Good, Better, Best
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)
Every Wednesday it’s fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans, cornbread and tea. Or, it’s pork chops, collard greens, yams, rolls and punch. Or, perhaps it’s country fried steak, peas, carrots and fruit.
Whatever it is – it’s the best.
Never just soup.
Never just a sandwich.
It’s always our best.
That’s what drew me to Consolidated Baptist Church – they give their best to those in need. Every Wednesday, the lunch program cooks up whole meals for the homeless and the needy. Nobody’s questioned. Nobody’s harassed.
You just come in, have a seat and we serve you – our best.
I was amazed when I stumbled on this jewel. To me, it represented real ministry, real religion. And, it’s what God intended.
The Bible says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)
That means we care for those who are needy, distressed and for whatever reason unable to care for themselves. And it means we give our best.
Think about it.
If we were homeless, hungry or heart broken – what would we want?
Yes, soup and sandwich would suffice, but it wouldn’t necessarily satisfy.
Meat, potatoes, cornbread and greens, however, hits the spot.
It satisfies.
It soothes.
And it might just be somebody’s inspiration for holding on to hope - knowing that someone cares enough to give their best.
To me, that’s ministry.
And it’s an example we should all follow.
I recently heard something profound: it’s better to give than to receive.
Nothing new you say?
Let’s examine it further.
All my life I’ve considered this a trite statement. You hear it at Christmas, and it’s intended to get us in a giving mood. But now I hear this phrase anew.
It’s better to give than to receive.
It’s better to BE ABLE to give – than to be in need of receiving.
Get it?
It’s better to have $10 to buy somebody else lunch – than to be the hungry one in need of a free lunch. It’s better to pay someone else’s rent – than to be the one about to be evicted.
It’s better. It’s better. It’s better.
To give – than receive.
Only God’s grace, only God’s mercy, has us in a position to give rather than receive. And even if we’re on the receiving end, it’s only God’s grace and only God’s mercy that blesses others to give to us.
And whatever we give or receive – prayerfully, it’s the best.
God gave his best.
He gave his only son so we could live eternally. That was his best. It was a part of himself that he loved. Yet, he sacrificed his beloved so we could live.
Can we follow his example?
Can we give our best – not just something, so we can say we gave.
I think a lot of that happened while attempting to help the hurricane survivors. My heart hurt when I heard of a local church opening its doors to survivors – and offering them inflated mattresses to sleep on. My soul soured when I heard of another city re-opening a condemned housing complex for the survivors.
What’s that about?
Yes, it’s something – but it’s not our best.
As children of God, we’re called to live higher and live holy. That means more is expected of us, and if we truly trust and believe God, we’ll give our best - knowing that He’ll replenish us so we can continue to be a blessing to others.
We are God’s messengers.
And, when we see a need, we are to meet it – fully, completely, to the best of our ability. Even if it involves sacrifice.
An example: a friend once lost her rent money, and I was eager to help replace it. My first thought was, “Oh, I’ll just give her my tithing money.” But, that felt wrong.
I sensed God calling me to pay my tithes, tighten my budget elsewhere – and then bless her. Otherwise, I wasn’t really sacrificing anything. I was just stealing from God.
I think we’re all guilty of this.
It’s not a sacrifice to give away dirty jeans, raggedy t-shirts and shoes just short of holes in their soles. How’s that a blessing?
Nor is it a blessing to give lima beans, spinach, beets and okra to the local food drive. Our families don’t like them – why would we want someone else’s to eat it on Christmas Day?
Let’s stretch.
Let’s reach.
Let’s go a little higher in Him whenever we’re called to give.
Let’s give our best in honor of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – because that’s what God did when he gave us Christ, his son. He gave us His best.
Know that I love you each, L.
Every Wednesday it’s fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans, cornbread and tea. Or, it’s pork chops, collard greens, yams, rolls and punch. Or, perhaps it’s country fried steak, peas, carrots and fruit.
Whatever it is – it’s the best.
Never just soup.
Never just a sandwich.
It’s always our best.
That’s what drew me to Consolidated Baptist Church – they give their best to those in need. Every Wednesday, the lunch program cooks up whole meals for the homeless and the needy. Nobody’s questioned. Nobody’s harassed.
You just come in, have a seat and we serve you – our best.
I was amazed when I stumbled on this jewel. To me, it represented real ministry, real religion. And, it’s what God intended.
The Bible says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)
That means we care for those who are needy, distressed and for whatever reason unable to care for themselves. And it means we give our best.
Think about it.
If we were homeless, hungry or heart broken – what would we want?
Yes, soup and sandwich would suffice, but it wouldn’t necessarily satisfy.
Meat, potatoes, cornbread and greens, however, hits the spot.
It satisfies.
It soothes.
And it might just be somebody’s inspiration for holding on to hope - knowing that someone cares enough to give their best.
To me, that’s ministry.
And it’s an example we should all follow.
I recently heard something profound: it’s better to give than to receive.
Nothing new you say?
Let’s examine it further.
All my life I’ve considered this a trite statement. You hear it at Christmas, and it’s intended to get us in a giving mood. But now I hear this phrase anew.
It’s better to give than to receive.
It’s better to BE ABLE to give – than to be in need of receiving.
Get it?
It’s better to have $10 to buy somebody else lunch – than to be the hungry one in need of a free lunch. It’s better to pay someone else’s rent – than to be the one about to be evicted.
It’s better. It’s better. It’s better.
To give – than receive.
Only God’s grace, only God’s mercy, has us in a position to give rather than receive. And even if we’re on the receiving end, it’s only God’s grace and only God’s mercy that blesses others to give to us.
And whatever we give or receive – prayerfully, it’s the best.
God gave his best.
He gave his only son so we could live eternally. That was his best. It was a part of himself that he loved. Yet, he sacrificed his beloved so we could live.
Can we follow his example?
Can we give our best – not just something, so we can say we gave.
I think a lot of that happened while attempting to help the hurricane survivors. My heart hurt when I heard of a local church opening its doors to survivors – and offering them inflated mattresses to sleep on. My soul soured when I heard of another city re-opening a condemned housing complex for the survivors.
What’s that about?
Yes, it’s something – but it’s not our best.
As children of God, we’re called to live higher and live holy. That means more is expected of us, and if we truly trust and believe God, we’ll give our best - knowing that He’ll replenish us so we can continue to be a blessing to others.
We are God’s messengers.
And, when we see a need, we are to meet it – fully, completely, to the best of our ability. Even if it involves sacrifice.
An example: a friend once lost her rent money, and I was eager to help replace it. My first thought was, “Oh, I’ll just give her my tithing money.” But, that felt wrong.
I sensed God calling me to pay my tithes, tighten my budget elsewhere – and then bless her. Otherwise, I wasn’t really sacrificing anything. I was just stealing from God.
I think we’re all guilty of this.
It’s not a sacrifice to give away dirty jeans, raggedy t-shirts and shoes just short of holes in their soles. How’s that a blessing?
Nor is it a blessing to give lima beans, spinach, beets and okra to the local food drive. Our families don’t like them – why would we want someone else’s to eat it on Christmas Day?
Let’s stretch.
Let’s reach.
Let’s go a little higher in Him whenever we’re called to give.
Let’s give our best in honor of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – because that’s what God did when he gave us Christ, his son. He gave us His best.
Know that I love you each, L.
Comments
Love you,
Isunji