Topic: Helping the Needy [Saturday June 11, 2016]
Text: Romans 15:23-30
Key Verse: “But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem” (Romans 15:25, 26).
In the 1960s, President Lyndon Johnson diverted a fifth of America’s wheat crop to alleviate starvation in India. Food stocks had reached such a precarious low in India that they were only sufficient for another two weeks. Worse, there was nothing in transit to India at this time.
Helping the needy is part of the responsibility of saints in the church. From the text, Paul the apostle was travelling to Jerusalem with certain contribution made by believers in Macedonia and Achaia for the poor saints. Giving is a necessary duty of the children of God to care for the needy ones. Although the amount contributed was not stated in our passage, it was a good and timely response to the intense persecution the saints were passing through in Jerusalem. Many were displaced; others had their goods confiscated for daring to abandon their former religion to turn unto Christ.
We have believers across the world today passing through similar situations. Religious extremists have been known to burn down churches and personal properties of saints in Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Nigeria and the middle east, to mention but a few. It is the responsibility of believers in relatively tolerant countries to contribute relieve materials and money to assist those in need, especially the families of martyred saints. Even more! Our effectual, earnest and fervent prayers will avail much for these hapless compatriots.
Thought for the day: Giving solves more problems than grieving.
Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Samuel 17-18
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
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