NO BIBLE NO BREAKFAST DAILY BIBLE REFLECTIONS AND MORE

REFLECTION
The theme for our reflection is “Sharing with those in need” To share with those in need means to give to the poor and vulnerable. We shall reflect on the fact that we have been blessed by God to share with those in need.

Dear friend, God blesses us so that we may in turn be a blessing to others by sharing with those in need. We are told Boaz had a field and had workers harvesting his grains. Ruth, the Moabite was a stranger who came to glean or gather grains from the sheaves. After the workers of Boaz had harvested the grains she walked behind them to gather some leftover grains in the sheaves to feed her mother-in-law and herself. When Boaz saw her in the field he said to her “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. (Ruth 2:8). In other words, Boaz gave Ruth unfettered access to his field to glean or gather grains. Beloved in the Lord, Boaz had been blessed by God immeasurably therefore he allowed others to share in his blessings. Dear friend, how much food can we consume in a day? How many bottles of water and beverages can we drink in a day? How much clothing can we change or wear in a day? How many rooms can we occupy in our houses at a time? When God blesses us, He expects us to selflessly make room for others to share in our blessings. Again, It is imperative in God’s commandment that those who are blessed must be good stewards of God’s blessing by sharing with those who are in need. Boaz understood the commandment of God to share with the needy in Leviticus 23:22 which states that, “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God.’” (Leviticus 23:22).

Beloved in the Lord, the only way we can share with the needy is when we understand God’s word and abide by it. Human beings by our fallen nature are self-centred but with the Word of God in our hearts, we shall be transformed to do His will and have the needy blessed through us. Some of us are not farmers like Boaz but it is important to note that every income that comes to us is a harvest. It is a harvest because it is the fruits of our labour or hard work. We are greatly encouraged to set aside part of our income or harvest and to share with the needy. Similarly, the Church is also expected to set aside part of the funds donated by members of the Church to support the needy. Unfortunately, many Churches amass so much funds to build huge and luxurious chapels but do little about the plight of the needy in the church. In some instances, pastors live luxurious lives with church funds while their church members languish in poverty. One of the fundamental missions of the Church and for that matter believers is to support the needy. Jesus reminds us that we shall be judged based on our care or support for those who are in need. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. ³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’… (Matthew 25:31-36). In the end, those who did not share or support the needy “….will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous( those who did share with needy and obeyed God’s commandments) to eternal life. ” (Matthew 25:46)

In summary, we have deliberated on the theme, “Sharing with those in need”. We have discovered that we have been blessed by God to share with those in need. Again it is also an act of obedience to God’s Word when we share with the needy.

PRAYER
1. How often do you support the needy in your family and society, let us pray for God to grant us a loving and caring heart to remember the needy when we are blessed.
2. Let us pray for God to bless our hard work and grant us a bountiful harvest and blessings to be able to share with those in need.
3. Let us pray for those who share with us when we are in need. Let us pray for God to grant them long life, good health and success in their various businesses and endeavours.

Almighty God, we ask for your blessings upon our lives. Strengthen us to be faithful to your Word by being generous to those who are in need. Amen.