Bringing Christianity to life

Hi Alex, generous is a truly wonderful thing to be as a gift to others , but you and I both know many who are not Christians, and yet they are very generous, yes, so "generosity", alone, will not help anyone know Jesus/become a believer/follower of His. They'll need to know what/who we are (and Who we belong to and serve), and they'll also need to know both sides of the Gospel message, the "Good News", as well as the "bad" news (so that they'll know & understand why it is "Good News"/what makes it, "Good" News, yes?)

If we truly want to help others find and know Jesus as their Lord and Savior .. Romans 10:13-15, then it seems to me that we not only need to act in a loving, Christlike manner at all times, we also need to join the group that is known by their, "beautiful feet" (see v15), because "faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" .. Romans 10:17. IOW, we need to both act ~and~ speak like the Christians that God made us to be .. 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10

So, I'll add one of my favorite, "Spurgeons", to compliment the wonderful, "Kelly", that you already posited for us above in your OP (and hope that it was ok with you for me to do so? ).

God bless you!

--David

But... Is this true?

I share a foyer and front door with the downstairs neighbors of my apartment building. Yesterday, I returned from work to find a trail of food through the foyer and down the front steps, which was really disgusting. I mean, I know people get tired and stuff, but literally food all over the floor and even on the outside steps? I can't even imagine doing that and just leaving it there for my neighbors to see...

But, for some reason I didn't get angry. I just went upstairs, grabbed a dust pan and went back and cleaned it all up for them without saying a word.

I missed a little of the food, and today it's still there... And no one has said a word about my cleaning up after them, which I thought was super generous of me. And when I talked about it to a co-worker, he said I should have just swept it all in front of their apartment door to make a point. But that seems kind of rude?

I don't know. Sometimes generosity just seems to be selfishly accepted without having any impact.

Messerve said:

But... Is this true?

I share a foyer and front door with the downstairs neighbors of my apartment building. Yesterday, I returned from work to find a trail of food through the foyer and down the front steps, which was really disgusting. I mean, I know people get tired and stuff, but literally food all over the floor and even on the outside steps? I can't even imagine doing that and just leaving it there for my neighbors to see...

But, for some reason I didn't get angry. I just went upstairs, grabbed a dust pan and went back and cleaned it all up for them without saying a word.

I missed a little of the food, and today it's still there... And no one has said a word about my cleaning up after them, which I thought was super generous of me. And when I talked about it to a co-worker, he said I should have just swept it all in front of their apartment door to make a point. But that seems kind of rude?

I don't know. Sometimes generosity just seems to be selfishly accepted without having any impact.

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Generosity is an act of love.
“Love is patient and kind, not jealous, not boastful,

Love always bears up, always trusts, always hopes, always endures.”
‭‭1 Corinthians (1 Co)‬ ‭13:4, 7‬ ‭CJB‬‬

Being in the flesh, we sometimes wish people would appreciate us for the good deeds and if they don't, we are frustrated. The fact that you cleaned up the mess without complaining is a Godly act. So continue to work on your expectations from heathen. They are seldom appreciative. Thank you for doing the right thing and not listening to your friend. We are to show kindness to those who persecute us (e.g by frustrating us).

The way I look at biblical Godly love is to give and not expect anything in return, including a thank you. God is thankful-that's most important

Galatians 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no Law.

I don't know that we can 'bring Christianity to life'.

But it sure brought an awful lot of life to me

Messerve said:

I share a foyer and front door with the downstairs neighbors of my apartment building. Yesterday, I returned from work to find a trail of food through the foyer and down the front steps, which was really disgusting. I mean, I know people get tired and stuff, but literally food all over the floor and even on the outside steps? I can't even imagine doing that and just leaving it there for my neighbors to see...

But, for some reason I didn't get angry. I just went upstairs, grabbed a dust pan and went back and cleaned it all up for them without saying a word.

Click to expand...

That was very generous of you. It's possible they didn't even notice the food, or forgot about it, or are too embarassed to bring it up and were planning to clean it later, no telling. Either way your heart was in the right place.

Loyce KG said:

Generosity is an act of love.
“Love is patient and kind, not jealous, not boastful,

Love always bears up, always trusts, always hopes, always endures.”
‭‭1 Corinthians (1 Co)‬ ‭13:4, 7‬ ‭CJB‬‬

Being in the flesh, we sometimes wish people would appreciate us for the good deeds and if they don't, we are frustrated. The fact that you cleaned up the mess without complaining is a Godly act. So continue to work on your expectations from heathen. They are seldom appreciative. Thank you for doing the right thing and not listening to your friend. We are to show kindness to those who persecute us (e.g by frustrating us).

The way I look at biblical Godly love is to give and not expect anything in return, including a thank you. God is thankful-that's most important

Click to expand...

I guess you're right. But when it comes to being a light for Jesus, sometimes I wish it would at least cause them to ask me why I was being nice, since most people would do what my c-worker suggested. I don't need praise, but it's hard sometimes not knowing if the good things you do for others has any affect at all.

Messerve said:

I guess you're right. But when it comes to being a light for Jesus, sometimes I wish it would at least cause them to ask me why I was being nice, since most people would do what my c-worker suggested. I don't need praise, but it's hard sometimes not knowing if the good things you do for others has any affect at all.

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It is tough not knowing at times, you are correct about that. However, after 42 years with Jesus and 25 years in fulltime ministry, one thing I have discovered is once we stop looking to see if it matters God has a way of revealing on a regular bases our effectiveness for Him.

Messerve said:

I guess you're right. But when it comes to being a light for Jesus, sometimes I wish it would at least cause them to ask me why I was being nice, since most people would do what my c-worker suggested. I don't need praise, but it's hard sometimes not knowing if the good things you do for others has any affect at all.

Click to expand...

Hi Messerve, the Lord (through the pen of St. Paul) has some encouraging words for those who choose to do what is right/walk in obedience before Him without necessarily knowing the outcome of their actions and/or words, at least not immediately anyway.

See Matthew 5:16 as well.

Not knowing and simply acting obediently for His glory also helps us grow in dependence and trust of Him, and in the promises that He made to us (promises like He made in v9 above, in fact, yes ).

God bless you!

--David

St_Worm2 said:

Hi Messerve, the Lord (through the pen of St. Paul) has some encouraging words for those who choose to do what is right/walk in obedience before Him without necessarily knowing the outcome of their actions and/or words, at least not immediately anyway.

Galatians 6
9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
10 So then, awhile we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
​

See Matthew 5:16 as well.

Not knowing and simply acting obediently for His glory also helps us grow in dependence and trust of Him, and in the promises that He made to us (promises like He made in v9 above, in fact, yes ).

God bless you!

--David

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Excellent point and thank you for sharing this verse! I suppose the reaping could even be something we don't know about until heaven.

I find that generosity that arises out of a desire to show love to God needs no, "Thank you, I appreciate it." It's enough that I have loved God in my act of giving. My heart is warmed by the knowledge that God is glorified and pleased by my willingness to give to others of those things He's given me.