HAVING PLENTY TO HELP THOSE IN NEED!

HAVING PLENTY TO HELP THOSE IN NEED!

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. —II Corinthians 8:9

For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.  As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.” —II Corinthians 8:13-15

            I have often thought about the perfect glory that Jesus left to come to this imperfect, sin infested world.  He is the Creator of all.  It is all His and yet He left the wonders of heaven to take on a body and be born among animals and laid in a feeding trough.  He did all this so we sinful, poverty stricken, lost people could—

“out of his glorious riches he may strengthen… with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” —Ephesians 3:17-19

            Oh, brother and sister, fellow followers of Jeus, we are so rich in Jesus!  Now, let us think of others in the same way Jesus has thought and thinks of us.  He gave to us who were poor that we, in Him, could be rich.  Yes, let us consider others as He has us.  Who can we give of our “riches?”  Who can we help who has great need either physically or spiritually.  How will we help them?

“So the Israelites did this. Some gathered more, and some less. When they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall.  Each one gathered as much as he needed to eat” (Exodus 16:17-18).

            When the Israelites gathered manna in the wilderness, they were to only take a particular amount for themselves.  But when they went out to gather it, some gathered more than they needed while others gathered less than they needed.  But, they made sure it was distributed so everyone had what they needed for that day.  Our Lord has given some more than they need while He has allowed others to be in need.  Those with more than they need are to help others who do not have enough for their daily needs.  So, if we are those who have more than enough, how will we help those who do not have enough?  May our Lord give us guidance in this.  Yes, Dear Father, please show those who have more than enough for their needs who they can help who do not have enough for their daily needs.  May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus.  So may it be!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwlMG1y2i2o