TO CARE OR TO THROW STONES?

Dear Believer,

Let us perform a simple exercise today. It is about reaching out to those who have helped us in out times of need.

I got to know quite early in ministry that many Believers find it very easy to neglect showing care to people who deeply care for them.

Having related with very many parents, pastors and others who selflessly sacrifice for others, I can tell you confidently that many of these people are sometimes carrying burdens that are too heavy for them and need help, too.

Moses led the multitude of Israelites in the wilderness towards the Promised Land. It wasn’t a job he was eager to take up. In fact, he argued with God and bluntly rejected that job at first.

But right from the beginning the people attacked him whenever anything seemed to be going wrong. They blamed Moses and Aaron for every discomfort and there were times they even wanted to kill them.

Numbers 14:10.
But all the congregation threatened to stone them with stones. Yahweh’s glory appeared in the Tent of Meeting to all the children of Israel.

That was at the very threshold of their quest. If God hadn’t come down to defend His servants, they would have been lynched.

There was a time a band of Amalekites raided and kidnaped the wives and children of everyone in the Camp of David. These people were so grieved that they all decided to stone David to death also. It mattered not to them that David also suffered the same loss that they suffered.

1 Samuel 30:5-6
And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

Can you see the selfishness of these people? David had saved them from their oppressor, but now they wanted to kill him because they suffered a loss, which David also suffered. If they had succeeded, they would have lost everything because it was David who eventually found a solution.

We stone our leaders when we become so selfish and don’t care that they are also going through the same hardship we are enduring. Many of them are not sharing their pains with you because they do not want to burden you further.

Paul admonishes us:

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

He also said to the Corinthians:

If we sowed spiritual blessings among you, is it too much to reap material things from you? (1 Corinthians 9:11)

This means when someone is being used to bless you spiritually, especially on a consistent basis, you have a responsibility to bless them materially.

And for the millionth time I say, giving is very important. The world has portrayed those who serve others spiritually as greedy and only in it for the money, but you, Believer, should know better.

Many Believers only wait till their leader makes a mistake, and they pick up the ‘stones.’ They hardly appreciate their spiritual leaders in any positive way.

But concerning you, my friend, I say like the writer of the Epistles to the Hebrews “But beloved, even if we speak so, we have confidence of the better things concerning you…” (Hebrews 6:9). I believe you will live above this level.

Care for those who have been used to bless you. They also need encouragement like you do.

Start to do this today by reaching out to them.

Have a great day.

Your friend,
Deon.
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© August 2020 DailyVotions by Deon Akintomide.