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The Apostle Paul: In everything I did, I showed
you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the
words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than
to receive.'"
Sell your possessions and
give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out,
a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief
comes near and no moth destroys.
But love your enemies, do
good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.
Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High,
because
he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
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Give
and you shall receive.
All this is nonsense to many Christians. The deepest truths are often paradoxical. Yet they are not really difficult to believe. Even simple-minded people benefit from them. In fact, wiser people may trap themselves by reasoning too much, and missing the gifts of God. The Father does not intend that the smart and the rich should be excluded. It is humbling to recall, however, that he did not say this group would inherit the Kingdom of God. It is the meek. A wise or rich person may also be meek. It is possible. All are welcome in the Kingdom of God. But the New Testament warns us of depending too much on self and too little on God, in all that we do. Those who are led by the Spirit see. Those who are controlled by their flesh and by tradition do not-- or they may only see partially. God is not a harsh God, but those who try to make their religion work on their own terms will not receive the wonderful benefits of doing it HIS WAY. Sorry Frank Sinatra.
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Christ
