RE: “Freely ye have received, freely give.”
Wow. Thanks for this. I wilk really strategize on how to go about this. I need for there to be maximun impact. God bless you.
Each of us has something to offer. We can give our money and our time to charity, be a friend to someone who is sick or lonely, do volunteer work, or be a peacemaker, teacher or minister. We may give unselfishly of our time to our spouse, children or parents. We may choose a service-oriented occupation, or we may just do our everyday jobs with integrity and respect for others.
It would seem that the more we give to others, the poorer we become, but just the opposite is true! Service to others brings meaning and fulfillment to our lives in a way that wealth, power, possessions and self-centered pursuits can never match. As Jesus said,
For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give -- large or small -- will be used to measure what is given back to you." (Luke 6:38)
I want to use this medium to point out something we should be conscious of while doing the outreach.
Sincere Motives
Our good deeds should be motivated by a sincere desire to help others. Public recognition should not be the goal.
Matthew 6:1-2
"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
John 15:12
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Matthew 5 :16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Mark 10:21
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”