The Times News has teamed up with area clergy to share ‘Words of Comfort’ twice a week in our print edition and online at . Any member of the clergy who’d like to get involved can contact Allison Winters at awinters@sixriversmedia.com.
The Times News has teamed up with area clergy to share ‘Words of Comfort’ twice a week in our print edition and online at . Any member of the clergy who’d like to get involved can contact Allison Winters at awinters@sixriversmedia.com.
There is a little boy, we have watched for his parents for years. He has become one of the family.
We love him and he loves us. One day we went to the drive thru and he insisted he didn’t want anything. We got something for him anyway. We go home and were starting to eat I was in my chair and my wife handed me an order of small round hash browns.
Anyway, he got in my lap looked at the hash browns and said, “It’s good to share.†I might have gotten two of them, it was just so cute. I happily gave them to him. It made me feel good on the inside. As the Bible says out of the mouth of babes, He is right it is good to share. God wants us to share.
We are told in the Bible by John the Baptist in Luke 3:10-11: “‘What should we do then?’ the crowd asked. John answered, ‘Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.’â€
And in Hebrews 13:16: “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.â€
As Christians we are obligated to share with people less fortunate and those in need. We are supposed to love our neighbor. We should have empathy, mercy and love. We should want to help them not because it is required but because we want to help them and we care about them.
2 Corinthians 9:7 says: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.â€
It should not be a burdensome duty. It should be done out of love. Sometimes we don’t share because some are afraid they are being taken advantage of. That does happen, but we are still spreading the love of God and sowing his seeds of love.
Other times people are resentful (maybe jealous) that some are getting help or something they didn’t get when they needed it. Kindness brings kindness, resentment brings resentment. Doing nothing brings nothing.
Like the food I gave to a child. Some people might say he had his chance let him learn the hard way. It is true that some lessons in life are learned the hard way. That does not excuse a Christian from doing what Christians are supposed to do.
Far too many say and act as if their Christian duty is like a tour of service in the military. They have to suffer until they get discharged to Heaven.
If you feel this way, pray, read the Bible and seek support from a God loving church. If you can’t be happy serving the Lord, something is wrong!
Rev. Shane Wallace is pastor at Coeburn Methodist Church.
