Service with a Smile

If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land, which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall NOT harden your heart nor SHUT YOUR HAND from your poor brother, but you shall OPEN YOUR HAND wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, WHATEVER HE NEEDS. . . You shall surely GIVE TO HIM, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord God will bless you in ALL your works and in ALL to which you put your hand. (Deuteronomy 15:7-10)

Does anyone remember what we celebrate THANKS-GIVING? There is a really good way to give thanks to God . . . give to others,Matthew 26:11 and John 12:8 remind us that we will always have the poor among us. In fact, Jewish farmers knew this and would be instructed to set aside the outside of the farms for the poor to collect crops. But the Lord is challenging them a bit further in this command. 

If our light is to SHINE (Matthew 5:16) than we are to be DIFFERENT from the others. 

Most people help and than look to see who is watching and what award they can receive. In fact, many programs GIVE THE GIVERS a gift when they serve or donate. But God calls us to do it without reward and without notice. We are to give with a smile! We are to give and then feel real good about what we have done, not what we will receive. 

Of course, God sees it and will reward us one day, but that is not WHY we give. We give because JESUS gave . . . He gave HIS LIFE! Therefore our lives should be known for GIVING! Think about that as the SEASON of GIVING approaches!!!