Charity

Reading for Today: Proverb Chapter 3

Gold Nugget

Verse 27-28: “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 its 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), That being said, often times He just blesses us for no apparent reason. Often times He blesses us when we obviously don’t deserve it.  Isn't He just so loving? If this is the case, why do we measure someone’s worth in order to give charity to them? What if we measured whether we give by whether we have it to give and not by whether they deserved it? Today’s “gold nugget” says, "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.  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 who wears 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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The Necklace of Truth

Reading for Today: Proverb Chapter 3

Gold Nugget

Verse3-4: 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. 

Commentary

Considering Proverbs chapter 3 is one of my favorite all-time chapters, it was difficult to pick out today's gold nugget. I have determined to be content with just verses 3 & 4 for this month. Inside these two verses lies a very important biblical principle that has shaped a large portion of the way that I live my life. 

As a prerequisite to understanding the lesson in these verses, let us first review a commonly known truth concerning grace. It is known that grace is "unmerited" favor.  Although this is true of grace, it does not define grace. Actually, grace and mercy are both unmerited favor.  The more precise definition is that grace is an unmerited gift, while mercy is an unmerited pardon. Both are unmerited. You did not merit the gift of salvation and you did not merit the pardon of sin. 

Now that we understand unmerited favor, let's take a look at some merited favor. Yes, we can earn favor. These verses clearly illustrate the ability to earn favor with God and man. This kind of favor is conditional upon our obedience and adherence to His laws and His truths. If you read the chapter from verse 1 through verse 4, you will see that the requirement to earn (or merit) this type of favor requires our obedience to His laws. 

What laws, Steve? We are not under any laws! Really? Sure we are. Yes we are New Testament Christians, but receive this New Testament scripture from Hebrews 8:8-10

8 Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 

We have truths that God has written in our hearts from being in a relationship with him. Things He has taught us in our walk. There are laws that He has written in my heart. These laws that I have "bound about my neck and written on the tablet of my heart." and have witnessed the favor of God and man that I tie directly to adherence to these laws. I still benefit from living under grace and know that my weakness in these areas does not hinder my salvation, but it does hinder the favor needed and desired for my day to day living.

Prayer

Lord, help me to recognize the things you have taught me and implement them in my daily living. I want to bind the truths that you have revealed to me about my neck and write your laws in my heart. I do want the favor of you and people that often have power over me, whether in the workplace or any other area. I love you, Lord and want to follow your leading. Amen

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