Choices Matter???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #448

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap,

if we faint not.

10 As we have therefore opportunity,

let us do good unto all men,

especially unto them

who are of the household of faith.”  Galatians 6:7-10

While verse 7 is familiar to most people, we often miss the context that follows; there is a marked connection between the flesh and its consequences, as well as between the Spirit and our life everlasting in Jesus.  When our life is marked by a continual sowing to and feeding of the flesh, we ought not be surprised when our consequences lead, as Jesus said on numerous occasions, to destruction (of one sort or another).

By the same token, a life lived in “the Spirit” will lead us to blessings beyond measure, a life of blessedness in the Spirit!  Paul doesn’t stop there; he goes on to remind us that this life of living in the Spirit will call for a perseverance in our  daily walk with Jesus.  It’s not a walk in the park, but it will be a walk of success when we “faint not”!   It doesn’t stop there, we are to exercise goodness toward “all men”, especially to them of the “household of faith”!  Our lives are to be marked by compassion and selflessness; unlike the world around us so focused on greed and self!

Paul talked to the Corinthian believers about generosity, and I want us to consider what marks our lives; greed or generosity?

“But this I say,

He which soweth sparingly

shall reap also sparingly;

and he which soweth bountifully

shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth

in his heart,

so let him give;

not grudgingly,

or of necessity:

for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace

abound toward you;

that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things,

may abound to every good work:

9 (As it is written,

He hath dispersed abroad;

he hath given to the poor:

his righteousness remaineth for ever.

10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower

both minister bread for your food,

 and multiply your seed sown,

and increase the fruits

of your righteousness😉

11 Being enriched in every thing

to all bountifulness,

which causeth through us

thanksgiving to God.”  2 Corinthians 9:6-11

Generosity doesn’t mean just giving randomly, it does mean having a heart willing to share as we have opportunity to help others.  It means when we see a need that we can legitimately meet, we are to ask God if that is a place for us to render service. As Paul says above, we are to remember that “having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work…”!  We are to have a heart attuned to God and He will direct our steps and our actions; we are to cause others to have cause to give glory to God—never for our own glory or credit.  And that can be difficult in this “attention focused” culture; it seems everyone wants recognition for every little thing—the I deserve a trophy mentality!  I simply want to please my Lord, and for me, that means, as often as possible, doing things anonymously!

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men,

to be seen of them:

otherwise ye have no reward

of your Father which is in heaven.

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms,

do not sound a trumpet before thee,

as the hypocrites do

in the synagogues

and in the streets,

that they may have glory of men.

Verily I say unto you,

They have their reward.

3 But when thou doest alms,

let not thy left hand

know what thy right hand doeth:

4 That thine alms may be in secret:

and thy Father

which seeth in secret himself

shall reward thee openly.”  Matthew 6:1-4

Jesus calls us to live differently than the world (even the world within the church—for just saying so doesn’t make it so), especially when we talk about giving!  Our choices do matter—whether it’s our morals, our compassion, or our resources; we are called to put others before ourselves; and Paul has a lot to say about this, so I want us to consider a couple of passages from Paul which remind us  that our lives are to be evidence of the transforming power of Jesus Christ through His sacrifice for our salvation, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of every genuine believer!

“Let no corrupt communication

proceed out of your mouth,

but that which is good

to the use of edifying,

that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,

whereby ye are sealed

unto the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger,

and clamour, and evil speaking,

be put away from you,

with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God for Christ’s sake

    hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:29-32

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory;

but in lowliness of mind

let each esteem other

better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things,

but every man also on the things of others.

5 Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:”   Philippians 2:3-5

Amen and Amen!!!

It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test. May Jesus be seen in our lives, our work, and our care for others!

His coming is near!!!