Title: True Believers and Salvation
True Believers and Salvation
Text: James 2:15-16
“If a brother or sister is naked and has no daily bread, and any of you say to him, “Go in peace, keep warm, and be satisfied, and do not give him food for his body, what profit is it?”
Carl E. Bates, who has resigned as president of the Southern Baptist Convention in the United States, told the following story during a sermon:
“I heard stories of Native Americans who died of starvation from missionary Colin Morris, who was sent to Zambia. Their bodies were found less than 100 yards from the mission field. When they dissected him, he found only a few leaves and a little grass in his stomach. Even in this situation, the denominations in their home country that are supporting the mission are seriously fighting over what to do with the leftover bread after the Lord's Supper."
The problems that God's children must give priority to are hunger, sorrow, and suffering. Only by caring for and caring for such people can we become more like the Lord.
“If you scatter alms, you will become richer; if you spare too much, you will only become poor. Those who love alms will prosper, and those who refresh others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:24-25).
Three mothers and daughters unfortunately lost their lives in a lightning bolt. According to the Songpa Police Station in Seoul, on February 26, 2014, around 9:20 pm, on the first basement floor of a detached house in Seokchon-dong, Songpa-gu, the owner of the house, Mr. Lim (73), Mr. Park (60) and his two daughters, Mr. A (35) , B (32) was found dead. Three mothers and daughters who suffered from hardship committed suicide together.
The windows in the cramped room were sealed with blue tape, and the ashes from the lightning bolts remained. The envelope found at the scene was accompanied by 700,000 won in cash and the words, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Last rent and utility bills. I'm really sorry."
Their deaths are presumed to be due to hardship. Park's husband, who died of bladder cancer about 10 years ago, left a huge debt, and the household went down sharply. Before her husband died, the two daughters had bad credit because of a credit card they made in their daughter's name. To make matters worse, the eldest daughter was not in good health, and the burden of hospital expenses was high. Park, a mother of two daughters, has been taking care of her children by working in a restaurant after her husband Kim died 12 years ago. However, it is said that Park was unable to even work at a restaurant due to a recent arm injury. Also, her daughter, who had high blood pressure and diabetes, was unable to get a job due to bad credit. A police official said, "It is presumed that the mother and daughter committed suicide together, considering that there was no sign of outsiders entering or killing, and the fact that they smoked lightning bullets."
“This is the last rent and utility bill, I’m really sorry” makes my heart ache even more…how hard it must have been.” It is truly a pity.
The Bible says
'You command those who are rich in this generation not to be high in heart, not to put their hope in unpredictable riches, but to put their hope in God, who gives us all things to enjoy, doing good, being rich in good works, loving to share, and compassionate. Let them become you” (1 Timothy 6:17-18).
“If someone has the goods of this world and sees his brother in need and shuts off his heart to help, how can the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17)
We are living in unprecedented material abundance in history. In it, it seems that we are increasingly forgetting about poverty. They don't care about the poor lives around them, nor do they understand the hardships they face.
God has told us not to become indifferent to our poor neighbors around us. In Deuteronomy, he taught how to help poor neighbors in detail. (Deuteronomy 15:1-11, 24:10-22) And God promised to bless them when helping poor brothers.
“Blessed is he who counsels the needy; in the day of calamity the Lord will deliver him” (Psalm 41:1).
“He who has mercy on the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his good deed” (Proverbs 19:17).
“Blessed is the one who has good eyes, for he gives food to the poor” (Proverbs 22:9).
“But we have entrusted to remember the poor, which I have endeavored to do from the beginning” (Galatians 2:10).
In today's increasingly selfish world, we must show the love of Christ to our neighbors, and we must especially care for our poor neighbors and be sensitive to their needs (2 Corinthians 9:9, Isaiah 58:7, Ezekiel 18:7).
We must live by helping, comforting, and sharing with those who are weaker than ourselves. Today, I pray in the name of the Lord that you will live a beautiful life with true good deeds.
* Prayer: Loving God, grant me grace so that I can take good care of the suffering of my neighbors with a heart of serving you, guide the poor so that they do not become indifferent, do not turn a blind eye to their neighbors in need, and fulfill their mission like a good Samaritan May the Holy Spirit always help you to bear it. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen
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