tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485189704478641735.post8639812330940089587..comments2023-10-23T12:01:16.358-04:00Comments on Our Family through adoption: Faithful servant?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485189704478641735.post-23345202573446239612010-01-11T14:39:51.414-05:002010-01-11T14:39:51.414-05:00Jen- I love you what you wrote!
V- thanks for the ...Jen- I love you what you wrote!<br />V- thanks for the Verses!Rob and Candyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10635406179272441873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485189704478641735.post-80681425660071118982010-01-10T16:05:05.155-05:002010-01-10T16:05:05.155-05:00Oh I have gone around and around on this issue wit...Oh I have gone around and around on this issue with friends.<br /><br />I suppose, as the anonymous commenter mentioned, some may give and serve out of guilt but I don't think it would last long as those motives are selfish and it's much easier to be unabashidly selfish and self concerned than it is to keep up the guise.<br /><br />I don't see a distinction between meeting physical needs and the sharing of the Gospel. I do not think they are mutually exclusive at all. James ch 2 is my go-to chapter for this.<br /><br />The other verses you mentioned in Matt are the ones I love to highlight. Because, for me, any offering I make to those in needs is out of the overflow of my love for Jesus(it OUGHT to be anyway).<br /><br />BTW the notion that there will always be poor among us isn't stated by Christ so that we wouldn't really worry about the poor! If you look into the OT the provision, if people would have done what it said they would have eradicated destitution (note: destitution NOT equal living standards for all). NT demands we live as Christ giving OUR ALL as He gave His all. The fact that there will always be poor among us isn't a statement that somehow God is okay with that!!! The statement is simply a sad commentary on our selfish inability to give out of our abundance to be sure He who has little does not have TOO little. Beside Christ wasn't addressing their service to the poor in that passage; he was telling them to focus on HIM. <br /><br />A fair warning to those of us who claim to go out and serve others. Are we really focused on Chrsit? Are we connecting to a cause to connect to Christ? Or are we connecting to Christ merely to connect to and further our own causes?beBOLDjenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11430439816709121014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485189704478641735.post-43972118830847677422010-01-07T21:43:04.055-05:002010-01-07T21:43:04.055-05:00James 2:14
What good is it, my brothers, if a man...James 2:14<br /><br />What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.<br /><br /> 18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."<br /> Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17897691709460145969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485189704478641735.post-60126372809318526042010-01-06T22:05:26.996-05:002010-01-06T22:05:26.996-05:00Money doesn't control me much. But I wouldn&#...Money doesn't control me much. But I wouldn't have anyway to eat without it. I'm cursed to be living in a society with fast food and the <i>one-eyed devil</i> in the living room. <br /><br />Do we go to places where help is needed out of our guilt? The evil white man keeps you in poverty with his internal combustion engine. (Oh and did I mention we flew there using such carbon-emitting machinery). Maybe we could provided them something to eat. Maybe they can't read. Can we teach them to read?<br /><br />Or maybe we should be looking where we are. Soup kitchen, reading English class, bar of soap, Jesus. Yes of course Jesus. We don't want to feed and then send away (bye-bye-white-man-feel-better-now).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485189704478641735.post-72743265916074484932010-01-06T20:11:56.311-05:002010-01-06T20:11:56.311-05:00I'm sorry you must have misunderstood me. Onl...I'm sorry you must have misunderstood me. Only when your riches are your idol should you sell everything. <br />I will pray that the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart on how to serve orphans, widows and the poor. He will direct you.<br />thanks for your comments<br />grace & peace to you.Rob and Candyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10635406179272441873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485189704478641735.post-8750240915463502242010-01-06T18:51:55.423-05:002010-01-06T18:51:55.423-05:00I agree that we should care for orphans, widows, t...I agree that we should care for orphans, widows, the poor, etc. It is not clear to me how this is to be done though. If we sell everything and give to the poor, that would help <i>some</i> of them for a <i>little while</i>. But then we would be among the poor and someone would have to take care of us. And the poor we helped would eventually be poor again having not learned to care for themselves. No?<br /><br />Perhaps the person who thought it was optional had similar concerns?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485189704478641735.post-12194553431804790662010-01-06T17:02:14.714-05:002010-01-06T17:02:14.714-05:00My point is - if we are a Christian we should ACTI...My point is - if we are a Christian we should ACTIVELY take care of the poor, widows and orphans. The other person's point is that it is optional and I do not believe that it is. <br />I do believe that we should share the gospel. <br />It's not either take care of the poor (etc) OR share the gospel. You do both.<br /><br />Re: Matthew 19:21<br />I like this commentary-<br />He felt that Jesus had asked too much of him. He worshiped money more than God when put to the test. Does Jesus demand this same test of every one? Not unless he is in the grip of money. Different persons are in the power of different sins.Rob and Candyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10635406179272441873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485189704478641735.post-26255589123478298342010-01-06T15:00:36.551-05:002010-01-06T15:00:36.551-05:00Of course we should help the poor. But we will al...Of course we should help the poor. But we will always have the poor with us according to Jesus. It seems to me to be more important to give them the gospel and save their souls from hell then to give them a bowl of soup. But of course it would be even better to do both. Jesus also said to sell all you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Should we do that? or was that metaphorical?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5485189704478641735.post-54010929783009281452010-01-06T12:16:43.545-05:002010-01-06T12:16:43.545-05:00agreed. I don't really see how anyone can thin...agreed. I don't really see how anyone can think it is optional if they have actually read through the Bible. Besides those scriptures there is a TON of other stuff that deals with that issue. I will have to find where it is, but I remember a passage that even goes so far to compare those who do not look after orphans, widows, the poor etc to some serious sins such as murder, etc....Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17897691709460145969noreply@blogger.com