A Right Heart

Philippians 2:4 (KjV) Says, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." 1 John 3:17 (KJV) Says, "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" Galatians 6:2 (KJV) Says, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Proverbs 19:17 (KJV) Says, "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again." Proverbs 22:9 (KJV) Says, "He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor." 2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV) Says, "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity:  for God loveth a cheerful giver." Matthew 6:1-4 (KJV) Says, "Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them:  otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in Heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have the glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret:  And thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly."

The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Philippians makes clear that God wants us to look out for one another. The verse taken from 1 John makes clear that if we have plenty, and we know of someone who is in need we should have compassion on them, and help them. This verse also makes clear that, if we know of one in need and we do nothing to help them then the love of God is not in us. As born again believers in, and followers of Jesus Christ who have the Holy Spirit living within us, we should have the desire in our hearts to help those in need when we are able to. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Galatians tells us that bearing one another's burdens is fulfilling the law of Christ. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Proverbs makes clear that those of us who have pity on the poor and lend to them  are lending to the Lord. It also tells us that the Lord will repay us. The verse taken from chapter 22 of proverbs states that those who give to the poor will be blessed. The above verse taken from 2 Corinthians makes clear that we are to give with a right heart. We are not to give while begrudging, or because we have to do so, but because we have the love of Christ in our hearts and we desire to help others. Finally, the verses of scripture taken from the book of Matthew makes clear to us that if we give and make it known or do it for show in order to get the praise of men then their praise alone is our reward. If we give with a right heart and do not boast of our giving to others, but do it in private then we well be rewarded by God Himself. 

By definition, God is love. When we opt to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior then the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, and we become a new creature in Christ. As born again believers in Jesus Christ we should have the desire to help others and to do so with a right heart. The Word of God tells us that Christians are known by their fruit. The fruit of the Spirit is listed for us in Galatians 5:22-23 which says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." If a Christian is aware of someone in need and they do not have the desire in their heart to help them, when they are able to do so then not only is the love of Christ not in them, but they are also failing to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit.

I encourage you to adhere to the Word of God, and to help the poor and needy whenever you are given the opportunity to do so. If you have difficulty helping others without begrudging the help, then go to God in prayer, and ask him to cleanse your heart. Giving to and or helping others and doing so begrudgingly or doing so in order to get the praise of men is in no way pleasing to God. If you have the desire to please God, give without begrudging it, and keep the fact that you helped someone to yourself. The Word of God tells us that we will always have the poor among us, and it warns us about treating them badly. Matthew 25:31-36 (KJV) tells us in the Words of Jesus about God separating the people standing before him on judgment day referring to them as goats and sheep. He places the goats on his left and the sheep on his right. He speaks to those standing on his right hand saying to them come and inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. He says to them that He was hungry and they gave Him meat, that He was thirsty and they gave Him drink, that He was a stranger and they took Him in, that He was naked and they clothed Him, that He was sick and they visited Him, that He was in prison and they came to see Him. The righteous then asked him when they did all of these things, and His reply was "Verily, I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it unto one of the lease of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." He then addresses those standing on His left and says to them "Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away unto everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."  

I encourage to help those in need any time you are given the opportunity to do so. I urge you to remember that it is pleasing to God, and that you are doing it unto Him. God will bless and repay you for being a blessing to others, when you do it with a right heart.  I also encourage you to remember to give because you truly desire to help, not begrudgingly, and not for the praise of men. Don't allow the devil to cause you to pass up an opportunity to be a blessing to someone by convincing you that they're being deceptive. If they are asking for help and do not truly need it then God will deal with them, and he will still bless you.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!