Have You Been Freed To Humbly Serve?
Good Morning Friends,
Seeing the poor with new eyes is the work of every Christian. Working around the poor who believe in Jesus I have learned that even when their pockets are empty, God’s love keeps his children rich because they have learned to give in ways that are Christ like. Many of the poor are more filled with the Holy Spirit than most millionaires I know. But their gifts are not always fully developed. Related to this problem scripture instructs us in the art of good stewardship. However the transaction is a little bit different than we might first believe. So today we receive a lesson in culture building…a lesson in trust… a lesson in giving God’s way. Have You Been Freed To Humbly Serve?
Scripture: Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same intention (for whoever has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin), so as to live for the rest of your earthly life no longer by human desires but by the will of God. You have already spent enough time in doing what the Gentiles like to do, living in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, and lawless idolatry. They are surprised that you no longer join them in the same excesses of dissipation, and so they blaspheme. But they will have to give an accounting to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the spirit as God does. The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:1-11 (NRSV)
He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8 (NRSV)
The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:6-15 (NRSV)
But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing. If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
James 1:22-27 (NRSV)
Message: God has given us spiritual gifts, talents and abilities to use in serving others and some of us form ministry teams to deploy them but that alone does not mean that God’s generosity will flow through us. Now more than ever, money alone is insufficient in doing much aside from buying time. Perhaps we need humbling first. Friends control and pride and prejudice can rob the poor of dignity and can keep us all from using our gifts properly. As best I can tell we need to be willing to decrease so that others may increase. We need the grace to desire that others be loved more than ourselves. It would be better if we would be freed from our addiction to a prosperity gospel and more inclined to support the dignity of the poor. Friends if you have money in your wallet you are wealthier than most of the world on the money scale. But the challenge is a spiritual one as well as an economic one. Check out what is in your wallet but also your heart for you reap what you sow. Friends, we need to be sowing love, otherwise we miss the point. You see, God wants us to have it all, but to have the life abundant we need to be generous with the things God has given us. We need to be committed to developing and complementing each other’s gifts. We are called to share God’s bright presence that is in us, loving each other as if our life depends on it, living as if there is no tomorrow because some day in this earthly life that day will surely come.
Pray we manage our spiritual gifts well, yielding to God. Pray we operate in the strength and energy that God supplies. Pray we do it all for God’s glory. Pray we give money but pray we realize that Jesus was poor and like the poor today we need to learn to give in ways that do not diminish dignity. Pray we learn we are to give our special gifts to God. Pray we are sowing for a harvest that will honor God. Pray we work in unity. Pray we be one Body working in harmony. Pray we are thankful for the harvest. Pray we realize that our time is limited. Pray we discover, develop and share our God given gifts and talents with liberal hospitality before it is too late. Pray we be good steward of the talents God has placed in us. Pray we identify these gifts and with the Lord look for opportunities to use them as we humbly serve others.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 