As we look ahead to our activities for this week, wouldn’t it be a blessing if they could somehow make a positive impact on someone’s life?
In Caesar’s kingdom, the typical thought process around us is, “You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.” Or more often, the more ambitious will say, “I’ll scratch your back IF you’ll scratch mine.” But either way, if effort is expended, then something in return is usually expected.
Now, while that works well in many applications, how about the kingdom of God? Granted, a spirit of cooperation is great and returning common courtesies, indeed, makes for a more pleasant environment. But, if we are to make a positive impact in the Kingdom of God, then we must go beyond what is so often practiced, and remember how the Lord teaches us that we are to give, not expecting anything in return.
For instance, Paul said in Acts 20:35, “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Notice, the Lord said it is more blessed “to give than to receive” and not “to give expecting to receive.” Proverbs 19:17 helps us to understand more of how the Lord “makes” this principle work. It says, “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he (i.e., the Lord) pay him again.” Now, since the Lord is altogether faithful, since nothing escapes His watchful eye, and since He is able in every respect to fulfill His promises, then we can freely do those acts of kindness and compassion, resting confidently in the fact that the Lord will do what is right toward us. After all, He has already given to us far more than we could ever deserve; and so, we need to remember that God doesn’t owe us anything! If we never received another blessing from Him, we still have enough to praise Him in all eternity for the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Savior!
Another passage that teaches this principle is found in Luke 14. Verses 12-14 say, “Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” In other words, the gift of eternal life that Jesus has already given to us is worth far more than ANYTHING that we will ever do for others in this life. So, it really doesn’t “cost” us to do for others.
Friends, God is loving and gracious. So this week, go ahead and do those alms in secret and do those acts of kindness, not expecting anything in return. If our motives are pure, and if we have done those things in love and compassion, then the Lord will bless it.
In the love of Christ,
Elder Clayton Nowell
Now, while that works well in many applications, how about the kingdom of God? Granted, a spirit of cooperation is great and returning common courtesies, indeed, makes for a more pleasant environment. But, if we are to make a positive impact in the Kingdom of God, then we must go beyond what is so often practiced, and remember how the Lord teaches us that we are to give, not expecting anything in return.
For instance, Paul said in Acts 20:35, “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Notice, the Lord said it is more blessed “to give than to receive” and not “to give expecting to receive.” Proverbs 19:17 helps us to understand more of how the Lord “makes” this principle work. It says, “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he (i.e., the Lord) pay him again.” Now, since the Lord is altogether faithful, since nothing escapes His watchful eye, and since He is able in every respect to fulfill His promises, then we can freely do those acts of kindness and compassion, resting confidently in the fact that the Lord will do what is right toward us. After all, He has already given to us far more than we could ever deserve; and so, we need to remember that God doesn’t owe us anything! If we never received another blessing from Him, we still have enough to praise Him in all eternity for the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Savior!
Another passage that teaches this principle is found in Luke 14. Verses 12-14 say, “Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” In other words, the gift of eternal life that Jesus has already given to us is worth far more than ANYTHING that we will ever do for others in this life. So, it really doesn’t “cost” us to do for others.
Friends, God is loving and gracious. So this week, go ahead and do those alms in secret and do those acts of kindness, not expecting anything in return. If our motives are pure, and if we have done those things in love and compassion, then the Lord will bless it.
In the love of Christ,
Elder Clayton Nowell