Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
“For happiness consisteth not in lordship over one’s neighbors, nor in desiring to have more than weaker men, nor in possessing wealth and using force to inferiors; neither can any one imitate God in these matters; nay, these lie outside His greatness. But whosoever taketh upon himself the burden of his neighbor, whosoever desireth to benefit one that is worse off in that in which he himself is superior, whosoever by supplying to those that are in want possessions which he received from God becomes a God to those who receive them from Him, he is an imitator of God.”
The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus, 10:5-6 (c. 130). Mathetes, “a disciple of the Apostles,” was likely a student of Paul or one of the Apostle’s associates.
Though this was written nearly 2,000 years ago, it describes modern realities. People think happiness is found in lording over neighbors and possessing wealth.
Interestingly, the idea of being an imitator of God in living differently appears again in the early church writings.
Notice the aim of the first disciples was not to lord over one’s neighbor but to take upon himself the burden of his neighbor. This entailed benefiting those worse off and supplying the needs to those in want.
A few of you have asked if GTP hit our year-end goal to activate the major grant to expand capacities to serve such people.
We did not. But we believe God left the door open for others to give in January. Hopefully we can hit it by 6 February 2024 when we have a key grant meeting. For now we pray and the work must wait. Click here to give to GTP.
Pray with me for resources to benefit those worse off and to supply the needs of those in want.