Daily Jewel

by Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK

“How Responsive are You?”
“Don’t tell your neighbor, ‘Maybe some other time,’ or ‘Try me tomorrow when the money’s right there in your pocket...’" – Proverbs 3:28 (The Message)

I’m truly torn here with what this verse is saying to me and probably to a number of others who are reading this message—how much do we give and how much do we hold back? Is there truly a limit to our giving? I mentioned a couple of days ago that I have been, more than once, the recipient of other’s kindness during time of dire need. On one occasion, our oldest daughter was sick and we needed to get her some medical attention. It was after hours and there was a 24-hour clinic just down the street from our apartment. After providing all of the information we were told that there was a $50 fee for the visit. Dianne was pregnant with our son and I had just started a new job so the $50 fee would literally deplete all of our available funds and I would not receive another paycheck for about 10 days. For the health of our child we had little choice in the matter and we gave the clinic our last $50. We had just enough food to probably last us until the middle of the week. That was on a Friday. That Sunday at Church we were approached by a couple who engaged us in a casual conversation—then out of the blue the man reached into his pocket and proceeded to hand me a piece of paper. He said to us, “The Lord impressed upon us this morning that we needed to give this you.” When I opened it up it was a check for…are you ready for this…fifty dollars!! What makes this even more incredible is the fact we had not told a single person about our need. We did not even let my wife’s parents know for we truly wanted to get through this on our own. There is no doubt in my mind or heart that God spoke to that couple in ways that go beyond our understanding. What do you do when you know there is someone in need? Pray for them? That is good and helpful—but is it meeting their need? Do you calculate what it will cost you to give? That is not necessarily a bad thing—you certainly do not want to place your own family in a position where you become the one in need. When I think back to that gift from our friends they did what they could and it was such a blessing—not only for us but I believe for them as well! If God has placed it upon our heart to help someone in need what choice do we truly have but to say “yes!” to Him and do what we can. You never know—those who are the recipients of our generosity may have the opportunity to be givers in the future. I know we have! I am reminded of another passage of Scripture from Solomon: “Cast your bread upon the waters for after many days it will return to you.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1)
Pastor J. T. Carnell