Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Wisdom from Proverbs”
Our Bible verse for today: “Doing what is righteous and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” Proverbs 21:3 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Giving is more important than having.”
I personally believe that the real measure of how advanced a society is, is found in how much they give, not in how much they have. Their true greatness is measured by how kind and compassionate they are, not by how wealthy they are.
The Roman Empire under the rule of the various Caesars was very wealthy. But it was also a cruel society that inflicted tremendous suffering on people, crucified them in the public squares, fed them to lions in the coliseum for sport, and would allow people to die in the streets from hunger and sickness while simply stepping over their dead bodies. Despite their great wealth you would not have wanted to live in that society.
The USA has also long been a prosperous nation but unlike Rome, we are also the most generous and compassionate nation on earth. No people give more to charity than we do. No nation on earth provides more humanitarian aid than the United States does. No country sends more military personnel around the world to help other nations fight off invaders, or to overthrow ruthless dictators, or to help others gain the freedoms we enjoy.
It has often been said that, “America is great because America is good. And should America ever cease being good, America will cease to be great.” Those words are often attributed to the French writer de Toqueville, and I believe he was right.
I’m convinced that America’s goodness grows out of our Biblical roots as a nation. God calls for His people to be good. That’s what Solomon meant in Proverbs 21:3. God expects us to be champions for righteousness and justice. We are to stand for what we know to be right, taking action when necessary, and we are to use some of our great affluence to bless and help others. This is solidly Biblical and it pertains not just to nations, but to individuals as well.
“He has told you men what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: Only to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with Your God.” Micah 6:8
“For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me … I assure you: Whatever you did for the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.” Matthew 25:35-36; 40
“Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” James 1:25
I could give you pages of additional examples from the Bible but even from these, God’s message is clear – He wants His people to be kind and compassionate, champions of righteousness and justice, and always looking for ways to bless others.
I encourage you to go out of your way to bless someone in need today.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 