Friday, June 13, 2003
Friday, June 13, 2003
If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them,
"Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is
the good of that?
You probably have enough money in your wallet right now to feed a hungry child for several days.
Think of the power that gives you. You can make a difference in whether or not a child survives! I
wish that child could be fed with our prayers and best wishes, but without money it will not
happen.
One day a boy was walking in the street carrying a basket of eggs. He tripped on the curbstone,
dropping the basket, and smashing the eggs. A crowd gathered at the scene. One said, "What a
pity!" Another said, "I'm sorry he is crying. Let's comfort him." Then a man stepped forward,
reached into his pocket, and said, "I care a dollar. How much do you care?" That's the question.
We have in our wallets the power to translate personal tragedies into triumphs.
(James 2.15-16
NRSV)
Our giving is a spiritual matter simply because there are some things in this world only money
can do. Money can help house the homeless and feed the hungry. Money can send Bibles to
new Christians in developing countries. It can provide counselors to young people in runaway
shelters. It can build a beautiful place of worship to call secular people back to God.
Lord Jesus, may my giving turn lives towards you and turn personal tragedies into triumphs.
Amen.
