Time to own our Responsibility (4)

“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

It is never too late to repent. We, the people of this world, have made a mess of things and God is willing to step in and deliver us as we learn to handle what God has told us to handle.

Dear Heavenly Father – Please reveal yourself to us. Help set us on fire and fill us with love. Please open our eyes to see and our understanding to know what we are studying today. Please continue to pour out your grace upon us! – In Jesus name we pray, Amen

After volunteering at a charity and seeing the need, I had worked for a few months on developing and preparing a fundraiser for that charity and scheduled the launch for 3 days after the USA election.  (I live in the US.)  Simple concept, I designed and created an item and sold it (for less than a cup of fancy coffee at a coffee shop) at 50% mark-up with full transparency and 100% of the profits go to the regional food bank. (Did you know 1 in 4 household are experiencing food insecurities during 2020?) Because shipping was a vital part of the fundraiser, we scheduled it for after the election ballots were shipped and before the Christmas cards and gifts start taxing the postal service. This wasn’t my idea. God said to do it. The timing was perfect. We launched.

I have seen many people donate to many other charities so generously, but not to this. I am not worried. God said to do it and so I did, and He will bless it. My brother decided to help by raffling off one of my items in his business in hopes to help raise even more money. He lost money with trying to do so. I have kept the fundraiser in prayer and tried to do as God wanted each step of the way. 
Is it the timing – my small area of influence was just too preoccupied with the media’s gossip on projected winners? It is the charity that is supported? People would rather give money to cancer research than to feeding the hungry? Granted the item I am selling is not something anyone needs, but it is cute. But do people really support charities with the sole intention of purchasing the item?
I had one friend say I would rather go to the store and buy a needy family $200 in groceries than spend $5 to contribute to a food bank, cause the money might help someone who isn’t really needy and takes advantage of a food pantry giving away free food.  My heart breaks (especially since I know he will not go buy food for a needy family). 

1 in 4 households is the current statistic – 25% of the USA (once a great and prosperous nation) are struggling to feed their household.  Haven’t they ever been hungry?

I happened upon this verse:
“Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it.” Ezekiel 16:49-50 ESV

It really struck me as we sit and wait for election results it feels like we wait to see if God is going to judge the USA for her transgressions or if maybe there was found a enough righteous in the eyes of God to defer His judgement.  75% of the nation is not just fed, the USA is known internationally for overeating and having excess of food. Yet here we are confronted with this data.  There are 20 houses on my block and potential 5 of those houses do not have enough food in them.

“Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.” Proverbs 28:27 ESV

“If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” Isaiah 58:10 ESV

“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:17-18 ESV

In Matthew 25, Jesus says that if you feed the hungry, you have fed Him! Since Jesus is no longer on the earth, I cannot invite Him over for a tasty meal – but I can help to feed the poor.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 ESV
“The law of Christ” is how this is worded. Helping each other and feeding the hungry is a responsibility Christians have. 
According to Wikipedia, 62% of the people polled claim to be a member of a church and a Christian. And it is estimated that there are 205 million Christians in the USA. The US population is estimated to be approximately 331,002,700 according to UN data. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions regarding if Christians are actually obedient in feeding the hungry. And yes, my friend who said he would buy $200 in groceries, but won’t – proclaims he is a Christian.

Throughout this election and still through to today – both sides are posting memes of hatred for the other and accusing the other of not having love.  As they throw hate at each other, there are hungry children.

“³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40 NIV

Do we love God? Do we have a relationship with Him? Are we obediently taking responsibility for our Christianity? 

“¹⁵ So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
¹⁶ He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I ^]love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”  John 21:15-17 NKJV

Although this passage in John is often interpreted as feeding and tending sheep and lambs being symbols of Peter being the cornerstone of the church and Peter spiritually feeding the church – let us look at it in terms of Peter’s actual ministry. Peter did build the church and did it through caring for the young (lambs) and old – and feeding the poor as well as feeding them spiritually.  Therefore it is not incorrect to surmise (also remaining mindful of all the other Bible verses about feeding and caring for the poor) that if we love Jesus we will feed the hungry.

I am sure you all would donate to the fundraiser I am doing.  I am not opening it up to you all, though. First, because God did not tell me to. Second, because you all have poor and hungry in your own areas which need your attention and help. Many of you are already working and donating and volunteering – doing your part. Thank you!

Participating in charity work is a form of worship – both honoring God and giving glory to Him! I know that my obedience in my fundraiser shall ultimately give him Glory despite what I see right now – I know that when it looks impossible, God is ready to take over and do exceedingly abundantly more than I could have imagined. I know, because I know God – I know because I have a relationship with Him.

If you don’t already, and today you would like to have a relationship with a God who can communicate with you and be part of your life (and protect you) – one who is full of mighty power and tender love, then please know that I have put the “A, B, C’s of Salvation” in my introduction. Please click here to follow the link.**

Thank you for reading ~ Grace be with you
Be healthy and blessed ~ I love you and love one another
Watch and Pray ~ Seek God & keep your eyes on Jesus!

Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!