The Unexpected Adventure- UE 8- "Putting Love Into Action" Matthew 5:16
On page 64 under "Action Principal", Strobel encourages us to use our "compassion radar" to determine other's needs then seek out ways to serve them. This could be shoveling the sidewalk of an elderly neighbor, providing free baby sitting for a single parent, helping the neighbor's middle school student with algebra. Anything we can do to that not only helps meet the physical needs of a person, but will hopefully lead to a Kingdom conversation.
Meeting the needs of others is a mandate of our Lord and Savior, but it is not a means unto itself. The ultimate goal of our "good deeds" should be to bring others into a saving faith in the Lord. Or should it? As I write this it almost seems as if our good deeds have an ulterior motive. That seems deceitful. Hmmm. . . Thoughts from fellow bloggers welcomed.
As I read Matthew 5:16 another section of Matthew popped into my little ol' head--Matthew 6:2-4 I would be interested in knowing your thoughts on how you reconcile Matthew 5:16 and Matthew 6:2-4.
Possible dichotomies aside, the bottom line of UE 8 is to be sensitive to the needs of those around us and do what we are called to do to help meet those needs so that it may bring glory to our Father in heaven. As Paul writes in Galatians, "against such things, there is no law." (Taken out of context, but fits here nicely.)
Don't see much conflict between the two Matthew scriptures. The person who I help will know I helped, in most cases, even if I do not blow a horn. When I "shine my light" into their lives, I want to be so different from the world that they want to know WHY. Then I can share the word. Such service may take several "help sessions" to the point that I am even sharing spare time beyond the point of one or two specific help episodes. (For me, that is where the rubber hits the road.)
ReplyDeleteAs far as having an ulterior motive for my help, I don't think we ever have to apologize (to ourselves or anyone else) for wanting people to know more of the joy and peace and assurance that a closer walk with God produces.
Second response....I see the Lord moving you toward a need to get involved with honoring Him by serving others.
ReplyDeleteBefor I retired, Jo and I asked God to give us a ministry that we could do together. The marriage ministries that we did was a direct answer to that request. In the not too far future, you will be looking at some summer (June, July and August) time that has been spent working for cash in the past. Dare we ask God to show you and Kristi some summer ministries that you could do for him together?
Reflection on second comment- Kind of scary asking God to move me to a new level of commitment and service. It is a lot easier to just write about it in a blog. :-)
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