Living With Purpose
There once was a great big lion that was walking in the forest. He got tangled in a trap and could not escape. The more he tried to break free, the tighter the rope got. Just then a little mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which the lion was, he ran up to him and soon gnawed away the ropes that bound the king of the beasts. The little mouse was very glad to help the broken lion. The moral: Little friends may prove to be great friends. Another story about sharing and caring happened to me late one night. A young man knocked on my front door and commenced to tell me his truck had a tire to blow out, but he managed to limp down the road until he could roll in to the church parking lot. “Sir, can I borrow your phone to call for help?” he asked.
“Sure, what’s the number? I’ll dial it for you,” I replied.
He had to try three different numbers before someone agreed to help him. But their condition had him waiting until early the next morning. He turned and asked if he could stay parked in the church parking lot through the night.
“Are you going to sleep in the truck?” I asked.
“Yes, sir, I’ve done it before, many times.”
“Well, if you say so,” I replied. “Is there something else you want or need?”
“I haven’t had anything to eat since yesterday.”
I told him to wait for a moment and after going back inside we made him a sandwich and filled a bag full of snacks and drinks.
Going back outside, I told him, “Here, we’re giving you this food in Jesus name. It should take the hunger away for the night. I’d like to think you’re a Christian, are you?”
“I am, sir. I need to get back in church. I’m trying to do better and I read my Bible that I keep in my truck.” I prayed for him and told him to keep on riding and keep on reading.
I have shared two simple stories about using and sharing what you have. It makes no difference what state in life you’re in; you can always help someone, IF you’re willing. It’s easy to do, yet some people these days are remiss when it comes to looking for ways to help others. We are tempted and motivated toward self-gain only. A simple, personal philosophy that helps hold me accountable is: Get a blessing, give a blessing, be a blessing. And the Bible says, “Do not withhold good, when it’s in your power to help them.
A person can please God and receive a blessing just by sharing their lives with others. Consider the following five ways we can S-H-A-R-E our lives with others:
S-Service. To know the joy of sharing, we must be ready to give a smile, a kind word, a helping hand, or to offer comfort to the sick and lonely, doing all as unto the Lord. Our faith is dead, if it’s not accompanied by service (James 2:17).
H-Humor. The Bible says, “What a joy it is to find just the right word for the right occasion” (Proverbs 15:23). Sharing humor brings sunshine where darkness has prevailed and hope to those floundering in despair. The Bible also says, “Being cheerful keeps you healthy,” (Proverbs 17:22).
A-Affection. We prove our love for God and humanity when we show our care and concern. 1 John 4:7 says, “Let us love one another: for love is of God”. We must show our affection by being understanding and caring about the misfortunes of others.
R-Resources. Sharing our money and possessions are necessary when it comes to building and promoting God’s work. Our love for God must exceed our desire for material possessions. “For the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows. But you are to avoid all these things. Strive for righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:10-11). We may have good intentions but we must be careful not to fall short of using our resources to build God’s Kingdom.
E-Eternal Values. God gave His only Son to die on the Cross, thus paying the penalty of our sins we must share the Good News with those who haven’t heard. Repentance and faith bring forgiveness of sins. God says that His Son, Christ will give us “spiritual food that lasts for eternal life” (1 John 6:27). All people need to know there’s hope for every one of us who are willing to repent, be cleansed, and be given power for service.
Sharing is caring. And sharing your life is rewarding and enduring. Let your life be characterized in this way.
• This bi-weekly column is written by Matthew Dobson. He’s a health educator for the State of Florida, U.S. Army Reserve Chaplain, and the Pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in the New York Community. His “Living With Purpose” Book series can be found and purchased on www. Amazon.com. You can contact him by email: rmdobson@liberty.edu
