http://www.rightnow.org/are-you-a-trader/community
What did each of these people give?
What did they receive?
Each of us are by nature traders. We give our time, energy and attention to something everyday every day. God has given us lives to live. In a way, our lives are like money. We spend them every moment we are alive. What are you spending your life on? What is it that you are hoping to get?
Most of us, if we're honest, want to receive attention, popularity, money, friends, stuff, really anything that will make us happy.
Jesus says:
“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
(Luke 12:15 ESV)
Life is not found in stuff. Happiness doesn't come from the things that we naturally crave.
Rather, by trusting in him we choose to believe that our reward is Christ himself. Though we may never see a return on our investment in other people's lives, we know that He is our great reward. Instead of spending the time that we have been given on this earth for our own selfish desires, we need to open our eyes to the needs around us and give to meet those needs. When we give our time, energy and attention to those in need around us we show the world that the life that Christ calls us to is far more valuable than the a life lived for ourselves.
Take a look at the questions and instructions from RightNow.org. This week asked the Lord to open your eyes to see the needs around you and to show you how you might meet those needs for the sakes of the Kingdom of God.
Why
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:14-17
Questions
1. What are the immediate and unique needs in your community?
2. In what ways do your passions and skills intersect a need in your community?
3. What are the things that you see that make your fists clinch? What are the injustices around you?
4. Who are the people, organizations, churches that are doing something to make Jesus known in your community?
5. What can you do? Who can do it with you?
2. In what ways do your passions and skills intersect a need in your community?
3. What are the things that you see that make your fists clinch? What are the injustices around you?
4. Who are the people, organizations, churches that are doing something to make Jesus known in your community?
5. What can you do? Who can do it with you?
What Now
1. Write down the unique needs that are present in your community.
2. Identify some key people and/or ministries to pray and brainstorm with.
3. Consider launching a ministry of neighboring. The Bible tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Sadly, most of us don’t even know our neighbors very well. Get out. Meet your neighbors. Understand their needs. Grill some burgers for them…
2. Identify some key people and/or ministries to pray and brainstorm with.
3. Consider launching a ministry of neighboring. The Bible tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Sadly, most of us don’t even know our neighbors very well. Get out. Meet your neighbors. Understand their needs. Grill some burgers for them…
No comments:
Post a Comment