Providing for Physical Needs
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you for all you do to care for us and meet our needs. Help us to follow your example, and to always seek to meet the needs of those around us.
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 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 12:9-13 (NIV)
REFLECT:
Our society today promotes independence and places a high value on self-sufficiency. Needing help from other people can easily be viewed as weakness. While hard work and productivity may be pleasing to God, doing only for ourselves with little regard for others does not represent his best for us.
Jesus conducted his ministry over the final three years or so of his life. Jesus was God in human form. He could have done anything he wanted and as much as he wanted all by himself, yet he didn’t. He chose twelve different people to accompany him during this time. Why would he do this? Wouldn’t he appear to be even more capable if he didn’t need any help?
I don’t know the answer to the previous questions, but I suspect at least part of his plan to surround himself with close friends was to model how important it is for us to do life together. If God himself in the form of Jesus, the man, wanted other people to join him in his ministry, then it would clearly show all of us that we would benefit from something similar.
The world today may try to tell us the more independent you can be, the better. Jesus didn’t conduct his ministry alone. I don’t have all the answers, but I trust Jesus. Let’s all be like Jesus and navigate this world in community with others.
APPLY:
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by something right now, please know you don’t have to handle what you’re facing alone. Asking for help is a strength not a weakness. If you don’t already have a support network in place, reach out to the church. Our leaders are great at helping people find needed support.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Thank you Jesus for modeling so well how to live life to the fullest. We know that this world is not our home. We appreciate so much your sacrifice that enables us to reach our true home, as well as your guidance for living well while we are here.
WORSHIP: