September 3, 2024 – The Needy Or Greedy

The Needy Or Greedy
September 3, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 21:25-27
 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    I know you may find this hard to believe, but there are people in this world who use the church for their own personal gain. This practice has become so widespread that many churches today have had to implement policies to regulate how and whom they can assist when people seek help.

    I pastor a smaller church in a small community, and we sometimes receive anywhere from one to four calls per month for assistance. During the cold winter months, the number increases. There are organizations in our community that now keep and share lists of individuals who make a habit of calling churches almost every month seeking help.

    Please do not misunderstand, some of the callers have genuine needs, and we have provided assistance to many of them. However, some individuals call asking for money for a specific item, but when we offer to purchase that item for them, they decline. What they truly wanted was the money, not the item or assistance. Often, when they are invited to attend a church service as a condition for receiving help, they refuse because they want nothing to do with God. Others have been offered work in exchange for payment but have declined to do any work for assistance, preferring to call another church until they receive a free handout.

    Anyone can fall on hard times, and God expects the church to be His hands and heart toward those who are suffering. However, He also expects those who can help themselves to be willing to make an effort. The desire to be lazy or slothful ultimately leads to their own destruction. When the church refuses to support their idleness, they often blame God, but it is not God who has failed them; they have failed themselves.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    We should always strive to assist the homeless and those who are victims of societal challenges. As my parents used to tell me, “but for the grace of God, that could very well be us.” Additionally, we should pray for those who are idle and unwilling to help themselves, that they may discover genuine hope and open their hearts to God.

Are we giving people a hand-out, or a hand-up?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: September 3, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Ezekiel 29 – Ezekiel 32
  Proverbs 21:25 – 27

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 138-143
  1 Co. 9