Tag Archives: Issue WOT30-5

Words of Truth

Parables:Three Parables about Money

The first of these parables was an answer to a request from someone in the crowd concerning the division of an inheritance. The first and last parables tell of the dire consequences of living a life of greed and covetousness; the second shows us what one should do with one’s money. All three parables are interspersed in Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount.

Just before speaking the first of these parables, Jesus warned the crowd, ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness; for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15). Is this not a good motto for today? There are many people whose only goal in life seems to be to obtain certain possessions and to have "a good time." The rich man in the parable had the same goal. He stored up his possessions so he could retire and enjoy "the good life." But his life was cut short and he left it all behind. He did not get to enjoy the possessions here and he couldn’t take them with him. The rich man in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) evidently got to enjoy his wealth here for a time, but he had an eternity of deprivation, and the memory of his good times on earth brought him no comfort.

Is it wrong to be rich? The rich man in Luke 12 couldn’t help being rich_his land was very productive (verse 16). God blessed him with good weather and good land. What he could help was how he used his wealth. In 1 Timothy 6 the apostle Paul addresses two groups of people_those who want to get rich (verses 9,10) and those who are rich (verses 17-19). Wanting to be rich is a snare and an unworthy goal; being rich can be a snare but can also be used for the glory of God and the good of other people.

What should the rich person do with his or her money? The Lord Jesus tells us to "lay up … treasures in heaven." How can one do that? The parable of the unjust steward (Luke 16:1-13) gives us some guidelines. Unlike the rich men in the other parables who lived as though their earthly lives would continue indefinitely, the steward knew the future was going to be different from the present and prepared accordingly. He made friends who would receive him into their homes by use of his master’s money. We are stewards and all of our money is actually our Master’s. If we use that money in such a way that other people receive the gospel and are helped to grow as Christians, they will be our friends in eternity even though we may never meet them on this earth. We are investing in the future, in heaven, for the spiritual welfare of other people is the only "commodity" we can invest in which will last for eternity. The steward is an example for us, not necessarily in his methods, but in his recognition of the importance of preparing for the future.

The Pharisees understood the main point of this parable, but scoffed because they loved money. They hoped to acquire, accumulate, and enjoy it here on earth. They were not interested in investing in a heavenly future. The Lord Jesus then told them the parable of the rich man and Lazarus to show them the terrible results of that attitude. It is not that being rich or poor determines our eternal destiny, but true faith will express itself in some other way than by living sumptuously while the poor and sick starve around us.

Perhaps some readers are saying in effect, "I am not rich, so scriptures addressed to the rich do not have much to say to me." However, the average member of the American middle class compared to the average person of New Testament times or the average person in the world today is rich. What are we doing with our riches?

True faith and true love are demonstrated in great measure by how we treat those less well-off than ourselves (Jas. 2:14-17; 1 John 3:14-18). Let us be diligent to convert the temporal riches into the true riches that will last for eternity.

FRAGMENT The difference between the Samaritan and the others (in the parable of Luke 10) was that he had compassion. That is quite different from feeling sorry for someone. Surely the priest and Levite felt something, just as we do. But who cares enough to stop and help? This is the love God would have us show to our neighbor. True compassion moves the person to action.

C. Knott

  Author: M. K. C.         Publication: Issue WOT30-5
Words of Truth

Is There Really a Hell?

I have always believed God’s Word in regard to the place called hell. But after working in a prison for the past five years I am persuaded even more that hell really exists and that many souls are imprisoned there at this very moment!

I have seen men of all walks of life and of every race confined in prison for the various crimes they have committed against mankind. I have talked to many prisoners who tell much the same story of how prison was a place talked about, but it wasn’t for them. They wouldn’t get caught, and if they did, a good lawyer would get them off. But alas, every one of them will tell you that the moment they walked through those cold prison gates and listened to the doors closing between them and freedom they became instant believers. All that they had heard about these places was now reality — there were no more doubts. To put it mildly, they became believers the hard way.

But one will say, "I still don’t believe that there is a place called hell." Well, if mankind can have their prisons for crimes committed in this life, how much more then is God Almighty justified in having His prison called hell for unrepentant sinners. Any prisoner will tell you that seeing is believing when one is already there, although obviously it is too late to do anything about it.

That is why it is written in God’s Word, "The devils believe and tremble" (Jas. 2:19). They were the first sinners who rebelled in unbelief against God. Jesus spoke of it as, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven" (Luke 10:18). The creatures (devils) who fell with Satan said to the Lord, "Art thou come hither to torment us before [our] time?" (Matt. 8:29). Yes, they believe and tremble knowing that there is a final place (prison) of judgment and torment awaiting them (Rev. 20:12-15).

One must also realize that the devils believe because the consequences of their unbelief became an instant reality. As the Bible says, "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Num. 32:23). When Cain slew Abel the words, "Thou shalt surely die," spoken earlier to Adam and Eve became a shocking reality. So it is with those who do not believe in hell_a shocking reality awaits them also, but then it will be too late!

I remember a prisoner telling me of how he came to Christ after hearing the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16. Being in prison was very real to him but when he read of the rich man being in God’s prison called hell he then realized that the rich man was still there and in torment for over two thousand years now. He said that his three years already served was bad enough_but forever in prison was unbearable to think about! That thought caused him to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour right then, lest he should also end up in that place.

In our time we hear of many persons who are taking their own lives thinking that it will end all of their misery and sorrow. Trusting in Christ as Saviour would have lifted their burdens and given them eternal life as we read in John 6:37 and Matt. 11:28-30. But alas, most often they hear of the gospel but will have none of Him (Luke 13:34).

A very close relative told me of his drug problem while he was in the Army. He said that at times he was tempted to overdose in order to end the confusion and frustrations that were pressing him sorely, but he said the Word of God taught to him as a child, concerning hell, caused him to have a change of mind. He also added that while he was in this state of confusion he had doubts as to whether he was really saved or not. Thus, the Holy Spirit through the Word warns us of this place called hell before it is too late. How good is His love and grace toward us for we read that He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9).

Just think, there will be no birds singing in hell, no children’s laughter, no flowers blossoming, no sunshine, no trees bearing fruit, no tender love, just never-ending sorrow. In light of these awful circumstances, who will be so foolish as to say that it isn’t so! How solemn are the lines of the well-known gospel song:

Eternity, where? eternity, where?
The question so solemn_eternity, where?

Listen to God’s appeal of grace and love, dear reader, before it is too late. He has promised that "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom. 10:13).

FRAGMENT Is God unjust in sending sinners to hell for eternity? Consider this:People who go to hell will receive exactly what they desired in this life. For those who shrink from having God’s penetrating light shine into their souls (John 3:19,20), hell will be "outer darkness" (Matt. 8:12). For those who refuse to drink of the living water by which they would never thirst again John 4:10-14), hell will be intense, unquenchable thirst (Luke 16:24). For those who reject God’s offer of eternal life with Christ in heaven, hell will be eternal separation from Christ and consequent anguish at the realization of what they are missing (Luke 13:28).

P. L. C.

  Author: Robert L. Koning         Publication: Issue WOT30-5
Words of Truth

Ten Commandments:The Eighth Commandment

"Thou shalt not steal" (Exod. 20:15). This eighth commandment is very straightforward and needs little explanation. Nevertheless the Scriptures say quite a bit about this sin and it may surprise us to find out how many different varieties of stealing are referred to in the Bible. There may even be a variety that applies to you, and you never realized it before!

Several types of stealing are mentioned in Leviticus 6 in conjunction with the trespass offering:"If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the Lord, and lie unto his neighbor in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbor, or have found that which was lost and lieth concerning it and sweareth falsely …." (verses 2,3). First, we read of one entrusted to keep the belongings of his neighbor but keeps it for himself, perhaps pretending that someone else stole it. This matter is expanded upon elsewhere:"If a man shall deliver unto his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief be found, let him pay double. If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbor’s goods." Just because something is currently in our possession does not mean we have title to it. We must be especially careful against the temptation to think something like, "I have done so much to help this person and he has given me so little in return, I deserve to take a portion of his goods for myself."

Second, we read of more or less the classic example of stealing, that is, using forceful or violent means to take something belonging to another away from him. Third, we read of one using deceit, as opposed to violence, to steal from his neighbor. This covers a multitude of sins, such as selling inferior goods or services at a high price by representing them as worth more than they really are. How about those times when you have sold or traded in your old car? Have you always given all of the information the prospective buyer would need to make an informed assessment as to the worth of the car? Have you always given exactly the information you would want a car salesman to tell you if you were the prospective buyer? The so-called "Golden Rule" (not a scriptural term) applies here:"All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them" (Matt. 7:12).

Fourth and finally, we read in Leviticus 6 of one who displays the mentality of ‘Finders keepers, losers weepers." This is what we often hear children saying when one finds some money or candy or a toy that his playmate has lost and is looking for. That is very childish behavior to be sure. But there is an adult version of this behavior that is a bit more subtle but no less sinful. The Lord, in Leviticus 6, speaks of one who has found that which was lost, and, when asked whether he has found it, lies and swears that he knows nothing about it.

Another type of stealing is described in Lev. 19:13:"Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him; the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning." Here, Scripture says that it is robbery to withhold a worker’s wages beyond the mutually agreed upon pay schedule. In a similar vein James graphically admonishes employers who have robbed and defrauded their employees by not paying what is due to them:"Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth:and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth" (Jas. 5:1-4).

It is not only the employers who have a propensity to steal. There is a word for employees as well:"Servants [or, nowadays, employees] obey in all things your masters [or employers] according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ" (Col. 3:22-24). Those employees who only work diligently when the boss is around, but waste their time when the boss is not around, are the ones spoken of in this scripture as obeying "with eyeservice, as menpleasers." Such are actually guilty of stealing time from their employers. Well-intentioned, evangelistic Christians need to be careful in this regard that they do not spend more company time than is permissible and appropriate to witness to other employees. If we are employed, our first responsibility to our employers, to our fellow-workers, and to God Himself is to fulfill the provisions of our work agreement. Let us not put Christ and Christianity in a bad light, and possibly get ourselves fired at the same time, by witnessing for Christ when we ought to be working. Unless it can be done without distracting yourself and your co-worker from your work, such should be reserved for the coffee and lunch breaks and for evening and weekend get-togethers.

Yet another type of stealing is mentioned by the prophet Malachi:"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Mal. 3:8-10). As Christians, who are under grace and not under law, we are not under any commandment, as was Israel, to give to God a tenth of all of our material and financial gain. The attitude of one under grace would be, "The Lord has been so loving and good to me, and Christ has given His all to save me, how can I withhold from God any amount that He wants me to give back to Him? We Christians rob God by being selfish and stingy when it comes to returning to Him what He has so graciously given to us.

A New Testament counterpart to the eighth commandment is found in Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians:"Let him that stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth" (428). There is no great commendation for Christians who succeed in avoiding stealing. A truer test of how well we are following Christ and being controlled by the Holy Spirit relates to how well we are able, by working hard to earn an adequate income and by being careful in spending our income, to help others who are less well off than we are. The apostle Paul also said to the Ephesians on another occasion, "I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).

Under the law, the punishment for stealing was restitution of the amount stolen plus an additional amount. "If a man shall steal an ox or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep…. If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive … he shall restore double. If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man’s field, of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard shall he make restitution" (Exod. 22:1-6). King David was familiar with this principle of restitution when he pronounced judgment upon the rich man who killed a poor man’s lamb to feed a visitor:"He shall restore the lamb fourfold because he did this thing and because he had no pity" (2 Sam. 12:1-6). Zacchaeus, in the New Testament, was also familiar with this principle:"If I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold" (Luke 19:8).

While the law required restitution as a punishment for stealing, there was no specific provision under law for helping the one who suffered loss if the thief was not apprehended. However, under grace, we have quite a different picture. In the parable of the Good Samaritan we read of one, not the thief himself, and even hated by the one who had fallen among thieves, who restored that which he took not away (Luke 10:33-35). In how much greater measure did our Lord restore that which He took not away (Psa. 69:4) when He, the holy, sinless One, offered Himself a sacrifice for the sins of others!

Finally, let us pose the provocative question:Are there ever any circumstances where stealing is justifiable in God’s eyes? I have asked this question on several occasions at Bible classes with inmates of the local jail. Each time there have been at least one or two men, if not more, who believe that stealing is justifiable under extreme circumstances, such as being without food. However, there is no indication in Scripture that God ever condones stealing. Under the law, if one was so poor that he could no longer provide for himself and his family, provision was made for him to become an indentured servant:"If thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor and be sold unto thee, thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant, but as a hired servant and… he shall be with thee and shall serve thee unto the year of jubilee" (Lev. 25:39,40). Today, the Christian has those wonderful promises, "My grace is sufficient for thee" (2 Cor. 12:9) and "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19). Let us learn to count upon Him to provide for us according to what He knows is best for us. We must not take matters out of His hand, and thus bring disgrace upon both God and ourselves, by stealing. On the other hand, we have every encouragement in Scripture to use every avenue possible to try to find paid employment through which our need might be met. As a final point, if we were to find ourselves facing a choice between death by starvation and life by stealing, far greater blessing for eternity will accrue to us by choosing the former than the latter.

FRAGMENT

There are very few people who truly believe,
It is much "more blessed to give than receive";
But since I’ve endeavored to follow the plan,
I surely am feeling a happier man.

FRAGMENT To what purpose is this waste? (Matt. 26:8). “If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned" (Cant. 8:7).

O Love is weak which counts the answers and the gains,
Weighs all the losses and the pains,
And eagerly each fond word drains
A joy to seek.
When Love is strong it never tarries to take heed
Or knows if its returns exceed
Its gifts; in its sweet haste no greed,
No strifes belong.

FRAGMENT "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not… tomorrow I will give" (Prov. 3:27,28).

Is there something you would like to do today? Now then, do it. Is there some debt you ought to pay? Now then, do it. Is there a quarrel you ought to make up? Now then, do it. Is there a letter you ought to write? Now then, do it. Is there a sinner you ought to warn? Now then, do it.

FRAGMENT "All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any" (1 Cor. 6:12). Many of us get the very best our bank accounts can afford, in food and furnishings. If we follow the apostle we will study how to spend little, and live simply. Even our eating will not be for gratification but to God’s glory.

  Author: Paul L. Canner         Publication: Issue WOT30-5
Words of Truth

Reaching or Preaching? (Part 3)

Who, me? Surely, I can’t really make a difference in another person’s life! How can I touch someone with the love that is in Christ Jesus?

If you feel that way, maybe you are making things more complicated than you need to. We often have a tendency to make serving the Lord seem more complex than it really is. In the last two issues, we have spent a lot of time on the subject of reaching out to others, but maybe some of you still have the idea that an effective outreach involves full-time missionaries and people well schooled in scriptural truth. If so, look at the following passage from Matthew 25. Jesus, in His own words, gives us some practical examples of just how simple it is to help people_and He tells us that when we touch others we touch Him as well.

"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:for I was a hungred, and ye gave Me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took Me in; naked, and ye clothed Me; I was sick, and ye visited Me; I was in prison, and ye came unto Me. Then shall the righteous answer Him saying, Lord, when saw we Thee a hungred, and fed Thee? or thirsty, and gave Thee drink? When saw we Thee a stranger and took Thee in? or naked, and clothed Thee? Or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee? 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" (verses 34-40).

Now there’s a meaty portion of scripture! Notice that there is nothing mentioned about gift or calling. Doing good is expected of every child of God! Not only is it expected of you, but Jesus takes each and every good deed, no matter how small, personally. Think about it. How long has it been since you have been to the prison to visit Jesus, invited Him over for a meal, or given Him shelter for the night? This isn’t having Sunday afternoon dinner with your friends, you know. This is reaching out to the poor and needy to help them through physical, emotional, and spiritual difficulties. Serving up the kind of things Jesus mentions there in Matthew will not be easy_especially if you have been in the habit of looking the other way when you pass someone in the ditch. The most important thing is to reach out and touch people, now, I believe that Matthew 25 was meant to be taken literally, as well as figuratively. Therefore, let us use those verses as an outline for outreach, and take a brief look at the needs that Jesus mentions.

"I Was A Hungred and Ye Gave Me Meat"

We all know about spiritual food and how important it is. Every child of God needs it. However, there is also an untold amount of emotional hunger in the world. People are longing for love, longing to belong, longing to feel a sense of self-worth, longing to be useful human beings. Perhaps you feel that you need training in psychology to help people with emotional problems. For the most severe problems you may be right, but there are a lot of people who need nothing more than someone who sincerely cares. For these people your time and your love will do more than a whole platoon of psychologists.

Let us not forget about the physical side, either. There are plenty of people in our cities going to bed hungry almost every night, and they are not all drunken bums (on the other hand, who said that Jesus doesn’t love drunken bums?):old people on limited income or who are unable to cook properly for themselves; children whose parents drink up the welfare checks and the food stamps; street people who are too deficient mentally or unstable emotionally to hold a job. Isn’t at least one of them worth reaching out to help?

"I Was thirsty, and Ye Gave Me drink"

Some of us old folks over 40 know what it was like to be a hot, thirsty traveler. We can recall the days before cars had air conditioning and before every street corner had a fast food restaurant. I will never forget the summertime trips our family used to take from Kansas Qty to Minnesota. There were six of us packed into our 1939 Chevrolet. I sat in the back with two of my younger brothers, while my youngest brother sat up front with my mother and father. It was crowded and it was hot! Driving through Iowa was always the worst. Mile after mile the flat farmland rolled past the window like an endless scroll of scorched parchment. As the miles crawled by, the hot Iowa air blew in through the open windows. Shimmering heat rose from the narrow ribbon of pavement creating mirages that looked like pools of water on the highway. In the crowded back seat, we would begin squirming, fidgeting, arguing, and poking each other with our elbows. Finally, one of us (or all four of us) would start to whine, "Daddy, I’m thirsty!" After what seemed like forever, we would finally pull in at a small town gas station with rest rooms and a soft drink machine. Boy, did those frosty bottles of Coke ever taste good!

Wall Drug of South Dakota made its name by giving away free ice water, but they wouldn’t get much business anymore if that were all they had to offer. Today, air conditioned cars and McDonald’s have cut down on thirsty travelers in this country. However, there are still a lot of people who are emotionally and spiritually thirsty. In Matt. 10:42 Jesus praises a cup of cold water given in love. These "cups of cold water" are not some major philanthropic production; they are simple acts done in love. While they may be simple, their effect is often far reaching. Let us look at some examples of "cups of cold water" that you can offer to someone in the thirsty crowd that surrounds you.

Write a letter or note of encouragement to someone. Maybe the person doesn’t even have a problem that you know of, but write anyway. How about a brother who held a meeting and brought a message you found especially helpful or timely? Maybe someone has done something nice for you lately or given you joy; tell them. If you have been helped, tell them. If you are willing to help, tell them. If you are sorry, tell them. If you are grateful, tell them. Be kind, supportive, and sensitive. And remember, when you write that letter, to reach_and not just preach.

Writing a letter is great, but personal contact is even better. Do you know a single parent or a young couple that doesn’t get out too often? Offer to baby sit (and mean it). Or, have you ever considered visiting an institutionalized child on a regular basis? There are plenty of handicapped and orphan children living lonely lives.

Maybe you know someone who lives alone. Do you invite that person over for a meal on a regular basis? If there is an older person or couple in your neighborhood, do they need their snow shoveled or lawn mowed? Have you considered becoming friends with a lonely person in a nursing home? The list goes on, and there are plenty of other small ways in which you can reach out. Although they may seem small to you, I can assure you that they are not small in the impact that they will make on the recipients (or on you).

"I Was A Stranger, and Ye Took Me In"

Without shelter, none of us would survive the driving rain, the cold winds of winter, and the burning sun of summer. Earlier we talked about the people living in the streets. Huddled over ventilator grates they strain to catch a little of the warmth wafting up from under ground. Some live in caves, under bridges, or in cardboard boxes. Some live there by choice, and some live there because they have no other choice.

Taking in strangers, though, goes beyond just providing people with a place to sleep. We all need the emotional shelter that being loved and wanted brings. Who can count the number of people who are friendless, unloved, and unwanted? To be a friend takes no money, no education, no special qualifications except love and caring. Is there a person on this earth who is unworthy of your friendship?

A roof over our heads and a friend we can depend on are nice, but spiritual shelter is also vitally important. Are you inviting strangers into your assembly? I mean, not just asking them to come, or letting them come if they want, but making them feel comfortable and welcome at the meetings?

"Naked, and Ye Clothed Me"

Even if we have shelter, we cannot always stay in the house. Sooner or later we have to put on our clothes and go outside_if we have clothes, that is. In order to interact normally with those around us, we all need to be clothed with a certain amount of self-worth and self-respect. One of the biggest mistakes that Christians often make is to confuse a positive self-image with pride. Pride says, "I’m pretty good," and takes all the credit. A positive self-image says, "I’m a worthwhile person," and gives God all the credit. Every person is precious in God’s eyes, and every person has a role to play in God’s scheme of things. Of course, to fulfill God’s will and be the person that God intended, we must be converted. But isn’t that our goal for everyone?

Spiritually, we need to be clothed with the robe of righteousness provided by the Lord Jesus Christ as a result of His death at Calvary. Clothed in His righteousness, we need not hide in shame as Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden. We can confidently stand before a righteous God, secure in the knowledge that our blood-bought robe meets His dress code. Unfortunately, not all Christians have the assurance that they are forever without sin or blame in God’s eyes. They need to be shown the practical implications of being sheltered by the blood of Christ. Not told, but shown.

Let us not leave the subject of clothing without discussing the physical need. Most of us have clothing to excess and we tend to forget that there are people in our country and throughout the world who are critically short of clothing. Some are literally naked, and many lack adequate clothing for protection and warmth. Giving clothing to the poor is something that has sort of gone out of style with the coming of the welfare system, but maybe there are still some people out there who would welcome some good used clothing. Have you looked?

"I Was Sick, and Ye Visited Me"

No miracle cures or great words of wisdom are mentioned; just a visit. We all know that sickness pervades all three realms of our being_physical, emotional, and spiritual. To physical sickness, none of us is a stranger. As for emotional sickness, if anyone says they have never experienced an emotional "downer," then they likely have a very short memory. Spiritual sickness is, of course, familiar to all of us because we each once suffered from the deadly disease called sin. Okay, so sickness is common, but what do we do about it?

The verses in Matthew make the way to help the sick seem very clear_visit them. How long has it been since you visited a sick person_someone who was physically, emotionally, or spiritually ill? Have you prayed for them? Fine, but have you visited them as well? How else will they be comforted, cheered, and encouraged?

"I Was in Prison, and Ye Came unto Me"

Ah, prisoners_the scum of the earth! Now there is a group to stay away from! Surely, Jesus didn’t mean we should visit real convicts_people who have committed crimes? Certainly He must have been referring to innocent people who have been put into prison_like the apostle Paul.

But there it is in black and white with no qualification, and it is in Jesus’ own words:"I was in prison, and ye came unto Me." You cannot escape the literal meaning. Yes, I know there is a figurative application as well. There is certainly a spiritual prison of unconfessed sin, and yes, there is an emotional prison of depression and mental illness. But there really are Christians in real jail cells who have committed real crimes. I know that doesn’t surprise you, but some of us act as if it does. We who broke God’s law to smithereens stay as far as we can from people who broke man’s laws (and were caught). Have you ever gone to a prison? Have you ever even written a letter to someone in prison? When are you going to start?

Be Prepared

Warning:Reaching out can be hazardous! You must be aware of this fact, and willing to accept the risk.

You may lose your possessions, your job, and the people you thought were your friends. You will be yelled at and laughed at, and you may be beaten or killed. You and your help will sometimes be rejected, and help that is accepted will often be taken without gratitude. You will be taken for granted and taken advantage of. You will be frustrated and depressed by situations you are powerless to change.

I guarantee that some or all of these things will happen to you. Can you take it? As an ordinary person, perhaps not; but as a child of God you will have His strength to see you through. Just remember that whatever problems you encounter, you will be in the best of company. Sit down and read through any or all of the Gospels, looking especially at how our Lord was treated. Do you expect_or want_better treatment for yourself?

Be prepared to give your money, to give your possessions, to give your time, to give yourself. We have all settled down in this world as if it were our eternal home. You have probably bought a nice house, furniture, clothes, a car (or cars), and maybe a vacation cottage and a boat. You have your career, your friends, your entertainment, and your hobbies. Now that you have succumbed to the seduction of "the good life," it will not be easy to follow Christ’s command:"Take up [your] cross and follow Me" (Matt. 16:24). I am not suggesting that you quit your job and sell everything you own, but you should ask yourself why you have so much when Jesus had so little. Could it be that you have laid His cross down in the vacant lot behind your house? Is it lying out there lost in the weeds? If it is, and if you choose to take it up again, be prepared to lose all on account of Christ.

Be prepared for disappointment. Your motives will be suspected, and you may be deeply hurt when your attempts to help are spurned. Your best efforts will often appear to be in vain. The more you do, the more you will find that needs to be done. Lost souls whom you try to bring to Christ will continue their resolute march down the road toward hell. Fellow Christians will continue to be seduced by the vanities of the world. Physical, emotional, and spiritual problems will rage almost unabated. Remember, though, the tears you shed will be the same tears that Jesus shed when He was here on earth.

Be prepared by having your own life under control. First, get your mind off yourself and onto Christ. If you are building a monument to MYSELF/MINE/ME/I, you are going to have trouble focusing on the needs of others. Second, make Jesus your friend and constant companion. A solid, personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is the best insurance you can get against the hazards of reaching out to others. Maintain and build this relationship by daily reading of God’s Word and daily talks with your Lord. Third, be ready to say along with the apostle Paul, "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:for whom I have suffered the loss of all things" (Phil. 3:8).

To conclude this series on "Reaching or Preaching?" let us summarize some of the ways to be prepared for reaching out:

1. Be prepared to spend your most precious possession_ time_on someone who may not appreciate what you are doing.

2. Be prepared to suffer the loss of everything.

3. Be prepared to change your cherished plans when an opportunity to help someone comes along.

4. Be prepared to seek such opportunities, not just wait for them to hit you in the face.
5. Be prepared to stay involved once you have gotten involved. If you don’t stay with a person once you have become involved, you may do more harm than good.

6. Be prepared to look and listen for ways to reach out that others have missed.

7. Be prepared to give people Christian love, not pity.

8. Be prepared by spending part of every day reading God’s Word, and talking with your Lord and Saviour.

Now go. Do what you can to meet people’s needs. Christ died that you might live. Living to help the people He loved enough to die for is the least you can do for Him.

  Author: Robert D. Keillor         Publication: Issue WOT30-5