What
Does It Mean
To Be Rich Toward God?
Jesus said,
"WHEN YOU HAVE DONE IT TO ONE
OF THE LEAST OF THESE YOU HAVE DONE IT TO ME."
Being generous toward a needy
neighbor is being generous to God.
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THE POOR DISABLED
PERSON
Each One Of Us
can accomplish good, even in menial tasks that are done in His Name.
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When
I described to a new acquaintance what IHNM
is about, he said, "Well, I am trying to imagine when I would ever
have money to give to a stranger, my own family's needs are never fully met."
Very honest I thought, and
perhaps it was a typical response in a culture that is saturated with
self-interests. This man did not seem unkind.
I pondered his predicament
realizing that he was a victim of the culture (and some segments of Christianity)
which says we have the right to prosperity.
"We promote the idea of
volunteerism, but we do not promote sacrificial giving when a neighbor's
need demands it. We are a kind people, but we have our limitations."
We measure our righteousness,
not by God's criteria, but by that of our culture. People who are
'kind of kind' do not impress God who gave His only son for the
redemption of mankind.
This man told us he had
just purchased his new home less than a month ago. In his driveway there
was a current year model automobile. It is not a sin to own a new home
and a new car, unless doing so makes it impossible to give to others who
lack the very essentials of life.
I recalled the parable Jesus
told about the man who built a new barn to have more room to store his
abundant crops.
"You fool! This very night
your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared
for yourself? This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for
himself but is not rich toward God."
Luke 12:17-23
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