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- Apr 25, 2006
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POOR SO WE COULD BE RICH (3)
''...They gave themselves ... to the Lord and then to us...'' 2 Corinthians 8:5
It's hard to know how to best help people in need. Like homeless people, for example: 'Where's my money going, eh? Are they even homeless? They could be professional con artists for all I know. I want my money to go towards a bed for the night, not on a date with heroin on the street.'
All these thoughts and fears can swim around in our brains, leaving us swept up with doubt on whether our giving actually does any good. Sometimes that means when we're walking down the street and we see a homeless person in the corner of our eye, we check the phone that we know hasn't buzzed; we look anywhere but at them; we shut ourselves off because it feels easier that way.
But if you have a read of 2 Corinthians, you'll see that the Macedonian church went about giving in this way: 'They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.' It was a natural response to meeting Jesus. Giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives!
Firstly give yourself to God more and more and let His mind in you guide you on from there. Because you can give without loving, but you can't love without giving to those God loves. What now?
Pray and let God's wisdom guide you in how to give, next time you are asked on the street. You might just end up talking to them. Who knows, they might let you pray for them? Remember giving means more than simply pounds and pence.
written by Bob Gass
''...They gave themselves ... to the Lord and then to us...'' 2 Corinthians 8:5
It's hard to know how to best help people in need. Like homeless people, for example: 'Where's my money going, eh? Are they even homeless? They could be professional con artists for all I know. I want my money to go towards a bed for the night, not on a date with heroin on the street.'
All these thoughts and fears can swim around in our brains, leaving us swept up with doubt on whether our giving actually does any good. Sometimes that means when we're walking down the street and we see a homeless person in the corner of our eye, we check the phone that we know hasn't buzzed; we look anywhere but at them; we shut ourselves off because it feels easier that way.
But if you have a read of 2 Corinthians, you'll see that the Macedonian church went about giving in this way: 'They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.' It was a natural response to meeting Jesus. Giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives!
Firstly give yourself to God more and more and let His mind in you guide you on from there. Because you can give without loving, but you can't love without giving to those God loves. What now?
Pray and let God's wisdom guide you in how to give, next time you are asked on the street. You might just end up talking to them. Who knows, they might let you pray for them? Remember giving means more than simply pounds and pence.
written by Bob Gass
