A Good Thing To Do
Acts 20:35 contains the only inspired record of words, outside the Gospels, spoken by Christ during the years of His earthly ministry. The Apostle Paul says, “You must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
It may be more pleasurable and popular to latch on to a winner, to follow in the train of one who is successful, but grace met us when we were spiritually down and out, and God wants us to reflect that same spirit toward others. And in the Greek language, a continuous tense is used– it is keep on helping the weak.
Some are weak in body, some in mind (or soul), and some in spirit. It is easy–and perhaps tempting at times–to take advantage of them. But Jesus taught that it is more blessed to give to them what is right and needful. We are to be burden bearers (I Thess. 5:14; cf. Rom. 15:1). That is part of our responsibility to all, but especially toward our brothers and sisters in Christ (Gal. 6:10; Heb. 13:3).
The Lord calls us to engage in the blessed activity of giving. And why should we do so?
- Because the Lord commands it (Prov. 3:9; Lk. 6:38; II Cor. 9:6-8). It is the essence of true Christ-like love, which sums up all God requires of us (Rom. 13:8-9; Jas. 2:8).
- Because it reflects the image of God who is a giving God. In Himself He is the eternally self-sufficient One, and has need of nothing. It may be that His greatest delight is found in giving (Jn. 3:16; II Cor. 9:15).
- Because it shows confidence that God will meet our needs (Phil. 4:15, 19).
- Because there continue to be needy people around us (Deut. 15:11; Mk. 14:7).
- Because doing so is a joy for the child of God (II Cor. 8:1-2).
- Because the eternal rewards of doing so are greater by far than the value of temporal things, since we cannot take the things of this life beyond the grave (I Tim. 6:7).