A couple of things
strike me from these verses. One is that we are not to withhold good from those
who DESERVE it. I don’t believe the Lord would have us treat all people the
same. We are to love all people the same, but some people don’t deserve to be
treated with a generous spirit. Sadly, there are a lot of people who won’t help
themselves and expect others to take care of them. Some people go out of their
way to make life miserable for others and who take advantage of them. We need
to be wise and discerning in whom we extend favor to.
Having said that, we
are to strive to be kind to all and live at peace with them. We do it because
it is the nature of God’s love which flows from the heart of those who love
Him.
Another observation
is that not all people have the means or opportunity to help others. The Lord
holds us accountable for our attitude in regards to what we have. If we refuse
to help others when we have the power to do so, we will face God’s judgment for
it. If we don’t have the means, the Lord does not expect us to deprive
ourselves of our daily needs for the sake of others.
If the Lord nudges
you to do good for someone, don’t ignore it or put it off. The Lord never leads
us to do what we can’t do. He always provides the means to fulfill His
will. A generous and giving heart should
characterize those who are children of God.
But, don’t be foolish; give with discernment. It is not love to give to those who refuse to
help themselves. We are to help build
each other up, not enable them to continue their self-destructive ways. Seek wisdom and discernment from the Lord and
don’t let your emotions determine your actions.
The time to help
others is during their time of need.
Putting it off may cause you to miss entirely the opportunity to do good
and honor Christ.
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