“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19)
“I wish I could do something for you,” is not the same as asking, “What can I do for you,” listening to the response given, evaluating the current circumstances of the person you are speaking with, and then acting upon their needs.
Many, if not most of those followed our Lord while He walked on this earth during His three and a half years of ministry wanted something from Him, but there were some who acted upon His needs.
“This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.” (John 12:6)
That money came from somewhere, the food He and the disciples required was offered freely to them, His clothes and theirs needed mending and replaced at times. He had no place to lay His head, yet some nights may have slept quite comfortably in the house of one who served Him, who had heard Him speak, who learned to love Him.
These are what we call the “unsung heroes,” those who are mentioned rarely, but who are in one sense the backbone, the pillars of the body of Christ. These feel a need to serve for the glory of God, and although they may not speak as many words of encouragement to their brothers and sisters in the Lord, they may not call the wicked to the knowledge of eternal damnation that awaits them if they do not repent, they serve, and they serve with a giving heart that many do not possess.
“For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” (Mark 9:41)
What thirsty man desires gold? What hungry person cares for a hug?
By His own choice, because of His complete obedience to the Father and His love for us, the Lord Jesus Christ accepted a body of flesh that knew all the needs that you do.
“Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:” (Heb. 10:5)
The strong Carpenter did not have a savings account, no stocks or bonds, no health insurance, His steady paycheck depended on the compassion of others, in trusting that His Father would provide His daily needs, and He did, through those who understood the truth of Matthew 22:39, “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Some who gave to His ministry had been giving to others long before the Lord showed up on the planet, some learned to after they heard Him speak. All did so with the knowledge of the truth imbedded in their hearts, that God would provide all their needs, and that they, if they were blessed with excess, were to do the same to those in need.
Do you? If you, for whatever reason, still have difficulty speaking to those you meet about the Savior, yet have been blessed beyond your needs, do you search diligently and with the wisdom given to you to provide for the work of the Lord, using Spiritual discernment to assist those in need? When they ask for money at the checkout counter, have you done the diligent research to see where what you have been blessed with goes to? Do you give with a cheerful heart, or out of guilt?
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2nd Cor. 9:7)
For some, when their needs are met, the next thing on their mind is their wants, and sadly, many of those wants are solely for selfish reasons, for vainglory, to make them feel better or to make life more enjoyable.
“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:” (Matt. 6:20)
My responsibility in this short letter to you is not to tell you what to do with your money or excess goods, with your talents or gifts, it is simply this, that you and I are to love our neighbor, and if you love them, you will ask them what needs they have.
