Command them to do good...
Anyone that knows my family also knows that we have had some amazing ups and some not so great downs. Throughout most of it we have had an absolutely wonderful church home at The Heights Baptist Church in Richardson, Texas. It is the church where I became a Christian. The people there have been family and friends to us. I say this all because as we move to Merida, I have not been really excited about leaving our church home. It has been the only point of contention. But as is always the case, God says to do what He commands and He will provide. The Heights recently started publishing the videos of the sermons on a site called Truthcasting.net. In addition to videos from The Heights, there are other churches and some bible lessons on there as well. God is faithful and provides.
I say all of this because of the sermon I just watched, "It's everywhere you want to be". We are doing a sermon series entitled "The Green Elephant", about money and how we are called to be good stewards, not consumers. This is not a series on tithing, it is about taking care of what God blesses you with and then using it the right way. It is about not digging yourself so far into debt that you have more month than money at the end of your paycheck.
In the sermon, Gary, our pastor speaks about 1 Timothy 6:18.
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
Who is "them", well in the series "them" has been pointed out to be rich people. And who are rich people? The bible describes rich people as someone who has more food, clothing and shelter they they need for one day. We describe rich people as having a house for their car, called a garage, people whose boss says "hey take two or three weeks off this year, and I'll still pay you", we call that vacation.
I want to take a little time and challenge/ encourage the people who trip upon this blog to follow God's command. Do good, do good deeds and be generous. When I teach I like to ask questions, "What are you doing to follow this command?" "What am I doing to follow it?"
I am challenging you to find some thing, some cause that needs your gifts, talents, blessings.
One such "thing" Stacy has found in our new home is the Apoyo Program for Students in Progreso. A woman by the name of Kitty has started a program to sponsor poor children with school clothes, books, supplies and such. For $250 per year or less (depends which grade of student you chose) you can sponsor a child to go to school and potentially not only improve their life, but also their family's lives. In addition we have friends, the Sanderfords, from our Sunday school class that have become missionaries in Keiv, Ukraine. They are members of The Navigators. They volunteer to teach conversational English at a local university and then they just invite the students to interact with them. Letting the students see Christ through them, answering questions as they arise. There are always ways that you can help out. Go volunteer anywhere, it doesn't matter. Just get out and be God's hands and feet.
So I'm sure there are people that are not Christians that are reading this, even if you don't believe in God, or believe in a different god you cannot argue the benefits of lending a hand to those less fortunate. Make a difference in the world, in your world.
My name is Rob and I want to change the world, will you help?