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Written by Kat Bittner, volunteer and Board member with Iron Rose Sister Ministries
And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. (Heb 13:16 NLT)
As a child, I remember playing with the neighborhood children for hours on end. We would wear ourselves out riding bicycles, exploring the woods, playing dodgeball, or just trekking to the convenience store on our military base for snacks and soda. I also remember not one child ever went without what was needed for our group playtime. Someone always had an extra bike to spare or proper shoes to borrow for our forest explorations. I also remember no one left the store without a treat— even if they arrived without a penny in their pocket! It was just rare for us as kids not to share what we could with our friends and neighbors. I even recall the time my brother and I searched high and low for loose change in the house so one of our friends, who was ten cents short on a favorite candy, would be sure to get one along with the rest of us. It took us two hours to find ten cents, but we all walked out of the store that day with a Whatchamacallit® and a smile. What a joy it was for us to give to a friend in need!
Oh! If adults could have the mind of a child, sharing and sacrificing for others, what a wonderful thing that would be. Yet that’s exactly what’s expected of us when others are in need. God calls us to “open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land” (Dt 15:11b NKJV). Whether this help comes from our time, talents, or a monetary gift, it is a Godly thing to do for others. It’s something each of us as believers should be eager to do. And it’s important to remember caring for others is an act of our preparation for heaven.
Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. (1Ti 6:18-19 NLT)
It is honorable for us to help others (Mt 5:16, Ac 4:32-37). We show love for Jesus by meeting the needs of others (Mt 25:35-40). Caring for others is a visible sign of obedience to God and love for Him. Jesus said, “All who love me will do what I say” (Jn 14:23). Ladies, this verse can be reiterated in several ways. Doing what God has commanded is a product of our love. Our acts of obedience are the proof of our love for Jesus. We show love by doing those things He has commanded us to do. And we do not truly know or love God if we aren’t loving others (I Jn 4:7-8).
No matter how you choose to help, it’s important to do so with a sense of esteem. You may only be able to give five dollars to the local food bank or church benevolence fund, but that’s five dollars for someone’s food or sustenance. Perhaps you can’t give monetarily, but time spent visiting with a shut-in or a patient in the hospital can be much-needed spirit care. Someone may need words of encouragement as they navigate a difficult time in life. Babysitting for a young mom who just needs time alone without little ones hanging all over her can be such a help. As a military wife with four children living far from home, and whose husband was deployed for long stretches at a time, that was a huge need for me.
We can reap benefits on the other side, too, of caring for another’s needs. Opening our hands to help others can be a blessing to us just as much as to those we serve. It just makes you feel good inside, ladies! Be assured, if you care for the needs of others, you will reap benefits beyond measure.
Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. (Lk 6:38)
What will you do to care for others and in doing so express your love for God?
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Introduced by Michelle J. Goff, then written by her mother, Jocelynn Goff, both in Arkansas
My mother has always modeled hospitality. Growing up, almost every Sunday we had someone over for lunch—people of different languages, cultures, and backgrounds. In honor of this week’s emphasis on commitment to one another as shown through hospitality, I can think of no better candidate to share one of her many stories. In her own words…
One Sunday many years ago in “early marriage days,” my husband came up to me after church saying, “See that man over there? I invited him for lunch.” “You did what?!” I asked incredulously as I looked at the man who had just walked into the church building that morning. He looked like he had slept in his ill-fitting suit. He had huge dandruff flakes all over the shoulders of his suit and in his eyebrows, in other words, a less than appealing presence of a man. I said, “He’s a stranger and we’ve got a baby to think about.” My husband replied, “I thought of that. That’s why I invited the preacher and his wife for lunch as well.” Again, my reply was, “You did what?!” I only have a one-pound meatloaf in the oven. We don’t have enough.” My husband gently said, “We have plenty. This man has $2.32 to his name and needs a bus ticket and ride to the bus station to get to his family. He came to the church for help.” Oh my! I was immediately humbled and changed my response to a prayer. “Dear Lord, please forgive my harsh, immediate judgment and please provide enough for us to share as You did with the small boy’s lunch of five loaves and two fish.” This was my prayer all the way home from church as I was also thinking of what else to add to the one-pound meatloaf.
When we arrived home, I got the meatloaf out of the oven and noticed that it had actually shrunk, not grown. “Oh my! Dear Lord, we still need a miracle multiplication here like You did with the small boy’s lunch.” I added to the meatloaf meal three cans of green beans, two boxes of macaroni and cheese, and a can of fruit cocktail with a sliced banana. Then I sliced the meatloaf and served the meal.
Everyone was served some of everything: meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, green beans, and fruit salad. We had pleasant conversation over lunch. The preacher and his wife agreed to take the man to the bus station and the church would pay for his bus ticket so he could go home to family.
After lunch when everyone had left, I cleared off the table and noticed the meatloaf. Do you know what? I had meatloaf left over! Everyone had been served, yet there was meatloaf left over. I remember in Mark’s account of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, “They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish” (Mk 6:42-43 NIV).
So, the next day as I ate a sandwich made with leftover meatloaf, I was again reminded of my prayer for God to multiply the meatloaf as He did with the loaves and fish and He did, and He gave me leftovers as a reminder of His abundant provision.
My reflection afterward was also on the scripture, Hebrews 13:2, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” While I do not know if this man was an angel, I do know that every time I remember this event, it causes me to reflect on this verse and consider the real meaning of hospitality. We often think it’s opening our home to our family and friends. Actually, that is fellowship.
Fellowship is when connectedness or relationship is shared among those with a common aim or background. Hospitality is providing an act of service of welcoming, receiving, hosting, or entertaining guests or strangers. It’s an act of service, often to the least of these. In Matthew 25:40 Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” As I’m sure you, like I, want to serve Jesus Himself then we must learn to serve the “least of these.” This provides the greatest blessing to them, to us, and is Kingdom living.