DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: JUNE 16 THE GOLDEN RULE OF GIVE TO RECEIVE (2) SCRIPTURE: Luke 6: 38; Deut. 15: 1 – 11

We are still continuing with the Jews practicing of Tsedakah which made it naturally for the Jews to give assistance to fellow Jews so as to become worthy people. Every Jew knows that he or she must give in order to build up fellow Jews who will contribute to make a better world. Yesterday’s devotional talked much about the system of Tsedakah commands. This makes all Jews perform “justice” to fellow Jewish man or woman. In all, this devotional wishes to appeal to Christians, especially Nigeria Christians, to give special attention to knowing how to help and develop their fellow Christians into worthy citizens in the world. One of the lead passages of this devotional, Deut. 15: 1 – 11, gives explicit explanations to how the poor people will be assisted by those God blessed with resources. Verse 11 says categorically that “…the poor will not cease from the land…”

The Jews because of this passage made short term plans and long term plans to help the poor people. The law of Tsedakah made all Jews to give 10% of their earnings to the poor every three years. They also established Nonprofit Organizations which collect money or materials from those blessed Jews (Duet. 26: 12). The proceeds are kept for helping their less privileged ones.

Christians, especially Nigeria Christians, are enjoined to look at how the Jews and the Muslims have visions for helping their people collectively, irrespective of factions they belong to. It is being observed that many denominations in Nigeria care more about promoting ministerial and individual egos by building selves into prominence. The poor in the churches are basically left to struggle alone, embracing “god of poverty” making them believe that God created them for abject poverty and penury. Christianity is losing followers in Nigeria and some parts of Africa due to the poverty level seen around some people in churches. When do we come together to establish Christian Banks for no interest rates for the poor? Why can’t we open affordable schools for the poor members in our denominations? When will we build technological schools or embark on collective scholarship programmes for our less privileged members to study ICT and related courses?

_This devotional believes that if Christians give to assisting of the poor members in good heart and in great qualities, God will reward all of them greatly. The measure we give to the poor shall be given back to us in the churches. God will give to the givers in great “measure, pressed down, shaken together and the running over will be poured into your lap ” (Luke 6: 38). It will not be out of content to point out that, reason the world has more Christian youth loitering the streets of the world is the total negligence attitudes of the rich and wealthy Christians towards the poor and the less privileged in the churches._ Question now is: “How soon will we Christians take helping the poor and the less privileged very serious a project?” The challenge has been thrown. Who will take the first bite now?

PRAYERS:

1. FATHER JEHOVAH, turn the hearts of Christian rich and wealthy Nigerians to seeing the great need to assist the poor and the less privileged in our society.

2. Father, redirect the minds and focuses of the very rich and wealthy denominations in Nigeria and Africa towards establishing programmes which will build our fellow Christians into worthy fellows of the world in Jesus name.

POSITIVE DECLARATION:

I have realised today that it does not take me to have millions of Naira to help a poor person within my reach. Oh God, give me courage today to assist someone in Jesus name.

bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch