ALLOWING GOD TO USE YOUR AREAS OF ABUNDANCE TO HELP OTHERS – Acts 11:29
Thursday, December 1st, 2005Acts 11:29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judah.
The church in Jerusalem had sent Barnabas to Antioch to encourage the believers and to help that church grow. Then when it was made known to the church at Antioch that there was a financial need in Judah, the church in Antioch sent Barnabas and Saul with money to meet that need. The church in Jerusalem helped the believers in Antioch with their spiritual needs and God took care of their financial needs when the time came.
When Jerusalem sent out Barnabas, they did not know that they were going to have a financial need anytime soon. The church simply saw that there was a spiritual need that they could fill. The church used its resources to provide for Antioch and God used those who were ministered too minister in return. The church in Judah had not asked for help, the church in Antioch by faith understood that there was a need and they meet it.
The church in Jerusalem demonstrated their faith by seeing the spiritual need in Antioch and they reached out and took care of that need. God blessed the faith of the Jews by taking care of their needs. The church in Jerusalem did not know that they were going to have a huge need. The church in Jerusalem did not know how they were going to have that need meet. Nonetheless, God knew, and God choose to use those very individuals who the church in Jerusalem ministered to in order to meet their needs.
The Jerusalem church was simply obeying Jesus when he said, “Give.” Because the church gave, God was able to bless the church with the promise that followed the command of Jesus. Jesus’ promise was 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.”
Do you have the faith that God can meet your needs? God has a proven track record of meeting the needs of others and HE desires to do the same for you. However, in order to demonstrate HIS faithfulness in meeting your needs, HE desires to first teach you to have your own eyes open to the needs of others.
Do not wait until someone comes up to you and tells you they have a need. Instead, when God has blessed you, take the time to see how God intends for you to use your abundance to bless those who God has put into your path. Just because God has not blessed you financially, it does not mean that God cannot use you to give your time or talents.
It is your natural propensity to take what you have and use it for yourself. God however, desires to reverse your thinking which is why HE told you to give. However, before HE told you to give, HE demonstrated unconditional giving when HE sent HIS Son to die for you so that you might have fellowship with the Father. God desires that you follow HIS example of giving by meeting the spiritual and financial needs of those who God has put into your path. God does not expect you to give what you do not have, HE expects you to give in accordance with the abundance that HE has given you. In the areas that HE has blessed you, so you must be willing to use that to bless others. Give according to your abundance so that God can give to you in your area of need.