Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “The fear of not having enough”
Our Bible verse for today: “And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.” Matthew 25:40 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Take your eyes off of yourself and focus on helping others.”
So far in our study of finding freedom from the fear of not having enough, we have learned that although we are limited in our capacity and abilities, God is unlimited. We have also learned that God wants to add His unlimited capacity to what we are capable of, and thereby produce results that would otherwise be impossible. Additionally, we must have faith in God’s willingness to do so. Finally, we now know that in addition to all God can and will do on His part, we have a role in this too. We have a responsibility to do what we can to solve our own problems. It’s not all on God.
This morning we come to another essential element from God’s perspective, and that is our willingness to use what He gives us to be a blessing to others.
In his book “The God Guarantee: Finding Freedom from the Fear of Not Having Enough”, author Jack Alexander points out an interesting progression and simplification that takes place as the Bible unfolds. The Old Testament originally put forward 613 laws that God’s people were supposed to follow. Moses simplified and codified them into The Ten Commandments. The Old Testament prophet Micah further reduces them to just three: do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). Then Jesus reduced them down to two: love God with all your heart, soul, and strength (Matthew 22:37), and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39).
Then in Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus taught a powerful about what that looks like in actual practice. There He taught us to put feet to our faith and go out and bless others in need. As examples He referred to things like feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, caring for the sick, visiting those in prison, and other acts of mercy and compassion. He said that when we do those things, as far as He is concerned we have done it as a direct blessing to Him personally.
That’s the focus God is looking for in us. The more we care about the needs of others and the more we are willing to use what He gives us as a source of blessing for others, the more inclined God is to bless us to begin with. Why do you want more money? Is it just so you can buy more stuff for yourself, or do you long to be able to do even more for others? Why do you want a promotion at work? Is it just so you can feel important, or will you use your new position of authority and leadership to improve the workplace and make it better for everyone? What would you do if God did give you relief from that crippling and debilitating arthritis? Would you go out dancing, or would you go on a mission trip?
God’s economy is an economy that is based in abundance and power and unlimited potential, because God Himself is unlimited in all those ways. But God does not want that capacity frittered away by us on silly things and for meaningless purposes.
There is no limit to what God can do in and through us and to what He might provide for us, when we shift our focus off of ourselves and focus instead on being a blessing to others in His name.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 