Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Providing Our Share for the Gospel

1 Timothy 6:17-21
 

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share

As a high school senior, I attended The Urbana Student Missions Conference hosted by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and was part of almost 20,000 attendees eager to learn about mission work. I remember a preacher sharing with us that the greatest struggle at the time was not a lack of missionaries, but a lack of funds to support missionaries. He said we had more than enough missionaries, but not enough resources to send them out in the world. He went on to declare a need for believers who would be willing to invest in the extension of the Kingdom. We were encouraged to take advantage of educational opportunities as a path toward securing professions with financial security which in turn can be used to bless those in need.
When we think of rich people or wealth in the bible, the first story we think of is the Rich Young Ruler who asks Jesus what he needs to do to have eternal life (salvation). Jesus tells him to sell ALL his possessions and give to the poor, at which point the young man becomes sad and leaves. The man’s pride was his wealth which became his idol. His love for money and arrogance was greater than his love for the Lord.
Yet in his encounter with Jesus, the tax collector Zacchaeus willingly gives half his possessions to the poor at which point Jesus declares that salvation (eternal life) has come to the house of Zacchaeus. Both Zacchaeus and the Rich Young Ruler were wealthy men, but their wealth played distinct roles in their lives as did their encounter with the Son of Man. 
Despite Paul saying, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains,” he gives instructions for the rich. It is simple: use your wealth and riches to do good, be generous, and to share with others.
Are the homes we live in used for prayer meetings, church organizational meetings, and safe havens for troubled youth? Are our vehicles used to ensure seekers of the faith can attend church and bible studies? Is our wealth utilized to do good and shared to further His Kingdom? I pray our blessings be used to bless the name of the Lord.

 
Prayer

Dear Lord, we pray that You would help us to use the abundance that You have lovingly bestowed on us, wisely and to Your greater glory. AMEN

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

“A central goal of the Christian life and the role of the church is to meet the needs (chreia) of people.” - Jeremy Bouma

 

Dr. Ron Jacob
Long Island Mar Thoma Church

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