Giving and helping

[Eric Johnson]

The Bible is very clear that in all undertakings we
must be Spirit lead. Anything that is not of faith and
obedience is sin or missing the mark. These are some
guides of how Jesus discerned when to give, with hold,
rebuke and depart, or the laws of sowing and reaping.
As with the 10 commandments the laws of sowing and
reaping were also provided to create relationship with
the creator. It is most important that in some body's
time of need that we not eclipse the real provider. We
must give or withhold in correct season. It is like
fertilizing a thorn patch to assist in destructive
lifestyle. To prolong/support a cycle of abuse,
denial, delusion, or general sowing in the flesh is
dangerous act.


1Cor 5:5
To deliver such an one unto Satan for the
destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved
in the day of the Lord Jesus
In Corinth people were in knowingly sowing in the
flesh, Paul said to not help them, eat with them, or
let their leaven infect your life. Hard knocks from
the master Satan that they have chosen is the way God
will bring them to salvation.


Many were helped by Christ and here is what he was
looking for.

Mt 5:6
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Joh 7:37
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus
stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him
come unto me, and drink.
Mt 7:7
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall
find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Matthew 5:3-12
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for
they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for
they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which
do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they
shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they
shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart:
for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers:
for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for
righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you,
and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely, F8 for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and
be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:
for so persecuted they the prophets which were before
you.
If they were not found with the above
characteristics they were rebuked or denied.

Mt 7:6
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither
cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample
them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Mt 10:14
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your
words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake
off the dust of your feet.

Mt 13:58
And he did not many mighty works there because of
their unbelief.
Mt 16:4
A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a
sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but
the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and
departed.
The law of sowing and reaping is active to make
clear the corruption of the heart, and is a tool to
draw all who have come short or are prideful.
Ga 6:8
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh
reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit
shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Pr 13:18
Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth
instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be
honoured.
Pr 28:19
He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of
bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall
have poverty enough.

Vain persons includes following idols by spending
on vanity and ignorant lifestyles.
Vanity can be on our part by thinking we are doing
good, but because our actions are not Spirit lead we
suffer great loss.

Mt 7
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have
we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have
cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful
works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never
knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Here is an example where Christ makes clear that
those who get themselves in trouble will get no easy
bail out.
mt 5. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles
thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the
adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge
deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into
prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no
means come out thence, till thou hast paid the
uttermost farthing.

With the afore mentioned in mind here is the basic
giving scripture.


Matt 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his
right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the
world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I
was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger,
and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was
sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came
unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him,
saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed
thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we
thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and
clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in
prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall
answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of
these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then
shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart
from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared
for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred,
and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me
no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in:
naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and
ye visited me not.

Notice that it says " I was", as in these are
situations that Christ might have been in or his
people. Imagine you entertained an Angel of the Lord
unaware. It would not do evil or violate you, or ask
you to do anything unholy. So would Christ be
hanging around poor after boozing and beating his
wife? We must be Spirit lead and not busybodies.
Remember we are to feed the poor not be the poor of spirit.

 

[drjean]

I agree that whatsoever is not of faith is sin... however the addition of obedience is not contained within those statements of faith.

While I understand that Paul, in writing to the Romans, does indeed begin and end with obedience, one surely can have faith enough for evidence without being fully obedient. God will give us what we ask for if we ask in faith, even if it is not what is in our own best interest...God's perfect will, so-to-speak.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

But returning to the idea of living by faith --ONLY-- to give and help is a wonderful thread topic. I also know that others can exhibit more faith when praying or asking for help in dealing with another person or persons, than they will for something for themselves. I think the self incriminating feelings of guilt and shame overshadow their ability to have faith that God will bless themselves. But they are much more able to overlook another's faults and see only their needs in the same areas...if one if of a mindset to give and help, that is. Of course, the believer has no need for the self recrimination, as God has removed our sin from us as far as the east is from the west, and we have no more sin...and thus no need for imposed guilt or shame. God loves us and will bless us regardless of how weak we are in the Christian walk. However, we need to strengthen our own faith to be able to give or help others.

Putting our faith out into the limelight by outward acts of kindness and words of encouragement is not an easy task for most. This action requires that the other person consider our faith and may cause them to proceed to keep us in mind and watch to be sure that what we are showing is truly what we believe. Perhaps this is why so many wish to give anonymously, rather than the formerly assumed element of humility? To give secretly means they don't have to own up to the weaker aspects of their own Christian walk.

How to solve this? Remember that our faith is not our own at all...but "the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ" as James shares. Surely Christ has all faith needed to give and help anyone in need!