Episode 36: Sharing in Need
Sharing in Need Podcast Outline
- Hunger
- Value of Food
- Christian Call
- Transcript
Sharing in Need
Good evening! Welcome to Healing Our Brokenness Episode 36. Last week’s episode, Value of Prayer, can be found here.
Transcript:
There is hunger and lack of clean water in several countries all over the world. The problem of hunger is so bad that people have lost hope for themselves and their children. It has been said that the amount of food that we throw away as waste is enough food to stop world hunger. The thing about being good stewards, when it comes to God, is that stewardship is not just about money, it is for everything that God owns: “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” (Psalms 24:1, NLT) This means our time, talents, our bodies, everything!
When I grew up as a child, we placed value on food, and how we used it. It wasn’t just because we were poor, but it was also because we realized just how many people were going without food, and in such a desperate need. In this day and age, we think nothing of having our kids throw whole plates of food in the garbage without blinking an eye.
As Christians, sometimes we get so cozy in our homes, and the immediate needs of our families, that we forget about our responsibility to take care of the poor: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:27, ESV) It makes some of us uncomfortable to think about giving away some of what we have. A lot of times, when it comes to clothing, we have the same few pieces of clothing that we like to wear over and over again anyway. Having a closet full of clothes gives the illusion of false self-worth.
After the day of Pentecost, the Christians were on such a spiritual high from the workings of the Holy Spirit, that no one was in need: “All the believers were of one heart and mind, and no one felt that what he owned was his own; everyone was sharing. And the apostles preached powerful sermons about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and there was warm fellowship among all the believers,and no poverty—for all who owned land or houses sold them and brought the money to the apostles to give to others in need.” (Acts 4:32-37, TLB)
What would be required in order for us to have this kind of situation going on now? It would require a change of heart and a change of mind. Then our behavior will follow: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, KJV) God blesses repentance and good stewardship.
Dear God,
Thank you for what we have. We pray that you would move in our hearts to do more to help others in need. We know that we cannot outdo you when it comes to giving. Please help us to be mindful and sensitive to others who are in dire circumstances, and that if we don’t have anything to give, our hearts will be stirred to pray for those individuals.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
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God bless!!!