Helping A Brother In Need

It is quite admirable to be able to notice a brother in need and be in the position to help out.  When you've done it to the least of Christ's brethren, you've done it unto Him (cf. Matt. 25:40).  The question Christ will ask at judgment is when you saw the naked did you clothe them, or the hungry did you feed them, etc. Paul said that "My God shall supply all your need..." (Philippians 4:19).  God doesn't promise to provide our felt needs or wants, just our needs.  Some need more than others, but the purpose is to do the will of God, not our will.  If you need it to do God's will, He will supply.

"Saint Theresa was going to build a convent with a sum the equivalent of twelve pence as her complete resources.  Someone said to her, 'Not even Saint Theresa can accomplish much with twelve pence.'  'True, she answered, 'but Saint Theresa and twelve pence and God can do anything.'" (anecdote quoted from William Barclay's The Letter to the Romans.)  The fact is that God has unlimited resources and we don't work for Buddha:  God has nothing against rich people or riches per se.  But when we are not rich toward God (see Luke 12:21 and the parable of the foolish tenant) it is foolish to put our trust in riches.  Our life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions, and we are to be content with what we have, and not be envious of what others have.

Greed is the driving force in modern society as a rule in a materialistic age, and some people who love money never seem to have enough and aren't satisfied no matter what.  They ask a millionaire how much would make him happy:  Just a little more!  They always want a more than they have, no matter how much they have.  We are all stewards of what God has assigned us and have different degrees of responsibility and are all accountable both in this life and at Judgment Day.  We also reap what we sow and it seems like the evil get rich and prosper, but the Bible says in Psalm 17:14 that it is because their reward or portion is in this life.  I would rather go to my reward when I pass on than leave my riches behind.

Although it is true that it does no good to help some people because they are irresponsible and will spend it unwisely if you give a beggar on skid row a dollar, he will buy a bottle of wine and if you offer to take him to a restaurant to get fed, he will decline.  Helping someone in need isn't just financial, it may be of your time because everyone knows the cliche that love is spelled T-I-M-E. When absentee fathers don't spend any time with their children no wonder they grow into delinquents and live maladjusted lives searching for an identity.

Each person should decide in his own heart how much he is to give and be faithful to that, and not feel that he must give of his money--it is completely voluntary for the Christian and not to be "under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (cf. 2 Cor. 9:7).  The church's responsibility is to use some of the money to give to those in need, to help the poor, and make good use of their resources. "The point is this:  whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly..." (2 Cor. 9:6, ESV).  Tithing can be seen as a test of generosity, a principle of stewardship, and a sign of faith giving back to God some of His blessings to us-- but it is not a mandate for Christians--not mentioned in any epistle as imperative.          Soli Deo Gloria! 

Developing Holy Habits

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles" (Hebrews 12:1).
"Direct my steps according to your word; let no sin rule over me" (Psalm 119:133).
 "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).
"Sin will have no power over you, because you aren't under Law but under grace" (Romans 6:14).
 "They are slaves to whatever has mastered them"  (2 Pet. 2:19).
 "'I have the right to do anything,' you say--but not everything is beneficial.  'I have the right to do anything'--but I will not be mastered by anything"  (1 Cor. 6:12).

NON-BIBLICAL FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

"To fall into a habit is to begin to cease to be," as P. D. Ouspensky has said.
"Every good thought you think is contributing its share to the ultimate result of your life," says Grenville Kleiser.
"Habit with him was all the test of truth, 'It must be right: I've done it from my youth,'" quips George Crabbe.

Why are habits crucial?
"Sow a thought  ["As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he," says Prov. 23:7; cf. Prov. 4:23], reap an act ["The soul of every act is thought," according to Robert Browning]; sow an act, reap a habit [there's a loss of self-control]; sow a habit, reap a character [We are the sum total of our thoughts]; sow a character, reap a destiny [salvation or damnation]."  It is that simple according to Charlie Riggs.  Peter said, "Whatever overpowers you, enslaves you" (2 Pet. 2:19; cf. Rom.6:16).  Sin is just like that:  it enslaves and alienates you [from God or from others].  We must "consider [our] ways" as Haggai says!  This suggests that the first step is to analyze our life.--"The unexamined life is not worth living," said Socrates.

Habits can develop into addictions if persisted in (even impulsive behaviors) and some things like drugs or coffee seem to be addictive by nature.  In those cases, one may need deliverance and the aid of other believers to intervene and intercede on your behalf.  This is why we need to nip the habit in the bud before it controls us:  it is alright if we control it!  (Cigarettes are a prime example (not a sin in themselves) and are also a medical problem that is aggravated by chemicals such as tar and nicotine.)

Having habits is like being programmed--we should be careful who is doing the programming and be aware of input error!  We are sometimes guilty of habitual behavior that is done without thinking too.  Habits may ultimately decide our eternal destiny, so we should judge them.  Some habits are just ingrained behavior due to repetition like sitting in the same seat where we feel comfortable, or taking the same way home, or going the same place and sometimes we find ourselves repeating the folly unconsciously--like when I go to the lounge instead of the laundry room, because I always go there.

Man is a creature of habit, it is said, and no one can claim to be without them. The issue is whether they are healthy or deleterious, and whether they interfere with our testimony or not. ("All things are permissible, but I will not be mastered by anything," says 1 Cor. 6:12b).   C. H. Spurgeon smoked and was asked when he would quit:  "When it became a problem."  When is that?  "When I smoke two at a time!"  There is some validity to his tongue-in-cheek remark:  The only time we need to worry about a habit is if it compromises or jeopardizes our witness to the world, or otherwise diminishes our character because most habits are fairly harmless.  Those who are married are often annoyed by the mannerisms, quirks, idiosyncrasies, and eccentricities of their mate:  Things like nail biting, procrastinating [never-ending to-do list], teeth grinding, negative thinking, potty mouth, or what-have-you.  Did the mate think he or she actually could change their mate?  Love in marriage is accepting the mate despite their faults--not demanding change.

God doesn't require us to clean up our act to become Christians.  We come as we are, but we don't stay that way.  We are changed from the inside out of all sinful habits.  It goes with coming clean and owning up to our failures, flaws, and shortcomings ( sins).  The fact is though, that God changes us and gives us the power to overcome our sin.  "He shall save His people from their sin."  God accepts us as we are and works on us "to do and to will according to His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13).  I believe that the Holy Spirit gives us the power to overcome our habits ("Cease striving and know that I am God," says Psalm 46:10) and develop good ones to replace them (it is a law of nature to abhor a vacuum!). Just taking them away would open the door for a worse fault or demon.  Don't replace one habit with a worse one!  Don't just clean house or turn over a new leaf, get the Lord's power to live in the Spirit.

Jesus had some "holy" habits (I'm not saying we need a longer to-do list, which would revert us to legalism like the Pharisees or known as the yoke of the Pharisees]:  he got up before dawn to pray, he gave thanks before eating, and he went to the synagogue every Sabbath to worship.  But he did not have the habit of washing his hands before eating, which drove the legalistic Pharisees nuts because he saw that as only an addendum or legalistic extension of the Mosaic Law.  He was probably known as Mr. Unclean.

It is good to have "holy" habits that develop into godliness and give God the opportunity to nurture our faith.  For me, reading the Bible is only natural and I wouldn't dream of not doing it on a daily basis.  Praying is also without ceasing as I keep the communication line open between me and my Maker.  I keep short accounts with Him and immediately confess all known sin according to 1 John 1:9 ("If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness").

One should study Brother Lawrence's book The Practice of the Presence of God to see how one can always be in fellowship with God, no matter what one is doing.  A word to the wise is sufficient:  Do not practice your piety before men, to be seen by them (per Matt. 6:1)--then you've had your reward.  To initiate godly habits one must simply take a leap of faith and just do it--try it, you will be rewarded!  And by all means don't ever get into the trap of thinking you have to do something (that is legalism)--the motive should be the unsatisfied one of love, not fear, i.e., that you want to!

To start the challenge of cultivating a "holy" habit, one should start with some goal or task that he or she believes he or she can faithfully execute.  It only takes a few days to develop a habit, so be careful what habits you are beginning.  It is a lot harder to break a habit than begin one.  We are known by our habits and we get set in a pattern or rut, you could say.  For me, the goal is to bow down to the Father first thing I wake up in the morning and thank Him and then offer my petitions for the day, of which are composed of my outstanding prayer requests and needs.  (I confess that I was brought up saying grace before eating, and hardly ever even remember to do it now as an adult, unless in company with other believers.  I just got out of the habit and don't remember anymore.)

I believe that God empowers us to break bad habits through the Holy Spirit.  We don't speak of quitting cigarette smoking, but being set free--viva la difference!  We want to give God the glory and learn to depend on His strength ("Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts," says Zech. 4:6).  Our attitude should always be to give God the credit to remember what Jesus said:  "Apart from Me you can do nothing"  (John 15:5).  If God wants us to quit, He will tell us when and all we have to be is obedient. It must be in His timing and we will be convicted by the Holy Spirit not accused or made to feel guilty by our friends or enemies.  He will give us the strength if it is His will.  It has to be in His timing, though.  It is not a matter of trying, but of trust.  It must be by faith that God gets the glory (Soli Deo Gloria! meaning to God alone be the glory).  Soli Deo Gloria!