Today’s scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15
Paul makes a great distinction in these verses. If a brother—a fellow
Christ-follower—doesn’t follow the Bible’s commandments, then we need to not
associate with him. There’s a risk we take when we are intimate friends with a
backslidden or disobedient Christian, and Paul exhorts us to avoid that
intimacy.
However, we’re not to shun him or “regard him as an enemy.” We certainly
shouldn’t gossip or point fingers. Again, we’re not to judge him (Matthew 7:1-3). Instead, we should “admonish him as a brother.”
Jesus Himself gave instructions with how to deal with a brother (or sister) who
has strayed:
Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between
you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he
will not hear, take with you one or two more, that “by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”
And if he refuses to hear them, tell it
to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you
like a heathen and a tax collector. (Matthew 18:15-17, NKJV)
We need to do everything we can to bring a prodigal brother (or sister) back to
the fold while making certain we ourselves aren’t pulled away.
Today's
scripture: 1 John 3:17
We live in a society of excess, of “more.” I have a perfectly nice house, but
now I need a bigger one. I have a serviceable car, but I want a flashier,
status-symbol one. I have a closet full of clothes, but I’m not satisfied until
I get that trendy name on my jeans.
There’s nothing wrong with having nice things. If God has blessed you with a
healthy income, and you can afford to buy without debt, then enjoy His
blessings.
The problem is that we often get so caught up with our “stuff,” we forget that
one of the reasons God has blessed us financially is so we can have the joy of
helping others.
A couple of years ago, I reconnected with a friend who had been hit hard by the
economic downturn. The story is hers, but I can say she ended up homeless for a
while. It was so eye-opening to me: She was an intelligent, mentally-healthy
woman who had just hit bottom. At the time, she was just getting back on her
feet, and Russ and I had an opportunity to help her with a few things for her
new apartment.
We've also been able to help support our nephew and his wife on a few
short-term missions trips and have donated to some relief efforts.
It hasn't necessarily been easy. Since I was laid off from my job
almost three years ago, Russ and I have tightened our financial belt. We don’t
go out to eat very often. We don’t buy “toys.” But we know God has still blessed
us as He faithfully meets our needs, and we can still open our hearts to those less fortunate than we are.
And it is heart-warming. Literally. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of
knowing you’re using your money and things to help others.
Because, after all, it is all His anyway.
