Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Ephesians 4:28
“Men are exceedingly apt to make objections against such duties, which God speaks of here as a manifestation of the wickedness of their hearts: “Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart,” etc. The warning is very strict. God doth not only say, Beware that thou do not actually refuse to give him, but, Beware that thou have not one objecting thought against it, arising from a backwardness to liberality. God warns against the beginnings of uncharitableness in the heart, and against whatever tends to a forbearance to give. “And thou give him nought, and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee.” God warns them, from the guilt which they would be liable to bring upon themselves hereby.
Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) in Christian Charity or The Duty of Charity to the Poor, Explained and Enforced (1732).
We don’t often think of the lack of sharing as sin.
We know God loves a cheerful giver. But what does he think of the person who fails to share from a grateful heart. He gives us the answer in His Word. The opposite of righteous in the biblical narrative is wicked.
And, biblically speaking, the person that fails to share is both wicked and a thief.
When we think of wicked in modern times, our mind goes to the green lady with the broomstick and the pointy hat. Few of us think of ourselves as wicked, when often that’s what we are.
When we fail to follow God’s righteous design and desire for living, we take a wicked path instead.
And considering that God owns everything and has given us commands for its use, failure to follow those commands in the example of sharing appears instead as stealing.
So, what’s this mean for us today in modern times?
Watch out for the beginnings of uncharitableness in the heart. It takes shape as thinking we own that which we have worked to earn. From there we keep rather than share material and spiritual blessings received by grace.
Don’t bring guilt on yourself. Don’t choose a path of backwardness to liberality.
I am not trying to rob you. I am trying to help you remove any cultural or spiritual restraints to giving. Generosity flows from the condition of our hearts.
On another note, praise God. Made it home safely from travel, 10 countries in 10 weeks: Costa Rica, Colombia, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Turkey, and Philippines.
God activated peer accountability groups (like ECFA in USA) in three countries: Costa Rica, Colombia, and Jamaica. In other places the work was preparatory. Eastern Europe, Bolivia, Brazil, and Cayman Islands are set to launch in 2024.
The World Evangelical Alliance meetings in early October in Turkey and other networking has set up work in 11 new countries in 2024: Albania, Armenia, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Ireland, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, and Qatar.
And, the recent meetings in the Philippines brought our team together and positioned to divide this work efficiently and effectively. Why perform this service?
When we form stewards who help ministries follow standards it causes gospel reach and impact to grow exponentially. Thanks for your charitableness toward this work.