Thankful
Receiving the Blessing of Giving
I've left you an example of how you should serve and take care of those who are weak.
For we must always cherish the words of our Lord Jesus, who taught,
'Giving brings a far greater blessing than receiving'.
Acts 20:35
For we must always cherish the words of our Lord Jesus, who taught,
'Giving brings a far greater blessing than receiving'.
Acts 20:35
By Di Priest
Paul can never be accused of being patronizing or self-serving in any aspect of his ministry. He worked hard, long hours as both a tentmaker and as a minister of God’s good news to the Jews and the Gentiles wherever God led him. He lived purely and simply for the gospel which gave him the freedom to challenge and inspire the newly formed groups of believers to live aware and intentionally with generous kindness towards the poor and needy.
He is recorded as saying in Acts 20:34, “I haven’t been after your money or any of your possessions. You all know that I’ve worked with my hands to meet my own needs and the needs of those who’ve served with me.”
All of this transparent integrity qualified him to speak boldly about the importance of caring for the poor who Jesus as recorded in Matthew 26 states, “you will always have someone poor whom you can help.”
This past week I’ve had the privilege of being able to deliver ‘help’ to a few families in need. It truly is a blessing to be able to deliver food, gifts, a few Christmas decorations, a food voucher and more to a family doing life tough.
One lady with tears in her eyes, held the food voucher and said she would be writing a list straight away, with coffee on the top as she’d had to go without to help pay some other urgent bills. She’s a mum who often goes without so much more than coffee.
Another lady sent a photo of her children delighting in putting up a Christmas tree complete with decorations, and some presents to open on Christmas Day. She had not expected to afford anything other than some food, certainly not gifts or a tree for her children this Christmas.
Poverty, homelessness, mental health issues, domestic violence; none of it will go away while we live in this fallen, sin-damaged world. Creation truly does groan in anticipation of a time when all the on-going consequences of human frailty will be resolved, but until that day we can follow Jesus and Paul’s example and ‘serve and take care of those who are weak'.
Many, many thanks to the generous gifts given to Kindness Works – COACH and StreetWorks this year.
Let’s do it all again next year.
Paul can never be accused of being patronizing or self-serving in any aspect of his ministry. He worked hard, long hours as both a tentmaker and as a minister of God’s good news to the Jews and the Gentiles wherever God led him. He lived purely and simply for the gospel which gave him the freedom to challenge and inspire the newly formed groups of believers to live aware and intentionally with generous kindness towards the poor and needy.
He is recorded as saying in Acts 20:34, “I haven’t been after your money or any of your possessions. You all know that I’ve worked with my hands to meet my own needs and the needs of those who’ve served with me.”
All of this transparent integrity qualified him to speak boldly about the importance of caring for the poor who Jesus as recorded in Matthew 26 states, “you will always have someone poor whom you can help.”
This past week I’ve had the privilege of being able to deliver ‘help’ to a few families in need. It truly is a blessing to be able to deliver food, gifts, a few Christmas decorations, a food voucher and more to a family doing life tough.
One lady with tears in her eyes, held the food voucher and said she would be writing a list straight away, with coffee on the top as she’d had to go without to help pay some other urgent bills. She’s a mum who often goes without so much more than coffee.
Another lady sent a photo of her children delighting in putting up a Christmas tree complete with decorations, and some presents to open on Christmas Day. She had not expected to afford anything other than some food, certainly not gifts or a tree for her children this Christmas.
Poverty, homelessness, mental health issues, domestic violence; none of it will go away while we live in this fallen, sin-damaged world. Creation truly does groan in anticipation of a time when all the on-going consequences of human frailty will be resolved, but until that day we can follow Jesus and Paul’s example and ‘serve and take care of those who are weak'.
Many, many thanks to the generous gifts given to Kindness Works – COACH and StreetWorks this year.
Let’s do it all again next year.