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

Popular posts from this blog

Theme

For us in TLF we are going to be focusing on Enterprise aka Labour aka Work for the entire month of June. We are urged to work. If you do not work how would you meet your daily needs? Like food, shelter, clothings and transportation? What about having what to give to others in need? There are so many reasons to work. I know many of us love to do what we love, we do not like to go to work if we do not like the job. But what if what you are doing as work and being paid for is actually what you love? What you love may not turn out to be a source of income, but we must still do what we can to earn. Are you enterprising? Please keep it up. Are you in paid labour in the private or public sector? Please do your work as unto the Lord God. Are you working all by yourself as a self employed worker? Please continue to grow and progress for greatness. Always know that in - Happy moments, praise God.  Difficult moments, seek God.  Quiet moments, worship God.  Painful moments, trust ...

Theme Bible Verses

Deuteonomy 28:12 "The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. Psalm 90:17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. 2 Chronicles 15:7 "But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!" 2 Chronicles 31:21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered. John 4:34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable,...

Thank God For The End Of Our mid-Year Crossover Prayers For 2025

Dear Lord, I thank you for this day, as we continue this second half of this year. I thank You for our  being able to see and to hear this morning. We’re blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for us  and You keep on blessing us . Forgive us  this day for everything we  have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. We  ask now for Your forgiveness. Please keep us  safe from all danger and harm. Help us  to start this day and second half of the year 2025 with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let us  make the best of each and every day to clear our  mind s  so that we  can hear from You. Please broaden our  mind s  that we  can accept all things. Let us  not whine and whimper over things we  have no control over. Let us  continue to see sin through Your eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when we  sin, let us  repent, and confes...