Category Archives: Helping The Needy

Me First!!! Really??? Not New!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #646

22 Wednesday Apr 2020

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, By His Grace, Faithfulness, Giving Or Taking?, Helping The Needy, Holy Living

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #646   Me First!!!  Really???  Not New!!!

 

While we live in a “me” culture, and it’s sure busy right now, our Lord calls us to a higher calling of loving God and loving and caring for others before self—“ME”!  Ouch!  I thought we were supposed to pursue “self” sufficiency?  Jesus calls us to a higher pursuit—the call of God to reach, help and love others.

“And he came to Capernaum:

and being in the house he asked them,

What was it that ye disputed

among yourselves by the way?

34 But they held their peace:

for by the way they had disputed

among themselves,

who should be the greatest.

35 And he sat down,

and called the twelve,

and saith unto them,

If any man desire to be first,

the same shall be last of all,

and servant of all.”   Mark 9:33-35

The disciples of Jesus were just like you and I—men of flesh and bone—men with human longings and desires—men who wanted to succeed and advance; and while there is nothing wrong with the pursuit of excellence, there can be something wrong with seeking ‘self’ before God and others.

Jesus gave the disciples another lesson on this same subject which I think worthy of our consideration in the present distress–always.  What is our focus?  What is our pursuit?  What is our desire?  To please God and help others, or to come out ahead?  While we do have limitations in what we can do right now, where we can go, or how many we can meet with, we can still care for others within the legal limitations we are under.  Phone calls are permitted.  Text messages are permitted.  Letters are permitted.  Walking down the street is permitted—even with a smile instead of a frowning complaint!  What are we willing to do with our time, talents, and resources?  Has God asked you to serve someone that is out of your way?  Has He placed someone on your heart to minister to, and you’ve just sloughed it off, or put it off until the present distress is passed?  Are we wanting recognition, or is our heart yielding to our Master to minister to others as we have opportunity and means?  Jesus elevated service over self!  What are you and I doing with that call?

“But Jesus called them to him,

and saith unto them,

Ye know that they which are accounted

to rule over the Gentiles

exercise lordship over them;

and their great ones

exercise authority upon them.

43 But so shall it not be among you:

but whosoever

will be great among you,

shall be your minister:

44 And whosoever of you

will be the chiefest,

shall be servant of all.

45 For even the Son of man

came not to be ministered unto,

but to minister,

and to give his life

a ransom for many.”   Mark 10:42-45

What will we give our life to? For?  May we all look around and meet the needs that God brings into our view?  Take some time today to pray and look around you, God may be calling you to meet a need.  Blessings on your day!  Amen!

A Giver Or A Taker??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #586

11 Wednesday Sep 2019

Posted by in Faithfulness, Giving Or Taking?, Greed, Helping The Needy, Love, Love Is Action

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #586   A Giver Or A Taker???

 

We live in a culture of “gimme’, gimme’, gimme’! It seems that almost everyone wants ‘something for nothing’; everyone wants all they can get for as little as they can do.  As my husband is often heard to say about this mind set, “Get all you can, can all you get, and sit on the can!”  But as followers of Jesus, we’ve been called to a higher standard!  I’d like to simply share a few thoughts with you today to remind us of the biblical perspective of ‘stuff’.

“Give,

and it shall be given unto you;

good measure,

pressed down,

and shaken together,

and running over,

shall men give into your bosom.

For with the same measure that ye mete

withal it shall be measured

to you again.”  Luke 6:38

Jesus said our giving is to be at the least, abundant; but some today teach that we are to give in order to ‘get’ these blessings that Jesus described.  I don’t think so.  We are to give because Jesus gave HIS all for us.  Paul talks about this in his letter to the Ephesians.

“Let him that stole

steal no more:

but rather let him labour,

working with his hands

the thing which is good,

that he may have

to give

to him that needeth.”   Ephesians 4:38

Paul calls believers to work with their hands (or their minds) to earn a living that they may be able to share with those in need, not to ‘get more’ from God or others, but to be a blessing to those in need. Paul covers that most profoundly in his comments on love—he seems to say that if we “give to get” we are not acting in love but greed, and that nullifies our efforts!  You decide (and you might want to take some time and read this whole chapter!).

“And though I bestow all my goods

to feed the poor,

and though I give my body

to be burned,

and have not charity,

it profiteth me nothing.”  1 Corinthians 13:3

Paul also has more to say about the attitude of givers and reminds us that it’s not the amount we give, but the heart with which we give.  And takers—well they’re ‘taken’ care of themselves! (pun intended)

“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;)”.   2 Corinthians 9:6-10

And here’s the message for ‘takers’!

“Mortify therefore your members

which are upon the earth;

fornication,

uncleanness,

inordinate affection,

evil concupiscence,

and covetousness,

which is idolatry:

6 For which things’ sake

the wrath of God

cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked

some time,

when ye lived in them.”   Colossians 3:5-7

Let’s measure our giving and taking by God’s standard!  Have a blessed day of giving as we purpose “in our heart”, to please our Father as we bless and minister to those He places in our path!

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

 

Shopping Tips For Friday??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #534

22 Friday Feb 2019

Posted by in Fishes and Loaves, Helping The Needy, Kindness, Shopping Tips

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #534   Shopping Tips For Friday???

 

Well, it’s Friday and a lot of people do their shopping on Friday, so I thought we’d spend this  time sharing some “shopping” tips that we all can use!

“And be ye kind one to another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God

for Christ’s sake

hath forgiven you.”  Ephesians 4:32

It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of trying to run errands, find bargains, tend to crying children, or trying to balance our expenses with our income, that we forget that we are encountering others who may need a kindness.  It doesn’t take a lot to be kind—but it does require us to have a mind set to notice and pay attention to our surroundings.

A clerk may need a kind word—

because she just received bad news at home—

That cashier may need your smile and kind patience—

for she has just been hurt by an angry customer—

That person behind the deli-counter may need your understanding—

she didn’t notice that you should have been next—

So many people are hurting around us, and we can choose to be so consumed with our own problems, and schedules that we miss opportunities to make a difference.

“Walk in wisdom

toward them that are without,

redeeming the time.

6 Let your speech be

alway with grace,

seasoned with salt,

that ye may know

how ye ought to answer

every man.” Colossians 4:5-6 

We don’t have to be artificial to be kind, our words are to be “seasoned with salt” not ‘brine’!  It’s so easy to be sarcastic (and this is an issue that God is still working on in my life—He is helping this ‘natural born, smart aleck’ learn to think before speaking!) rather than take a minute to think before we speak.  Words can heal or they can hurt!  A simple kind word or thank you to a tired clerk may change his/her day, rather than another customer who doesn’t even see them!  We live in a culture of “invisible” people!  But we can change that –one face at a time—one person at a time—one experience at a time.

“For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth;

the poor also,

and him that hath no helper.

13 He shall spare the poor and needy,

and shall save the souls of the needy.”   Psalm 72:12-13

God cares about the ‘needy’, and so should we!  And shopping is an excellent opportunity to be God’s hands and feet to “deliver the needy”. I’m not ‘rich’ as the world measures wealth, but I am (and most of you probably) blessed with more than I need. So here are just a few tips to remind us of some simple things that we can do to reach out.

Buy an extra can/pack/case of whatever is on sale—

 donate it to your local food bank or shelter!

Buy whatever seasonal things are marked down—

Such as gloves, scarves, shoes—

Summer items at the end of the season—

Extra school supplies when they’re on sale—

Take them to a shelter, charity pantry, or clothes closet,                                      or a school teacher—(teachers always have students in need)

Buy several fast-food gift cards ($1,$2,$5)—

Use them to share with the homeless—                                                            (it’s safer than money and is for food only)

These are simple things that we can all do to share what we have.  There are people all around us who need a smile, or an encouraging word, or a simple meal.  God expects His own to be His hands and feet to those we encounter daily.  We are not to be, as they say, ‘so heavenly minded, that we are of no earthly good’.  While our mind is to be set on Jesus continually, our hearts, minds, eyes and ears are also to be tuned to the needs around us, seeing what we can do.  What are we doing with our“loaves and fishes”?

“What doth it profit, my brethren,

though a man say he hath faith,

and have not works?

Can (that) faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked,

and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you  say unto them,

Depart in peace,

be ye warmed and filled;

notwithstanding ye give them not

those things which are needful

to the body;

what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith,

if it hath not works,

is dead, being alone.” James 2:14-17

Go!  Amen and Amen!!!