Hello, this is my first blog post, ever, so please bear with me. My daughters and son in law are champion bloggers, and I am quite certain I will never reach their level of expertise. I would like to cause you, my fellow brothers and sisters to think on a few items, and if what I write causes you to be convicted in the way I have been, Praise God.
Since the beginning of time, very little growth has happened among Gods people when they were steeped in prosperity. At a time when we are fortunate enough to have many resources, do we put them to work for the Lord, or do we get addicted to the “things” in life. People stand in line for two days to be the first to get a Phone, Ipod, Wii, laptops, etc. All of those items if not controlled can become an obstacle between God and us, but that is not the main point of this writing.
The main point of this writing is this, never in time has the Church grown so much as when its members suffered. When Christians suffer Christs church grows. We are sitting on many years of prosperity now, and I feel as though many of us in the brotherhood of Christ have gotten lazy on our laurels and forgotten what it is to to do Gods work. I feel as though all of that is about to change, our economy is a very hard one and is showing signs that it will not soon get better. People are losing their houses, their cars, and finding themselves with no place to go. Do we have an obligation to these people? Well, lets discuss a few things, and then you tell me. Here where I live, the housing market slump has been severe. many forclosures. So, if we have been responsible with our finances, is it not easy to judge others. Have you heard phrases like this? “They were in way over their head”, “they were investers” “They really brought the neighborhood down They had no class”, these are all things said by Christians. It really is easy to judge others when you have not yet begun to lose. here is a scripture suited to this subject. Luke 6:37
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven
In order to see the heart of God, let us first look at the Bible’s greatest commandment. ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’, wow, that is powerful, lets see what his second greatest commandment is.’ Love your neighbor as yourself.’
As Christians, we are part of a great community, that community exists between future inhabitants of the kingdom, and is not defined by the congregation you choose to worship at. As such, we need to answer the call of need of those brothers and sisters who are struggling, as did the examples on the first century church. If someone has a need, and you have the opportunity to help, with shelter, or money, do not hesitate. But pour out the blessings on your fellow believer that has been blessed upon you. When you look at your brother, whether homeless and sad, look at them with love and equality. We are all closer to sleeping under a bridge than we think.
May God Bless and keep you all
Jim
