It isn't HAVE TO!

"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 

Words of Wisdom Heal

So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 

Romans 14:19 

It goes without saying, that God wants us to build one another up.  In fact, the word used for "build one another up" comes from a root word meaning "architecture."  It is the supporting structure attached to the foundation (Christ) that keeps everything together. It carries the idea of strengthening one another, to make one another more able to face the challenges of living.    Paul wrote to the Philippians, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.(Ph'p.3:14)" To complete the course we need encouragement to keep running, to keep pursuing!  Young, old, we are in the race together. There will be people that will drop out, walk out, and fall out. While we wish that this would not happen, it does. But, we can minimize this by being there for one another and helping to be someone's strength when they have need.  The writer of Hebrews states,  “Encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25, NIV).

God does this for us. He “supports us in every hardship, so that we are able to come to the support of others, in every hardship of theirs because of the encouragement that we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:14). In the same way, God wants us be patient with one another, supportive of one another. Even after we grow close enough to each other to learn one another’s quirks and annoying little habits, we still stick by each other’s side. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “With all humility and gentleness, and with patience, support each other in love” (Eph 4:2).

Is there someone who could use your encouragement today? Don’t wait until later! Encourage them now. This is vital, because they may not be here to run the race tomorrow. Your words of encouragement may be just what they need to make it another day!  So, today you have a choice. Will you build up? Or will you tear down?

Sharp words cut like a sword, but words of wisdom heal . ~ Pro 12:18    

Jim