Happy Tuesday, everyone! I can't believe the holidays are just around the corner and it's definitely an exciting time. Currently my family is getting ready by planning out well-loved recipes, decorating, and savoring the joy that accompanies holiday festivities.
One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is seeing many people cheerfully give the excess resources. Many individuals choose to donate money to their favorite charities, people are invited into each other's homes, and gather around a table to laugh and share a delicious meal together.
However, there is also a flip side to such joyful generosity. There are some people who would rather choose to be skeptical and stingy with their extra blessings. I've heard it time and time again, "But how do I know this organization is really using the money to help others?" "Why should i donate when I need more money to buy more toys and gifts for myself?" "If I give money to that homeless person, of course they're using it for drugs and alcohol." "How can I be positive this is legitimate?"
I get it. I feel like at some point in our lives we have been scammed or tricked. There are stories of fraudulent organizations that literally rob well-meaning folks into funding a cause that doesn't exist and ends up in rich people's wallets instead of those that actually need it. And God wants us to be wise and use discernment with what he has entrusted to us. He calls us to be good stewards of our resources and use common sense. However, that should not interfere with our desire and ability to care for others. God also calls us to live by faith. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about things we do not see." This means that when we chose to give our time and money to those around us, we will not be able to see how those things will be utilized. We just have to trust that God will bless our gifts and deliver hope to a world that desperately needs it. More often than not, we have to give others the benefit of the doubt. Be careful of who or what you label as a scam or liar. Sometimes the real scammers and liars are ourselves because we say we are Christians and want to serve others like Jesus did on earth, but turn around only to hoard things for ourselves.
We can all give something. Maybe we don't need that $5 coffee and can donate that money to a worth cause. Maybe we can listen to someone else talk about their day/week/year instead of insisting of always speaking up. Maybe we can be a compassionate and calming presence to a person who feels forgotten and alone. This holiday season, (and quite frankly every day of our lives) let's all try to love other people a little bit deeper and a little bit bigger. Let's offer whatever we have to give. Let's all be Christ's hands and feet to a hurting and broken world. Let's show skeptics what true faith and service looks like.
We tend to make an idol out of clarity and certainty. We love facts and guarantees. It makes us feel secure. Yet as believers, we are called to live lives of deep faith in Christ and his mission. Jesus constantly invites us to walk out on the water and into his arms of love, but oftentimes we refuse to leave the boat. Jesus knows we can be easily frightened and intimidated but he promises us that we are not alone. He will help us trust God more. He will help us commit to loving more people than before. He will help us seek first God's vision of building his Kingdom. God knows our every weakness and out of his love for us, he gives us strength and courage when we feel scared.
Loving others begins with asking God for his help and guidance. I cannot truly love other people if i don't first approach God's throne of grace and mercy each day. I desperately want to be a person who gives others the benefit of the doubt even when it seems too difficult, but I cannot do that without God's help. He enables me to love people around even when I feel like it's too tough. When we ask God for his guidance and support to seek first his kingdom, God sends an army of angels to help us. Sometimes the armies consist of other people who are also seeking to serve God and sometimes the army is made up of awesome organizations and charities that give us fresh ways to give with sincere and joyful hearts. The bottom line is that God is always more than ready to help us when it comes to building his kingdom.
Have an amazing holiday season. I pray God strengthens our hearts and minds to be fixed solely on him and his will. May we learn to think less about ourselves and more about how to be bearers of true faith and hope to a world that needs Jesus.
Peace, Joy, and Blessings,
Chloe
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