The Balance Of A Godly Life

Several years ago, a good friend, a Deacon of a church in the Ozarks, told of a woman in his congregation struggling to provide for the needs of her several children. The Church had previously helped her family and was familiar with her situation. During a ‘special offering’ drive over Christmas, a plea was made in Church for offerings for the poor in other parts of the world. People gave different amounts, and some publicized their gifts by announcing them at the end of the services. 

 

After one service, this woman got up. Much to everyone’s amazement, she announced that she was giving an amount to the Christmas offering that would place her family in peril. Not only would her children not receive any Christmas gifts, but she would also be unable to pay their heating bills and feed those hungry mouths!

           

She meant well, of course, but everyone else saw the problem! She allowed her faith and devotion to God to distort her perspective. She decided to do something that everyone saw as a grave mistake! Later that day, some of the ladies in the Church were able to talk to her, and they were able to return the offering to her. The deacons of the Church also gave her and her family a nice Christmas offering and affirmed her expression of faith. The woman felt good about the situation, and everything seemed to work well.

           

The point is that, sometimes, peoples’ expressions of faith go too far, or they act ‘in the moment’ without thinking clearly!

 

The Bible teaches us that God calls us to a life of faith and devotion to Him. He wants us to follow Him in faith, live according to his teachings, and make his cause a primary force in our lives! At the same time, though, there is a current of thought in scripture that teaches that we are to be a people of faith that love and serve others!

 

Simply put: We cannot live a life of devotion and faith in God if we fail to love others and help them in this life.  

 

Jesus told a parable to illustrate this great truth called “The Parable of the Good Samaritan.” Here’s a short, modernized version of the story: A man is robbed and beaten along the highway and left for dead. A preacher came by, though, and everyone listening to the story thought he would help. 

 

But instead, he crossed the road and went on his way – he had a church meeting to go to, after all! Later, another minister came by, and he did the same as the other: he crossed the road and went on his way. No doubt, he had something important at Church, too! Finally, a man that wasn’t a minister, or even a Christian, came by. 

 

He stopped and helped the man, took him to a motel, and paid for his stay for a few days. He came back later and made sure he was ok. Jesus then asked the people listening to the story, “Who was this man’s friend?” One in the crowd shouted the one that helped him! Jesus agreed, saying, “This is how I want you to live. I want you to have faith, but I also want you to love and help people when they need it.”

 

God wants us to know the Bible and live according to His teachings; at the same time, though, he wants us to think through our plans and avoid actions and words that go ‘too far’ and lead us away from Him. He wants us to help others and not ignore our own family. And he wants us to live out our faith in the Church and, at the same time, serve those who are outside the faith.

 

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Thank you for listening. We will see you next week.