Proverbs 3:27, “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.”
Nobody likes a stingy self-centered person. Can you remember the last time you needed to borrow something and the person you asked said, “No,” even though you knew they had it? Didn’t that upset you? Nothing frustrates me more than people who are selfish and stingy. I remember when I first got into rock climbing, I took a church group to a place where we paid expensive fees to have people teach us and let us use their equipment.
After that first time, I was hooked on climbing high and enjoying God’s creation. We would go back to the same spot with a few friends to hike and have fun. One time I saw a small group of people climbing and I asked them if we could climb with them. Sadly, they said, “No,” with an attitude. I even offered to pay them but they still selfishly said, “No.” Their main reason for turning us down was because they just wanted to privately enjoy their time on the rock. However, to us it was like they were saying, “We don’t have time to let you peasants climb, we’re too busy being rock stars!”
Over time my friends and I bought our own equipment, learned to do everything safely and we started climbing all the time. I would joyfully wait for hikers to pass by and ask us for a quick climb and I would passionately say, “Come on, you’re next!” God used our generosity to not only help hikers have a memorable day, but it was also an open door to preach the gospel to them. There’s no better time to remind people of their mortality than when they’re hanging by a rope 75 feet in the air!
The meaning behind my short story is simple;
We may not be able to help everyone in life, but we can help someone! Learning to be inconvenienced for others is one of the best ways to experience the self-sacrificing love of Jesus.
Henry Ward Beecher said, “No man is more cheated than the selfish man.” Determine in your life to be the answer to someone’s prayer for help. For example, maybe your neighbor will ask you if they can borrow your shovel because they don’t have one to clear the snow with. Not only should you let them borrow it, but also if you have an extra shovel, first help them clear their driveway and then let them keep one! Christians aren’t to be pushovers and enablers, but we should be able to really help and bless people with the things we have; in this way we can show the world Jesus.
Next time someone asks you for help, before you say, “No,” make sure you have really thought about it, considered their feelings and your actual resources. Then if it’s in your power to act, give them a big resounding, “Yes!”
Reflection
Do you like helping people when you have the power to act?
Action
- Repent of any selfishness you may have had in the past.
- Look for opportunities to help others with the things you have.
- When someone asks you for help only say, “No,” if you really can’t do it; other than those times, say, “Yes!”
