Hoarding? or Paying Forward?

“However, the Lord stood by me and gave me strength so that I could finish spreading the Good News for all the nations to hear. I was snatched out of a lion's mouth.” (2 Tim. 4:17)

Too many times in striving to be a Christian, we find ourselves alienated from people in general because of the things that we see in the world that we do not want to be a part of. Lifestyles, habits, attitudes, etc. and things that are wrong are things that we are told to stay away from and not to be influenced by (2 Tm.2:15-21). But if we are not careful, we can find ourselves alienated from the very people we are trying to reach. We have to learn to stop building walls and start building bridges (2 Tm.2:24-26). Our striving to be holy should be seen as an example to others, not as something that makes others think that we are that "weird" person that's all "holier than thou." The loneliest person in the world is the guy who's self-centered and wrapped up in himself. God wired us to give our lives away, to help others, to think of others and not just ourselves. Start being a friend and being friendly. Quit focusing on yourself and emphasize others' needs.

There is a factor of fear in this, because in general people are afraid to be open and to be vulnerable. We're afraid to share how we really feel and risk a relationship because we might be rejected, and we know what that pain feels like. We often set ourselves up in a self-imposed prison of solitary confinement that is absolutely unnecessary.  When Paul was in prison and about to be executed, he said all his friends had left him, but God was with him. That gave him the strength to reach out to others and complete the work God had given him: “The Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear” (2 Tim 4:17).  There are thousands of people in the world who need your love. Re-channel it away from yourself and toward others. If you hold it in, it's going to dry up and wither away. You need to find a place you can use your talents and gifts to help other people.  The modern expression for this is "Pay It forward!"

• Who are the people around you who need your love today? 
• How can you share it with them?
•  Why is it sometimes easier to hold love in than give it away?

Jim