"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to
what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in
showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the
Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in
tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and
seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse
them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."
Rom 12:9-15
This is good advice given by Paul that we are all familiar
with. However, there is part of this that we often either overlook or maybe we
even downright ignore. In the application of abhorring evil, loving one another,
being patient in tribulation; did you notice the part about contributing to the
needs of the saints?
We all apply this to money, and any time we use our money in
service to God, it draws us closer to God. However, this is not all that it
applies to like we want to make it. Any time send a card and write a note of
encouragement, I've just invested in the plan of God’s will. When another
believer is discouraged and needs somebody to talk to and I buy give a shoulder
or an ear, I've done God's will. John writes, "Beloved, it is a faithful
thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who
testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on
their journey in a manner worthy of God."
When we invest our money in developing relationships within
the Church, it points others to God and gets us closer to one another and to
Him. In other words, when you invest in the fellowship of God's house, it helps
everyone involved and helps bring people to Christ. Heb.10:24,25 teaches,
"encourage one another and provoke one another unto love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the
habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day
drawing near." Don't get caught up in "the day," that's another
discussion. Pay attention to two things in this passage, encouraging and not
neglecting meeting together. Many have been taught that "not neglecting meeting
together" is like attendance at school. They make it a "have to"
thing and this isn't what God wants at all. It should be a "want to"
in our lives as Christians to not only invest in our own spirituality, but to want
to do everything that I can, every time that I can to contribute to the needs
of others. To not do this is to be self serving and not to consider the will of
God above your own.
Do you see a need in God's house? What are you rising up to do about it? Are you afraid to reach out to others, to invest in their
lives? Ask God for help to overcome your fears and trust him with your efforts. Remember, "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."
Jim
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