LENDING
TO THE LORD!
MEMORISE
He
that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath
given will he pay him again.
Proverbs 19:17
READ
1 Samuel 1:24-28
24 And when
she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one
ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the
LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
25 And they
slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26 And she
said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by
thee here, praying unto the LORD.
27 For this
child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28 Therefore
also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the
LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
MESSAGE
Many activities in life have a boomerang effect.
Sowing for example is an activity that boomerangs with harvest. When you sow
bountifully on a fertile ground, all things being equal, your harvest will be
in abundance. The Bible enjoins us to give, because our giving will bounce back
to us in a greater dimension. Luke 6:38 says:
“Give,
and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken
together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same
measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
Being merciful is another activity with a boomerang
effect (Luke 6:36). We should be merciful, especially to the poor and needy.
There are many people living in affluence whose neighbours are languishing in
penury. Such people cannot be described as merciful. Some wealthy leaders are
guilty of exploitation. They defraud the poor and deny them of their right to
basic amenities. Such actions are evil, sinful and unscriptural. What is your
status? Are you comfortable, rich, wealthy or flourishing? There are many ways
you can be merciful to the poor. You can give to orphanages. There are people
with excess clothes, materials and goods which are not useful to them. Such
materials can be given to the poor and needy. You can also identify some
indigent children in your neighbourhood and be responsible for their education.
If you have the means, you can set up a foundation that will ameliorate the
effects of poverty in your neighbourhood. Are you a Christian politician? You
are in position to lend to God by using your political influence to make life
better for the poor and needy in your society. You can champion the cause of
the poor in your constituency and ensure that necessary amenities are brought
to their doorsteps. There are basic amenities which the underprivileged should
not be denied. These include access to qualitative and affordable education for
their children and wards, good road network for the masses, making food
available at an affordable rate, constant and uninterrupted electricity supply,
security of lives and properties and access to good and affordable health care.
When we help the poor, we lend to the Lord and we are rewarded for it. There
are numerous rewards for those who lend to the Lord. Such rewards are both
earthly and eternal. As God did to Hannah when she lent Samuel to Him, God will
ensure that you are blessed on earth for giving assistance to the poor. The
other reward is eternal. There are crowns awaiting triumphant saints in heaven,
especially those who are merciful to the poor.
ACTION
POINT
Draw up a sustainable plan to help the poor and
downtrodden around you.
BIBLE
IN ONE YEAR
Genesis 46-47; Psalm 107:33-43
Lord bless me so I can be a blessing unto others.
ReplyDeleteLord this hs bn my prayer that thou mayest bles n prosper me so that I can lend to your children more than d little I hv bn ging n pls Lord give me grace to continue to give IJN
ReplyDeleteam bless with this topic
ReplyDeleteFather Lord I pray that thou should bless me so as to put your word in practice to be a blessing to my generation
ReplyDeleteThis is expository and practical-oriented ! Our Nigerian leaders have not followed this path and so, the nation, as a whole ,is suffering and a look @ what is happening in USA, the leaders are selfless and all are enjoying the effects and every1 wants to go there. We need to pray for God's directive as we elect new leaders. People shd shun all manners of evil and embrace godliness @ all levels so that we can all lend to God as we ameliorate our national problems.
ReplyDeleteHeavenly Father, you the pillar that holds my life therefore make me a pillar to sustain the poor and needy in my environment and even beyond, Amen.
ReplyDeleteFather Lord , pls make me a blessing to the people around me.
ReplyDeleteBless me oh lord and make me a blessing to my generation in Jesus Christ Name I pray. Amen
ReplyDelete