had a task to bring booze, music and food. We were going to continue what we started and be as loud as we wanted to be. I mean it was Saturday. I had nothing to do on Sunday.

• There were times when I fed my desires.
• There were times when I fed my lusts.
• There were times when I felt I “deserved” a bit of ”fun”.

JESUS speaks in a manner only GOD could speak. HE talks about eating HIS flesh and drinking HIS blood. “How can this be?” questioned the Jews. JESUS wanted them to feed something else that required a certain food.

• GOD wants me to feed off of JESUS’s examples.
• GOD wants me to feed off of JESUS’s love for those who hated HIM.
• GOD wants me to feed off of JESUS’s faithfulness to continue HIS mission regardless of facing death.

Starving will happen whether it is my lustful desires or the HOLY SPIRIT. One will get fed over the other. GOD wants me to feed my SPIRIT by serving those HE sends to me or who I am sent to. HE feeds me with HIS broken body and cleanses me with HIS blood that dripped from the wounds of HIS murder.

JESUS is definitely food and GOD speaks in foody terms. HE says “Bear fruit” and “Have the fruit of the SPIRIT.” These tasty terms mean serve as many people as possible and listen to GOD so the HOLY SPIRIT inside me will not starve. I desire to feed what GOD has so generously given to me.

• What are you feeding?
• Do you complain, seek pleasure, hate others or feed off of a GOD-less crowd?
• Will you feed the SPIRIT inside you by listening to GOD and serving those HE sends you to today?