Didache: Stretch and don’t shut

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“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. Deuteronomy 15:7-8

“Be not one who stretches out his hands to receive, but shuts them when it comes to giving.”

Didache, a.k.a. “The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles” (late first or early second century) 4.5.

As I stated yesterday, the Didache is viewed by many as the early church discipleship manual. Today’s brief quote sums up the posture of our hands linked to giving. We must stretch them out to receive and not shut them to give.

When it comes to receiving we are quick to stretch out our hands. But are we as quick to give? Consider your own heart. Resolve today to take the posture you want God and others to take toward you.

Be as quick to give as you are to receive. That’s what the twelve apostles taught the early church followers. To teach it today, we must first live this way. God, help us be as quick too stretch our hands to give as we are to receive. Amen.