Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Romans 12:10-13, The New International Version

Today, we come to "Share with the Lord's people who are in need." Living the Christian life requires an "others oriented" perspective. It is easy to get caught up in our consumerism society and forget that what we have is not ours but the Lord's.

There are three reasons giving and sharing should be easy for a follower of Jesus. First, we know that any abundance we have is from His hand. Second, the abundance is not ours, we are only stewards of our wealth. Third, compassion drives us as Christians. A Christian that is not a giver is an oxymoron.

Paul focuses narrowly within this passage. He has spent much of his ministry collecting money for the church in Jerusalem that was overrun with famine and persecution. He was amazed at the generosity he found when talking about other brothers and sisters in need.

In our time, we still have many opportunities to "share with the Lord's people." We always start with those closest to us. It always begins with our family. Each of those in our "first church" has needs to meet. However, don't think you fulfill this exhortation by staying there.

Next comes our church family. There are always needs both spiritually and physically to meet right there. As we devote ourselves in love to one another, we will discover how we can "share" our life with them. Some need our time. Some need our resources.

Lastly, we can sponsor a missionary, a poor child, a ministry to child trafficked people, or to a persecuted family in the world. The possibilities are endless for us to fulfill this scripture.

Each of the twenty-one exhortations in this chapter is meant to be expressed as a mini-course on who Christians are and how they act and live in the world. This one, though down the list is as essential as the others for our spiritual health and growth. Let's put it in our heart to fulfill as the Lord shows us the needs of others.

Here are our action plans today:

Do you have a pattern of sharing with others of your time and financial resources? If not, pray that the Lord would move you with compassion for those who are needy. Do it today.
Seek out someone to bless today as a way of fulfilling this exhortation.

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Pastor Stuart