every good work

I was somehow reminded of this joke on the train back from work, don’t ask how or why:

Mother: Son, why is your little brother crying? You got to learn to play with him, to give and take.

Son: Yes mother, I did as you advised; I took his apple and gave him a punch.

This world today is all about getting, about accumulating, wealth management, hoarding, national reserves. We are all too familiar with moth and rust, and devaluation. But man, being man, is a selfish being. We see ourselves at the center of this universe. We think of the gains of owning the whole world, neglecting our souls.

Christianity teaches us to give. Give of your best to your master, give of the strength of your youth – the hymn rings. But many have forgot about the receiving part. Oh! You should look at the giver, not the gift. Don’t be materialistic.

But if you only gave, and never receive, you will dry out in no time. The only way to keep on giving is to keep on receiving. That’s why there are investments, hoarding and reserves. I do it because one day God will say to me: do this good work. Will I say ‘ok’, and write a cheque, or ‘erm, God, you meant to say 3 zeros less?’

2 Cor 9:8

8 And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].

AMP

I refuse to stay poor my whole life. I want to write that thousand dollar grant, or tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands. To the orphan child’s education, to the homeless shelter, to the missionary’s healthcare insurance.

And when I am equipped materially and spiritually, what a force that would be!

2 Tim 3:16-17

16 Every scripture [is] divinely inspired, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;

17 that the man of God may be complete, fully fitted to every good work.

Darby