Gold Nugget
Verse 27-28: “27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you.”
Commentary
I've
always liked this scripture. I appreciate it's straight to the point message.
Don't be so quick to measure whether or not someone is worthy of your charity.
I would hate to think the Lord only gives gifts that we deserve. I am
convinced that He often gives us good gifts purely because of His love for His
children and how He often dotes on us. There is a balance with this concept and
another one of my favorite verses which happens to be in this very chapter,
"3 Let
not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the
tablet of your heart, 4 And so find favor and high esteem In the
sight of God and man." This "favor" is hinged on our obedience and is
by far the majority of what will bring favor from God (and man), but often
times He just blesses us for no apparent reason. Often times when
we haven't deserved it. Isn't He so loving? If this is the case,
why do we measure someones worth in order to give charity to them? What if we
measured whether or not we would help someone not by whether
they deserved it or not, but by whether we have it or not. "27 Do not withhold
good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do
so." If God has blessed us to the point where we have the ability to
bless others; by all means we should. "28 Do not say to
your neighbor, "Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it," When
you have it with you." Let us reason with the mind of the Lord. We
should exercise wisdom, but that doesn't mean without compassion.
Believe that your charity may win someone over. When that person with the torn
and dirty clothes is holding the sign at the intersection, be sensitive to
the Lord. He may move you to give. If you feel compassion and give, let whether
or not they use it for food or something negative stay between them and God.
Offer your charity to the Lord and whether or not they deserve it
will not be of importance.
Prayer
Lord, I want to be a
blessing to others. If I am able to bless others with finances, gifts or
any possible way - I want to do it. Help me to remember how often you blessed
me without my deserving it. Amen
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