In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
Christ’s message turned everything upside down when He lived on this earth. To become great, He told His followers to become servants to others. To rise up, stoop low. The last shall be first, and the first last. To become significant in the kingdom, become like a little child.
Our culture, like every other culture throughout history, is very self-absorbed. Selfishness transcends time, race, and societies. But because we have more disposable income than any other people in history, we have more that we can spend to indulge ourselves. Everywhere we look, ads tell us that our lives are deficient if we don’t have this new vehicle or this latest gadget. Though we might claim to be shrewd, we are all infected by at least a light case of consumerism.
The promise of advertising is that the product or service will give us fulfillment in our lives. People who have walked with God for awhile, though, understand the danger in this lie. We know that having more stuff only fills us for a short time, and soon we thirst for even more.
We know that we really live only when we really give!
The deepest thrill of our lives comes when we pour out our lives to help those who can never invite us to a fancy dinner party or take us out on their yacht. When we help others and expect nothing in return, we are most like God and He blesses us beyond anything the world can offer.
Dear Lord, illumine our thoughts and inspire us to practice selfless giving in all that we do. Amen.
