A Desire to Do Good To Others

A farmer grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors. “How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked.

“Why sir,” said the farmer, “didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.” He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbor’s corn also improves.

So it is with our lives. Those who choose to live in peace must help their neighbors to live in peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

The lesson for each of us is this: if we are to grow good corn, we must help our neighbors grow good corn. -Steve Goodier

As Christians we have the responsibility to present our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), and prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2) made possible by the transformation that comes by renewing our minds.

Also, a remarkable transformation that characterized early Christians was their benevolence toward their brethren, and toward those who were strangers. As commanded in the Bible (Romans 12:3), they distributed to the needs of the saints and showed hospitality even to strangers; which was in keeping with God's good, acceptable, and perfect will.

What about us today? How is our benevolence to saints and strangers? Perhaps we might do well to take a closer look at the two commands mentioned in scripture verse Romans 12:13 (NKJV).

The first command is "Distributing to the Needs of the Saints." Let's begin by breaking the command into smaller parts and examine what it says.

1. Distributing - "The word used here denotes having things in common, (koinwnountev). It means, that they should be communicative, or should regard their property as so far common as to supply the wants of others." - Barnes
2. to the needs - "That is, distribute to them such things as they need -- food, raiment, etc. This command, of course, has reference to the poor." - ibid.
3. of the saints - "Of Christians, or the friends of God." - ibid.

Next, let's look at what the command exemplified. It is exemplified:

1. By the church at Jerusalem (a church helping its members) -Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-36; 6:1-6.
2. By the church at Antioch (a church helping other churches) - Acts 11:27-30
3. By the churches of Macedonia and Achaia (many churches helping one church) - Romans 15:25-26; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:1-24; 9:1-15.

Finally, the command exercised:

1. The collection on the Lord's day is designed for this very purpose (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
2. If brethren are in need, we should not hesitate to use the collection for this purpose: a) for needy saints in the local congregation; b)and for needy saints in other places. Although there are some limitations (e.g., 1 Timothy 5:9-16; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15)
3. Our assistance is based upon ability and opportunity according to our ability (2 Corinthians 8:12-15; though note 2 Corinthians 8:1-4), and according to our opportunity (Galatians 6:10).

The Lord has provided a systematic method to meet the needs of His saints. Of course, this does not preclude helping one another as individuals (1 Timothy 6:17-18). Nor does it mean we have no responsibility toward those who are not saints, for we are commanded to be, in the second command, Given to Hospitality!

We shall begin here by breaking the command "Given to Hospitality" into smaller parts which will enable us to examine it more closely.

1. given to - "Pursuing (as if in a chase or hunt)..." - Robertson's Word Pictures
2. hospitality - Love to strangers (philoxenia)
3. "This expression means that they should readily and cheerfully entertain strangers." - Barnes. Hospitality is a duty often enjoined in the Scriptures (Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9), and a qualification for both bishop (elder) and needy widow (1 Timothy 3:2; 5:10)
4. "The 'hospitality' of today, by which is meant the entertainment of friends or relatives, hardly comes within the Biblical use of the term as denoting a special virtue." - ISBE

Secondly, the command is exemplified:

1. By Abraham, extending hospitality to "three men" (Genesis 18:1-8)
2. By Lot, pursuing hospitality to "two men" (Genesis 19:1-3)
3. By Job, who left no stranger in the street (Job 31:32)
4. By Jethro, who rebuked his daughters for neglecting Moses (Exodus 2:20)
5. In the support of early missionaries (Matthew 10:11,42; 25:35; 3 John 5-8)

Lastly, we see the command exercised where:

1. The principle of hospitality presumes ability and opportunity. In other words, our responsibility is based upon ability (cf. 2 Corinthians 8:12-13), and our responsibility is based upon opportunities (cf. Galatians 6:10).
2. The pursuit of hospitality is enabled through preparation. You are more likely to offer hospitality without grumbling if prepared beforehand. And cheerful giving is made easier by purposeful planning (cf. 2 Corinthians 9:7). Why not have a place in your personal budget for entertaining strangers?
3. The practice of hospitality can take various forms, if safety or wisdom is a concern. For example, housing can be provided through arrangements with a local motel, or food can be given in the form of vouchers or gift certificates.
4. The potential of hospitality for good can be seen in regards to evangelism. Such as, supporting those who travel to preach the gospel, and/or touching the hearts of those who may be in need of the gospel.

In conclusion, as we seek to "prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God," remember this: a) do not neglect to provide for the needs of your brethren and; b) do not hesitate to show love for those who are strangers. Let the words of Jesus Himself challenge us to a higher plane of giving that we might be more like our Heavenly Father (cf. Luke 6:32-36), and that we might be repaid at the resurrection of the just (cf. Luke 14:12-14).

Speaking of such things as our Heavenly Father and the resurrection to come, have you received the hospitality that God extends to all who are lost? (cf. Romans 5:8-10).

Prayer:

"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy."
-St. Francis of Assisi


Have a blessed day,

Mackenzie