The World and Faith

If God were to put me on a platform today where I would literally be preaching to the entire world at once, do you know what I would tell them all? I would simply tell them to take advantage of every opportunity they have to help someone in need. I would also tell them if they can't find someone in need, then look for them. They're there, trust me. In fact everyone on earth is someone in need, some this way and some that; but in need nonetheless. Do you want to truly be happy? Extend a helping hand to someone who is down, because tomorrow may be your time to be down. If you lift up someone today then God will be sure that someone lifts you up tomorrow. It really is that simple, and there truly is nothing more important for a person to know other than the reality that Jesus died for our sins, rose again on the third day, and sits at the right hand of God to redeem and deliver everyone who comes to him for it. It's no wonder that this highly renowned statement of Jesus is known universally as 'the golden rule:' "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets" (Mat. 7:12). It doesn't get any plainer or more powerful than that. That saying fulfills all the law and prophets, even as Jesus said. Funny, that's exactly what Jesus said he came here to do, meaning to fulfill the law and the prophets (Mat. 5:17). So the reason that the application of this saying is so vitally important is because it is what Jesus is all about. Seeing the Gospel is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, there couldn't be anything that is more integral to the understanding and performance of the Gospel than holding to what Jesus is all about. The apostle Paul fully agreed with this assessment, and he quoted from the law to support that agreement: "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Gal. 5:14).

When it's all said and done, how we choose to deal with others is how we are dealing with ourselves, and that is why it's a really good idea to keep these sayings at all times. What we are doing toward others is going to catch up with us sooner or later, whether for good or for bad: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6:7). The good news is that there are PLENTY of opportunities for us to bless ourselves every day, because there are plenty of people all around us who have need of help. People have problems in this life. Always have. Always will. We are not in this world for ourselves, but rather we are here to help one another through the problems of this life. To live our lives in a mode of just taking care of our own business is to run to and fro with blinders over our eyes. The scripture reminds us that there is more to this life than seeing to it that we 'get by:' "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others" (Philip. 2:4). In fact the best way to overcome a downtrodden state that we may find ourselves in is to find someone that we can somehow be a blessing to. If we can do this then we will literally bless our way out of our own problems. The proverb is true that tell us, "The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself" (Prov. 11:25). The word 'liberal' here means 'giving,' and when we give of ourselves to help someone else we will literally be made 'fat' with peace and rest. I don't know about you my friend, but I love that kind of fatness. Jesus made it explicitly clear that when the final judgment sits, the telling factor about people's lives and eternal lot will be how they dealt with others around them who were in need (Mat. 25:31-46). I have to admit that is a very good reason to strive to be a blessing and relief to those who are hurting. So that is what I would preach to the whole world if I could, and that is why I would preach it. As I love to say, it really is that simple. Amen.