“Your prayers and gifts to
the poor have come up as a remembrance before God” (Acts 10:4 NIV).
Have you ever heard of Make
A Difference Day? On a special day, this year October 26, all over the nation
groups of people gather in their community to make a difference. Some of them make
a community garden, mentor, improve low income housing, clean up a park, and
many other wonderful things. This is sponsored by USA Weekend Magazine and
Points of Light. It is a good cause.
I believe as Christians every day should be
Make a Difference Day. We are to be the ones to make a difference in other
people’s lives by helping them in some way. Jesus walked this earth as a servant of God,
and did not ask anything for himself. He owned no home when he traveled from
town to town healing the sick, preaching, and casting out demons. His ministry was all about serving others and
not about gaining wealth for himself. He
even told his apostles when he sent them out to preach the Kingdom of God,
“Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra
tunic” (Luke 9:3 NIV). They were to stay in a house in a city and
preach and heal.
Jesus was constantly preaching about not
gathering riches for yourself. He told the young ruler to go and sell all of
his possessions and give the money to the poor and then he would have treasure
in heaven. The young ruler couldn’t do that. Then Jesus said that it was easier
for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 19:21-23).
Interesting isn’t it? It
is the opposite of what we are taught today. I am afraid that too many people
want more and more things. But you see all those things aren’t ever going to be
enough. There will always be something else that looks better. You will never
be satisfied if you set out to acquire things to make you happy. And you will
never be able to take it with you when you die.
Jesus knew that the most
important thing in life is to love the Father and to show that love by giving
to others. This can be through financial help and also by doing something nice
for someone. But we are all called to help others who are less fortunate than
we are.
I read a book called Crazy Love, Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
by Fancis Chan. It is a challenging book. In it there is a chapter all about
people who have done amazing things for God. One person used all her money that
she earned from her books to help charities. She drives a 1980 Volkswagon bug
and says it helps her focus on prayer and better identify with people who are
in need. Rich Mullins, a songwriter and performer gave all the money from his
concerts and albums to his church. He accepted a small salary and gave the rest
away. You see these are examples of what being a true Christian is. Are you
doing what you can to make a difference in someone’s life? I hope you will now.
Dear Lord,
Help us look to Jesus’
ministry as a guide to do what may not be so comfortable for us, but something
that will make a difference in someone else’s life forever. Help us to reach
out and give aid to others and not want so much for ourselves.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
