Aren’t there so many times when we hold back, when we procrastinate, when we either become trapped in our complacency or our indecision when we could be helping?
Proverbs 3:27-28 NLT
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”
How much of our being paralyzed instead of being in action for the Lord is our own lack of faith in God to see us through?
How much of it is our not being wise and discerning enough to make a decision about whether or not we believe they “deserve it”?
How much of it is our not having an informed plan thought out in advance for handling circumstances wisely and fairly and responsibly?
How much of it is our not being equipped and prepared well enough in advance to be able to be both flexible enough to help others and disciplined enough to remain responsible to our commitments?
Doesn’t all of this boil down to a lack of wisdom, understanding, clarity and preparation?
Aren’t all of the answers laid out within the divine instructions provided for us in the Word of God?
Isn’t our teacher, the Holy Spirit of Christ who live in us capable of guiding us and teaching us?
I’ve begun to realize that when I encounter a situation that I’m struggling over, instead of focusing on praying for a fish to fulfill that one immediate need, I really need to understand the why behind the struggle. This is because if I just use the coin in the fish’s mouth to pay for what is required for this moment, I may miss the lesson – and the lesson is the true blessing. The lesson is the refined gold and silver that can be stored up forever.
How often do we look at a need to help another and see it only as a cost to us?
How often do we look at helping another and only see it as our Christian obligation and we are comfortable providing help because we can afford to?
How often are we thankful for the opportunity to help others, but we don’t use it as an opportunity to bring glory and honor to God – instead taking credit for the works as our own instead of as “sharing the blessings of Christ Jesus from our lives”?
How often even then do we forget that there is a lesson in every opportunity, a blessing of wisdom and understanding that can be gained from every circumstance, because God doesn’t just want to give us a fish – He wants to teach us to fish. And His kind of fishing doesn’t just capture fish or treasure, but it captures hearts, and captivates minds, and it changes lives.
Are we only seeing the struggle?
Are we blind to the opportunities?
Are we sure footed and standing on solid ground?
Are we equipped and prepared?
Are we helping?
Are we missing the lesson?
Are we even fishing? And if so, is it for more fish, more coins, more opportunities to help, or for more disciples to be won for Christ?
Are we sure that if we don’t do it today that those people around us will get a chance tomorrow? Do we really even care about them?
1 John 4:20-21 ESV
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
And if we say we love them, won’t we help them? And what is the greater help, to give them a fish, or a coin, or to teach them to fish, or to make wise disciples of them in the Word of God?
For food and riches will rot away, but there is treasure in heaven that is eternal and everlasting, and it starts with surrenderingourlivesto Christ, seeking first the Kingdom of God, loving God with our everything, and serving and loving others by sharing this Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Good come in the flesh, to redeem and restore us to a renewed life in Christ.
Get busy, get to work. Our days are numbered, friends.
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Harold J. Ballinger 