The Word For Today

Les Goldberg's friends thought he was crazy when he cashed in his personal investments to buy a home to lease for the homeless. A retired engineer, Les felt it was the only decision he could make. He spends a minimum of one hour each day with his homeless friends and has helped renovate several properties on their behalf. In all his efforts, Goldberg never regarded the homeless as irresponsible or unreliable; he only saw them as people. Hurting people! He figured the house he purchased could be used as both a temporary shelter and a drop-in centre - a place where homeless people might pick up post, make phone calls, follow up job leads and receive donated commodities. Four homeless men live at the house, paying minimal rent to offset expenses. House rules are strict: no alcohol, no drugs, no loitering. Goldberg has never been rich. For twenty years he ran his own small business designing and installing fire sprinklers. He simply was a man who saw an unmet need and found a way to help meet it.

Mother Teresa said: 'We cannot all do great things, but we can all do small things with great love.' Jesus put it this way: 'If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded' (Matthew 10:42 NLT).

As you go through your day, keep your heart open and ask God to make you a solution to someone else's problem. When you do, 'You will surely be rewarded.'

Nothing is more gratifying than knowing one's purpose - even when opposition seems unbearable and other distractions threaten to overshadow it. Often when people say they don't have a passion for anything, they mean they don't have faith to believe they could actually do what they really desire in their hearts.

Jesus refused to let anyone pull him away from his purpose. 'Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you"' (Luke 12:13-14 NIV)? In essence, Jesus was saying, 'I'm not about to get distracted by conducting an arbitration hearing between you two. That's not part of my purpose for being here on earth.' Even up to the day that Jesus gave his life on the cross, there were many sick people needing healing and a myriad of other impossible situations that needed his attention. He knew that through the power of his death and resurrection, all could be addressed.

So, despite unresolved problems, Jesus confidently gave his heavenly Father this report on his ministry: 'I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do' (John 17:4 NLT). He refused to let his disciples, Satan, well-meaning family members, needy people or anyone else distract him from his purpose. And you must learn to do that too. This raises the question: can you state your God-given purpose in a single sentence? Are you pursuing it?

Jesus said, 'Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over' (Luke 6:38 NKJV). Notice, he didn't say, 'Only give to those who can give back to you.' John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim's Progress, said, 'You haven't lived today until you've done something for someone who can never repay you.'

In the days of Jesus, a Roman soldier could legally force a Jewish civilian to carry his heavy backpack for up to a mile. That was his right, and you refused to do so at your peril. So to walk the first mile was to do only what was required. Then Jesus came along and said, 'If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two' (Matthew 5:41 NIV). Why? Because 'extra-mile service' gives you an opportunity to impact the lives of others. A person with an extra-mile attitude is someone who cares more than others think is wise, risks more than others think is safe, dreams more than others think is practical, believes more than others think is possible, and gives more than others think is necessary.

Here's how Jesus bottom-lines it: 'If you love only the people who love you, you will get no reward. Even the tax collectors do that. And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than other people. Even those who don't know God are nice to their friends. So you must be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect' (Matthew 5:46-48 NCV). So always do more than is expected.

The Bible says that the wisdom that comes from this world is 'earthly, unspiritual, demonic', because it comes from 'envy and selfish ambition' and 'disorder and every evil practice' (James 3:15-16 NIV). The wisdom you need comes from a different source: 'The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favouritism and is always sincere' (James 3:17 NLT).

People today have access to more knowledge than at any time in history. Yet wisdom seems practically non-existent. Paul's words to the Corinthian church could well be addressed to us: 'Is there not a wise man among you' (see 1 Corinthians 6:5 NKJV)? There's a stark difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is the accumulation of facts and information. Anyone can accumulate facts. Our problem is our lack of wisdom; we aren't able to take the facts we've learned and put them into practice in real-life situations and at points of need.

If we're to put our faith into action, we'll need 'the wisdom from above'. As couples, we need it to build strong marriages (see 1 Peter 3:7). As parents, we need it for leading our children in the way they should go (see Proverbs 22:6). As Christian businesspeople, we need it to succeed in the marketplace (see Isaiah 48:17). If you're wise, you'll pray: 'Lord, I invite you to work with me, to work in me, to work through me, and to work for me.' That's a prayer he will answer.

In the following Scriptures, we see that God requires us to meet the needs of the less fortunate:

'If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites...give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to' (Deuteronomy 15:7, 10 NIV). 'Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble. The Lord protects and preserves them - they are...blessed in the land - he does not give them over to the desire of their foes. The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness' (Psalm 41:1-3 NIV). 'One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed' (Proverbs 11:24-25 NIV). 'All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need' (Acts 2:44-45 NIV). 'Since you excel in everything...see that you also excel in this grace of giving' (2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV). 'Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased' (Hebrews 13:16 NIV). 'If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?...Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth' (1 John 3:17-18 NIV).

So, give to meet the needs of others.

When you make a mistake or a bad decision, if you're wise, you'll learn from it by asking, 'Where have I gone wrong?' Here are three ways to avoid making a bad decision: (1) Don't get involved where you don't belong. 'Helping' without an invitation is called 'meddling'. No matter how well qualified you are, no matter how badly other people may be messing things up, stepping in where God hasn't called you to go never turns out well. Ask yourself, 'What am I trying to avoid in my own life that makes me want to take over someone else's?'

(2) Stop, think and pray before you decide. 'It's stupid and embarrassing to give an answer before you listen' (Proverbs 18:13 CEV). If you're an achievement junkie - someone who thinks that doing something, anything, feels better than waiting - you can make knee-jerk choices that make things worse rather than better. Include key people in your decision-making and listen to the counsel of the Holy Spirit before taking action (see John 16:13).

(3) Don't wait too long to decide. If you're a perfectionist, you're at risk here. You become so concerned about making the wrong choice that you make none at all. Making no choice is actually a choice. 'If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking' (James 1:5 NLT). Worst case? You'll make a mistake and grow wiser because of it. Best case? You'll show courage and concern for others and improve things.