Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person. Don’t tell your neighbor “Maybe some other time” or “Try me tomorrow”
Proverbs 3: 27-28 The Message
Each little saying or nugget in the Book of Proverbs seems to get right to the point. No beating around the bush! These verses from chapter 3 are no exception. Here, we are encouraged to help those who deserve our help.
The writer encourages us to see ourselves as God’s answer to the cries of others. Our helping hands are seen as God’s hands. This is a startling thought! Imagine, you could be the answer to someone’s prayers!
If I have learned anything in life, it is that God’s answers can come from anywhere. Sometimes, help comes from where we least expect it.
The writer of Proverbs also addresses the temptation to put off giving to others, or helping them. We can always come up with some excuse NOT to extend a hand. However, excuses are not what people need, and not what God wants to hear.
Even though the last few months we have not been worshiping in the church physically, people have still been giving to the church. Our remodeling project did not stop, and we still had wonderful volunteers working on it. Financial giving did not stop either. I am truly grateful, and humbled, by the financial faithfulness of our congregation.
Using our hands for God’s ministry can be done in so many different ways. Whether support is financial, physical, prayerful or verbal, it is always appreciated. We all have opportunities to be ambassadors for the Lord. When someone receives your help, they may not even realize that the Lord is at work in their lives. When we are seeking to help those who deserve it, God can and will be a part of that gift. We can sometimes be that still small voice. Others can also add to that ministry.
Perhaps the greatest incentive to give is how our generosity reverberates to heaven. We are giving to the Glory of God. At the end of Matthew 25 is Jesus’ great parable of judgment. He speaks of the shepherd separating the sheep and the goats based on whether or not they gave to the least of those. Here are the words Jesus speaks from heaven:
I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.’
Matthew 25: 35-36
When we come across people who deserve our help, let us assist them, rather than making excuses. My hope and prayer is that by ministering to others, we will become the sheep Jesus takes into His fold.
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Give us discerning eyes to find those whom we have the ability to help. Show us ways where we can do so. Thank You for taking care of us when we are in need of your assistance. Thank You also for all those who have walked through our lives and helped us, even when we were not aware they were doing so. Be with all those who are crying out and are in need of healing from the many pains of life. Protect those who are in harm’s way. Continue to show us how to be Your sheep.
We pray this prayer in Your faithful name. Amen
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