People want our opinion but don't. People want fact. People want confirmation. People want the truth. Yet, they don't. Just what is it you want? Sometimes people don't know what they want. Other times people want an excuse. Yet we still ask people to give us their opinion. Often we ask for the opinion but couldn't care less about changing our ways. They are called hard headed or worse. They are the people who are our neighbors, family, friends, and enemies. You know if you are one of them or not.
Have you ever felt used? That feeling of being taken in for someone else's plan? They butter you up with compliments and praise. Then, just when you have your eyes closed they use you and then dispose of you. You see, they were just interested in their own agenda from the beginning. We tell ourselves that we won't let that happen again...then we do. Some people are particularly prone to be victims of these predators. The good hearted, the sympathetic, and the religious come to mind.
As a Christian, my faith has been tested by some of these takers. We want to have faith that money we gave them will really go to the food they say they need. There isn't aren't lot of nutrients in alcohol and drugs. Our hearts are tugged and we give, tell ourselves the truth and move on down the road. Why isn't that enough? Who was the giving for? Did it ease your conscious when you gave that whole dollar? Wow! You know you could have done better than that.
I used to pick up hitch hikers and help them move down the road. Then hitch hikers began robbing and sometimes killing the well intentioned person that stopped to help them. For a while I didn't pick up an hitch hikers. Now, I ask God if he wants me to pick them up or not. It's the same with giving to those who are begging. Since finding out that some of these "beggars" make big money each year (tax free); I now ask God if he would like me to give or not. The Word tells us to not throw our pearls before swine (pigs). Don't waste something on those who will not be thankful or even honest.
We call our actions: responsible, careful, cautious and other excuses for not taking a chance. This isn't about charity to those around us. This is about the way you and I avoid doing what Jesus wants us to do. It's not our place to decide anything. That's God's job. Doling out your money to those whom you consider worth it isn't Christian charity. It's you making yourself judge and jury to others. So, what do you say?
God tells us to let your yes be yes and our no to be no. Two answers. Yes and no. Why the limitations? Because he knows how our hearts like to take a decision and rationalize and justify our doing nothing. It's the same heart that wants to do everything. After all, what will people think and say when we brag at Bible study about our great job of giving away a dollar? It could be a thousand dollars and yet our attitude negates the purpose of giving. We are asked by God to obey the Holy Spirits prompting and immediately do as instructed. You know what that means!
Yep, we need to be able to sense what the Holy Spirit is conveying to us. We need to be able to hear the heart of God when the Holy Spirit speaks. We need to be able to understand that ALL of what we have belongs to God and he can use it any way he desires. We need to be able to repent when we violate these actions. What would happen if we let God have free rein in the life God has given us? What would people say if we let God speak through us to them? How would people think about our giving away what is God's?
There are two times in life when it counts about what do you say. The first is when you become a Christian and the second is when we are before God and we are asked to give an account of our life? There have been more times than not that I violated God's voice. I know he has forgiven me but there are still regrets of blessing not given to someone. Today I try to listen to the Holy Spirit and to do that which God tells me to do. It's not easy sometimes. However, every time I do what God tells me, I am blessed beyond measure. So, "What do you say?"
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