We Need a Living Faith

 

There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.

 - Deuteronomy 15:11

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done. 

- Proverbs 19:17

In a recent Christianity Today article, writer Anthony Baxter related that:

“Churches across the UK are being asked to open their doors this winter as a place of warmth and support for people struggling with the cost of living crisis. Food and energy price rises have sent household bills soaring, leaving many people worried about how they will get through the winter and facing the prospect of choosing between heating or eating. Last month Citizens' Advice forecast that 1 in 4 people will not be able to afford their new energy bills despite the recently announced price cap. Responding to the crisis, the ChurchWorks Commission has launched a new initiative asking churches and community centres to open up as a place of warmth and welcome during the winter months. The 'Warm Welcome' campaign has the support of former prime minister Gordon Brown and 1,000 churches have already signed up.

Mr Brown said, "This crisis goes far beyond politics; this is a moral issue - our responsibilities to our neighbours and in particular to those who have the least and whose needs are the greatest.”

Paul Butler, the Bishop of Durham (Church of England) and Chair of the ChurchWorks Commission said, "Over the last few years, we have seen inspiring and meaningful action from churches across the UK stepping up to help those most vulnerable. Through the Covid-19 pandemic, the Church responded quickly and creatively. Now, during another national crisis, churches and community centres need to once again step up by being places of warm welcome in their localities. As bills increase, even with government support, millions will be affected and unable to afford basics. Churches and community groups are perfectly positioned to help those who need a place of warmth and welcome, but if we are truly going to make an impact on a national level, we need hundreds of groups to pledge their space."

Churches to give a warm welcome this winter as energy prices soar (christiantoday.com)

Now, we know this article is concentrated on the UK. “Why, that’s on the other side of the pond!” you might say. But…

According to recent reports, the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) estimates the average American family may pay up to $1,200 more this winter to heat their home…which is notable considering most families are already feeling financially strapped.

What’s more, the 40% of U.S. families that use natural gas to heat their homes could see their winter heating costs increase by 30%, according to NEADA.

Yeah, we are all going to have a tough winter. But, for some, it could be economically catastrophic. It’s why we should remember the words, And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased - Hebrews 13:16.

We all need to be there for one another. We need others to be there for us.

After all, today may be a good day. There may be money in the bank. Electricity in the house. Food in the refrigerator. Health in the home. Your team winning. Happiness in the heart.

But, tomorrow? Well, we don’t know about tomorrow. Neither do you. Therefore, we must remember to care for one another…to love one another. After all, Jesus said, Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” - Luke 6:38.

That’s good news. I care for you. You care for me. We care for one another. It’s Christian.

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

In our lives, Missy and I have seen a lot of Christians not act like Christ. Likewise, we’ve seen a lot of non-Christ followers act like Christ. Things that make you go, “Hmmm.”

This winter - let’s open our hearts and yes our churches to those in need. We know what is coming. We know how to help. But, knowing and doing are two different things. Knowing what Jesus said and doing what Jesus said? Yeah, there’s a difference.

So, it’s going to get cold. What can we (followers of Jesus) do about it?
    1.) Be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit as God speaks to you and directs your path.
    2.) Listen to others. Look at others. You will know if they need help.
    3.) If you need help, crush pride and reach out - give someone else the opportunity to care and love you.
    4.) Don’t say, “I’ll be praying about that.” Do something about that.
    5.) Encourage your religious leaders to create opportunities for the entire fellowship to do something about the physical needs of those in your community.
    6.) Don’t play the blame game for others unfortunate circumstances. You wouldn’t want people blaming you for something that is beyond your control either.

You say you love Jesus? “Go, and do likewise.” Sisters and brothers, the world needs our living faith.

"Ground Beef and Gas - Does God Care?"

11-09-2021

Then the LORD said to Elijah, “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.” So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.” But she said, “I swear by the LORD your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.” But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!’” So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah. 

 (I Kings 17:8-16)

Many people are becoming more and more aware and worried about our economic future. There is already the unfortunate rise of “shrink-flation” where we are getting less but it is costing more. According to the Wall Street Journal: “Supermarkets say shoppers are buying more store-brand meat products and trading down from beef to less-expensive alternatives such as chicken or pork, after prices for products such as rib-eye climbed about 40% from a year ago...Some consumers are replacing boneless chicken breast with cheaper bone-in chicken, retailers said…”Everybody is trying to find something that fits within their wallet.” (Consumers Trade Rib-eye for Ground Beef as Grocery Prices Rise - Wall Street Journal Report 11/07/2021)

With all of us already dealing with the fastest price increases in decades, another major issue is just on the horizon: a widely expected increase in winter heating bills. Energy prices have soared and natural gas, used to heat almost half of U.S. households, has almost doubled in price since this time last year. That’s not to even mention fuel for our vehicles.

That’s not a lot of good news. Especially with the holidays already here. What does it all mean for the community of faith? People are going to need our help more than ever. We are going to need one another more than ever.

In our text from I Kings we read one of the more intriguing stories from the Old Testament. Here are a few things to take from it and how they apply to the current, and unfortunately, dire financial situation we find ourselves in.

One, God called Elijah...to go. God is still calling us today and He is calling us to go. None of us has been created to simply live to ourselves. We are called from focusing on ourselves and our situations to go to others and meet their needs. Go. Hear the need. See the need. Understand the need. Meet the need.

Two, God had someone in place to take care of Elijah. Elijah was released from worrying about himself as God had already prepared - in his wisdom - for the very person Elijah was to stay with to actually take care of his needs! In God’s providence and knowledge he knew how everything would play out and had prepared accordingly. Still, there was one thing necessary to set it all in motion...

Three, Elijah’s obedience. The prophet’s willingness to do exactly as God commanded is the one part of the equation that released God’s blessing. It’s simple mathematics actually: A + B = C. You take any portion of that equation away and there is no correct answer. It is impossible.

And such it is with God’s promise to his children to care for them. God promises to love us...and we, in response, should love him and one another. God cares for you. You care for us. God cares for us. We care for you. It’s that simple.

And it’s necessary. Especially in times such as these. There may be shortages of gas, heat, food, water, toilet paper, etc. But, let it never be said that there is a shortage of love. Especially among the children of God.

How completely dependent upon God we are for the common, everyday, necessary things of life! And yet we are prone to forget the truth that we need one another as well. Depend upon God and depend upon God’s people. Let us not forget that.

Were we to travel back in time and take an inventory of this poor widow's resources, how short it would be! A little meal in a barrel and a little in a bowl. Were we to walk around her cottage, we would find nothing of substance in it. There is little doubt her furniture had all been sold before her last desperate resolution was taken...eat and die.

The story of the widow of Zarephath is an illustration of the process that every day goes on in many homes: the selling of goods to the pawn shop to buy some food for the week, precious objects and heirlooms sold to pay for housing, searching for change to purchase diapers...sometimes the very necessities of life are given up by parents so their children will have clothes to keep them warm as winter inches closer.

Yes, sometimes these sad situations are the result of mindless spending, bad money decisions, or just plain rotten luck. But too often they are the sad results of generational poverty, unexpected medical emergencies, loss of income, drugs and other unforeseen family issues.

How critical it is for us to remember God desires to supply us “our daily bread.” After all - everything in the earth is his and at his disposal including “two fish and five loaves of bread.” All for the care of his children. Elijah was supplied by the ravens and a poor widow...how will God provide for us this week? How will we provide for one another?

PS - as we finish this tonight...our car broke down on Missy on the way to the Bible study she leads. It’s sitting on a side street. Tomorrow we will try to get it fixed. We trust God has already worked that out and we pray that whatever you are facing God will work that out as well. “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way...”

Missy and Steve