Skip to main content

From Our Daily Bread Devotional

“Wise Aid”

By

Mike Wittmer

Encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 

1 Thessalonians 5:14

As I stopped my car at a red light, I saw the same man standing beside the road again. He held a cardboard sign: Need money for food. Anything helps. I looked away and sighed. Was I the kind of person who ignored the needy?

Some people pretend to have needs but are actually con artists. Others have legitimate needs but face difficulties overcoming destructive habits. Social workers tell us it’s better to give money to the aid ministries in our city. I swallowed hard and drove past. I felt bad, but I may have acted wisely.

God commands us to “warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak” (1 Thessalonians 5:14). To do this well we must know who belongs in which category. If we warn a weak or disheartened person, we may break her spirit; if we help an idle person, we may encourage laziness. Consequently, we help best from up close, when we know the person well enough to know what he needs.

Has God burdened your heart to help someone? Great! Now the work begins. Don’t assume you know what that person needs. Ask her to share her story, and listen. Prayerfully give as seems wise and not merely to feel better. When we truly aim “to do what is good for each other,” we will more readily “be patient with everyone,” even when they stumble (vv. 14–15).

When have others most helped you? What did you learn about how best to help others?

Prayer - Father, help me to help wisely, and often.

#Copied

God loves you,

If all else fails including yourself, 

God never fails.

In God there is no depression, suicide or hopelessness.

But love, peace, purpose, perseverance, hope and joy.

Emmanuella

For: TLF

#January 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS. We have ridiculed the absolute truth of God's word and called it 'pluralism'. We have worshipped other gods and said 'give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar'. We have endorsed pervertion and called it 'alternative life style'. We have exploited the poor and called it 'lottery'. We have rewarded laziness and called it 'welfare'. We have committed adultery and called it 'playing around'. We have committed fornication and called it 'having fun'. We have killed unborn children and called it 'choice'. We neglected to discipline our children and called it 'building self esteem'. We have abused power and called it 'politics'. We have converted our neighbour's property and called it 'ambition'. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it 'freedom of expression'. We have ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Story Time

  Lisungu Chieza from Zimbabwe was 26 when she was told in 1996 that she was HIV+. "This started my long journey of coping with being HIV+. My husband died in my arms at home eight months later." Not only did Lisungu have to cope with her own illness and losing her husband, but her husband's family also wrongly blamed her for his death. They came to her house, took away his things, and said, "If those children of yours get sick, don't even call us. We won't have anything to do with them or you." They would not even let her go to her husband's burial. "I gave up a college course I had planned to do. All I thought about was death. I neglected my children and myself." But her mother supported her. Lisungu began to find hope again and joined an HIV support group. Then she started to help others who were also HIV+, and took a college course about HIV-AIDS. She spoke at HIV meetings with the young people in her church. She believes that it is ver...
Post a Comment
Read more

Today is the second part of our D Day for the month of August!

Today is the second part of our D Day for the month of August! Although this celebration is marked in the month of May, we have harmonised all relevant sub-themes dealing with family and youth under this month of August.  15th of May is International Day of Families.  We commend all those individuals, groups, NGOs, Charities, Foundations and others who engage in one form of activity or the other to promote wholesome family life and the true meaning of family.  God bless your labour and work of love. May we not do anything in vain. Remember - Matthew 12:49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! Psalm 113:Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! You are invited to attend our viewing of - "Loneliness is literally killing us" by Will Wright at TEDxBirmingham . We commend the speaker and give kudos to the organisers. You too can organise such a wonderful event. In TLF we inspire...
Post a Comment
Read more