“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Hebrews 13:16 (ESV)
We are encouraged to do good to others and to share what we have. Doing good is a two-part blessing. It blesses the one doing the good work and the one who receives the good deed.
In 1 Kings 17, the amazing story is told of a widow and her only son living in a neighboring country to Israel in the little town called Zarephath. There was a great famine in the land at the time, and the widow and son were down to their very last meal. God told Elijah, the prophet, to leave Israel and go to the widow's house, and there, the Lord would sustain all of them.
When Elijah arrived in Zarephath, he found the widow and her son. She told him she only had a little food left for one final scanty meal, and then she and her son would die of hunger. Despite the seemingly impossible situation, the widow believed the word of Elijah and was obedient to share the little that she had left. At the time of the next meal, there was more! The Lord multiplied the barrel of meal, and the oil never ran out. Elijah and the widow’s household had food miraculously provided until the famine ended.
The God of yesterday is still the God of today.
One day, a few years ago, an elderly lady using a cane attempted to cross a very wide, busy city street. She managed to reach the median of the four-lane road and had halfway left to cross. Many times, she tried to cross, but the cars were too fast and too many, and she was just too slow. Finally, some firemen going in the opposite direction saw the lady's struggle. Quickly, they veered their large red firetruck across the median and into a break in traffic on the opposite side. While the firetruck blocked the oncoming cars, all the firefighters got out and helped the elderly lady cross the wide, busy road.
What a blessing that the firefighters had the heart of God—sacrificial giving of their time and energy. Also, what a blessing that this elderly lady was able to get to her destination safely. The God of yesterday is also the God of today. As He cared for the well-being of a widow woman in ancient times, He cares for each one of us today—especially the elderly and vulnerable among us. Sometimes God’s care comes from the kindness of a stranger.
Call to Action
While this short act of kindness by the firefighters may seem small, to the one they rescued, they were a miracle that day. You can be a miracle in someone’s life today. Miracles are possible anywhere. God is calling all of us to be a miracle in someone's life. A phone call, a visit, a smile or hug, sharing a meal together, all of these things may be just the miracle someone needs today. You may be the vital blessing of encouragement that God DOES still care about them—an answer to prayer. Let God use you and receive the priceless blessing that can only come from doing good. Let’s be miracle-makers!
