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Daily Bread

Here for You

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Read: Deuteronom­y 15:7-11

On the outskirts of Paris, as in other cities around the globe, people are coming to the aid of the homeless in their communitie­s. Clothing, covered in waterproof bags, is hung on designated fences for those living on the streets to take according to their needs. The bags are labeled, “I’m not lost; I’m for you if you’re cold.” The effort not only warms those without shelter, but also teaches those in the community the importance of assisting the needy among them.

The Bible highlights the importance of caring for those who are poor, instructin­g us to be “openhanded” toward them (Deuteronom­y 15:11). We might be tempted to avert our eyes to the plight of the poor, holding tightly to our resources instead of sharing them. Yet God challenges us to recognize that we will always be surrounded by those who have needs and therefore to respond to them with generosity, not a “grudging heart” (v. 10). Jesus says that in giving to the poor we receive an enduring treasure in heaven (Luke 12:33).

Our generosity may not be recognized by anyone other than God. Yet when we give freely, we not only meet the needs of those around us but we also experience the joy God intends for us in providing for others. Help us, Lord, to have open eyes and open hands to supply the needs of those You place in our paths!

Are you holding too tightly to your resources? If yes, why? What need can you fill today?

“WATCH out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do — blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” —Matthew 6:1-4 (NLT)

WE ARE oftentimes confronted with these questions “should I give?” or “should I help?” Matthew 6:1-4 is a great help, a guide to keep us from giving and helping others with the wrong motives. Let us read these verses and at the same time ask God to open our hearts and minds and fill the same with His wisdom.

See and Understand the Red flags

1. Activate your conscience

2. Assess your conviction­s

3. Actualize your choices

Seriously reflect on the restrictio­ns

1. Don’t do your good deeds publicly to be admired by others (v1).

2. Don’t do as hypocrites do to call attention to their acts of charity.

3. Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing; give your gifts in private. Your Father sees everything and will reward you.

Study reverently the rewards offered

1. Ask yourself the question... am I after the rewards?

2. Analyze the sources of these rewards.

3. Answer the question...which reward I want?

4. Act on your conviction­s and choose.

Let us seriously ask ourselves, do we give or help others out of wanting to help those in need out of obedience to the Lord’s commandmen­ts or do we help so we can bask in the glory of public adulation?

Abba, expose my addiction for public admiration. Bring to the light my desire to be known, my name printed, my generosity announced. Abba, alert my conscience, sharpen my conviction­s and make firm my choice to deliberate­ly detached from this in heart and in habit. Lord, have mercy.

Abba, may my gifts be given privately, not to escape my responsibi­lity, to share your blessings but to starve my appetite for human praise. Lord, have mercy. Amen.

Abba, let me choose to be rewarded by You rather than man. Along with this conviction is the realizatio­n and acceptance that human rewards are more appealing to my flesh than your heavenly rewards. Lord, help me surrender to you. Amen.*

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