Daily Jewel

by Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Giving to those in Need”

“Never walk away from someone who deserves help…your hand is God’s hand for that person." – Proverbs 3:27 (The Message)

I have been on both sides of this verse. I have been the recipient of other people’s generosity and kindness and I have had the opportunity to provide for someone’s need as well. To be perfectly honest, I would always want to be the giver rather than the one in need. From (almost) the beginning of civilization, there have been those who for one reason or another have been in need. In every society there will be those who have as opposed to those who do not have. I know that is not great grammar—but the truth of the matter is we will always be faced with this social dilemma. There will always be people in need and we can approach the problem in two ways: (1) Ignore that they exist, or (2), do what we can to help those who want and truly need our assistance! It does not take long to be in ministry to discover there is a difference between those who want and those who truly need. In fact, those who want will always want! They do little to help their situation and they know that as long as there are those who are willing to supply their want, they will continue down the same path. The question I struggle with is “does that lessen their need?” It is at this point that I must overlook my frustration and cynicism over some people’s lack of initiative and help them as much as I can. The other side of the coin is realizing that there are those who truly need our help! Those, who, for whatever reason, no matter how hard they try are simply unable to get out of the hole that they are in! They may be in our churches, they may be our neighbors, they may even be our family members—and if it is in our power to help them then we have a Biblical mandate to do just that! Jesus said: “Give, and gifts will be given you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; for whatever measure you deal out to others will be dealt to you in return.” (Luke 6:38, NEB) Jesus said it, so it must be true. It’s a principle of life: give generously and you will receive generously. Fail to give generously and you will cheat yourself out of a blessing. Don’t give at all, and you will be the loneliest person in town. During the Christmas season one of the favorite stories that is repeated over and over again is Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol.” Scrooge learned the lesson the hard way, didn’t he? But he recovered in time to receive a blessing only Tiny Tim could give—respect, and unbelievable love. But you can receive by giving! In fact, the more you give, the more you will receive. Jesus said it, so it must be true. And there’s even more. Don’t you love the “good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over” idea? And best of all, it will be poured into your lap (or bosom, if you prefer the King James rendering of the Greek.) And the very best thing is this: It’s no gimmick. Jesus said it…it must be true. And you can start giving any time! Given the way many want nothing more than handout – it is easy to become cynical and hard-hearted. But then we must come back to the words of Jesus who said: “…whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.” – Matthew 24:40 (NIV) Shouldn’t that be an incentive?

Pastor J. T. Carnell