Serving

“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’” - Deuteronomy 15:7-11

God made it clear to Moses that his people were to look out for one another: “You shall open wide your hand.” God’s people are to be generous with one another. God’s commandment hints strongly at a reciprocal obligation on the part of those Israelites who have benefited most from his blessing. It also hints that lending as envisaged in the law may well be to the cost of the lender and not the recipient.

We are created to serve one another and to do so cheerfully, acknowledging God gives us opportunities in our lives to reflect his love and generosity into the world. As Jesus fed, healed, and loved others, we who follow him are to emulate him.

Where has God given you opportunities in your life to serve others? Make a list below and reflect on how God is using you and how you are listening to and serving God:

My service experiences:

What God is saying to me:

How I am responding to God:

Prayer

O God, the father of the forsaken, the help of the weak, the supplier of the needy; you teach us that love towards the race of man is the bond of perfectness and the imitation of your blessed self. Open and touch our hearts that we may see and do, both for this world and that which is to come, the things that belong to our peace. Strengthen us in the work which we have undertaken; give us wisdom, perseverance, faith and zeal, and in your own time and according to your pleasure prosper the issue; for the love of your Son Christ Jesus. Amen.

- Lord Shaftesbury, 1801-1885