慷 慨

薛孔偉牧師

提摩太前書六章十七至十九節

17 你要囑咐那些今世富有的人，叫他們不要心高氣傲，也不要寄望在浮動的財富上，卻要仰望那厚賜百物給我們享用的神。

18 又要囑咐他們行善，在善事上富足，慷慨好施。

19 這樣，就為自己在來世積聚財富，作美好的基礎，好叫他們能夠得著那真正的生命。

有句這樣的話：我曾經有過錢，我也曾經貧窮過，但是我可以告訴您，我情願有錢。我相信我們當中的每一位，沒有一位想故意過貧窮的生活。我們當中可能還記得，我們剛剛來這個國家的時候，所有的是何等的有限。我想到一個人，多年前他來美國的時候，口袋裡只有五十、一百塊錢美金，他立刻要去果園採蘋果來維持他的生活。也有許多的學生，為繳學費、生活費，每到夏天就替人家漆油漆、或者去工廠做一些包裝的工作。沒有人嚮往過這樣的生活，我們也不願我們的孩子過這樣的生活。我想我們都情願有錢，是嗎？

在兩個禮拜前，我們一起看提摩太前書六章三至十節。在那段經文裡面我們看到在資源很有限時，我們要如何生活。當我們貧窮的時候，我們要怎麼樣的生活。這段經文裡告訴我們，貧窮時我們要學習知足。如果我們嚐試去滿足那永遠沒有辦法滿足的慾望—更多的財富、更多的錢，那只能把我們帶進試探裡，甚至毀滅了我們的一生。

今天早上看一下保羅對提摩太說最後二句話裡，他又把注意力帶到錢上，在第三、十節上是對貧窮的基督徒說的話，十七到十九節是對那些有錢的信徒說話。當然有錢和貧窮是相對的，沒有辦法在這兩者之間清楚劃一條界限。我們當中可能認為自己是貧窮的，但是我們一定可以找到那比我們更貧窮的人。我們當中很少有人承認自己是有錢的，但我們總能找到那些比我們更有錢的人。如果我說：你真的比我有錢，那你可能說：比起蓋茲來說，我可能像個乞丐一樣。但是在每一個社會裡，都有一些的標準，來分辨貧窮、富有。在這一個國家裡，按著聯邦政府的規定，一家二口，總收入是一萬四千的話、或一家四口，總收入是總收入是二萬二千的話，那這就是貧窮了。

對那一些有一點錢的人、或那些有錢的，我們要怎麼樣來處理我們的金錢呢？在今天這段經文裡，短短的二、三節裡，看到一個非常清楚的真理。神已經將各樣的好的東西賜給我們，因此在我們幫助別人的事上，我們要非常的慷慨。

I •  信徒要享受神賜給我們的美物 .

首先我們一起看一下十七節：「你要囑咐那些今世富有的人，叫他們不要心高氣傲，也不要寄望在浮動的財富上，卻要仰望那厚賜百物給我們享用的神。」雅各書的第一章十七節：「 各樣美好的賞賜，各樣完備的恩賜，都是從上面、從眾光之父降下來的，他本身並沒有改變，也沒有轉動的影子。」這兩節經文告訴我們一個很簡單的真理，所有好的事、東西，都是從神那裡來的。美好的東西，包括朋友、家庭、食物、旅行、音樂、藝術，也包括了金錢。不錯！錢是從神來的、也是好的。聖經從來沒說過錢是不好的。只有我們對錢的貪心，會造成萬惡之根。錢本是件好的東西，是要我們去享受的。就好像我們享受朋友、家庭、食物、旅行、音樂、藝術一樣。稍為講一下音樂的享受，只有聽聖樂才是好的音樂？不是的。所有好的音樂、美好的音樂都是神給的。講到藝術，不是有些的圖片，都要有耶穌的樣子在裡面，那才叫美麗的畫，好像是有光圈在那裡就是好的藝術品。不過，那個美的圖畫、美好的音樂是神給的，都是我們要去學習欣賞的。

這裡的意思是，即然是從神那裡來的、好的，當我們去買一些我們喜歡的東西、或一些貴一點的東西，我們不需要內疚。有時候基督徒買了一些東西後，總要找一些各樣的理由、藉口來減輕內心的罪惡感。不！好的東西，是我們可以享受的。有些時候，我們可以和家人、朋友去些好一些的餐廳吃飯，可能吃完的價錢蠻貴，但如果是好的，久不久可以去享受一下，是不是？可以大方一點，不要這麼小氣，不要每次去吃東西就吃那個二塊九毛九的套餐，可以吃些好一點的，可以享受一下。出外旅行的時候，不是單單住在「旅館六」。曾經有一段時候，「旅館六」的意思是每晚住宿是六塊九毛九，當然那時代已經過去了。不是單單只住在「旅館六」，可以住好一點的「瑪麗奧」、「假期酒店」、「希爾頓」或者比這些更好的，當然要有個約束。當我們看到別人有一個更大的車、更大的電視螢幕、更大的房子，心裡不要酸溜溜，不要開口閉口就是多少錢！他好有錢噢！乃是學習替他高興，很高興您住的房子更大，我很高興您開的車比我的更新、更好。我們要學習欣賞神所給我們的錢，所有好的都是神給我們的。

II •  信徒要避免金錢能帶來的危險 .

我們繼續來看錢會帶給我們什麼後果，六月份我在國內的時候，聽到這句話：「男人有錢會變壞、女人變壞為會有錢」，雖然沒有科學的根據。當我們看一些電影，豈不是就是這一個主題嗎？在我們的四周圍也看見太多的個案，因此這句話有它的道理。在這十七節又講到保羅對提摩太說，你要 囑咐、吩咐，就是你要告訴他們一些有關金錢的真理，請注意在這裡保羅沒有說提摩太你給他們一些建議，他們聽不聽都不要緊，他們聽，他們去做很好。他們不聽，不做也沒問題。但是在這裡所強調的，是吩咐、命令、教導、並且是要去順服的。但是對於那些有錢的信徒，他們所要聽到的真理是什麼呢？在十七節這裡說：「你要囑咐那些今世富有的人，叫他們不要心高氣傲，也不要寄望在浮動的財富上，卻要仰望那厚賜百物給我們享用的神。」這是一個反向的教導，講到這些有錢的人、信徒要避免的一些危險。

首先、當我們有錢的時候，很容易導致驕傲，錢帶給我們一種成就感。您還記不記得您買的第一部車？或者您買第一間房子時，您自己說：我這麼樣辛苦工作到今天，現在我可以說這是我的車子、房子。這是一種自我恭喜的心態。我們靠著我們雙手創立我們的世界、創造自己的財富，我們覺得非常的驕傲。隨著財富，權力也來到。我們越有錢，往往也積蓄越多的權力。人也喜歡跟那些有權、有勢的人在一起。在這一個禮拜的期中選舉，很多地方的選舉都是跟權有關的。我們要抓住、爭取那些我們沒有的權。已經有權的，要想盡辦法來維持、鞏固已經有的權。有了權，也跟隨著有很多的特權。當然有些特權是要用錢買的，譬如俱樂部的會員。財富、成就、權和特權都能夠帶給人的驕傲及高傲。你看！我殷勤工作所帶來的成果。雖然我們基督徒開口、閉口說這些都是神的工作。但是我們真正傳遞的信息，您看！我多有本事！我來到一個陌生的地方，我赤手空拳創造了我的世界。

但是聖經清楚告訴我們，在神的國度裡是沒有驕傲的。這是兩個禮拜前，在箴言卅篇第七節的那個禱告：「我有兩件事要求祢，在我死前求祢答應我，求祢使虛假和謊言遠離我，不要使我貧窮、也不要使我富裕，只要給我需用的食物，免得我吃飽了，我就不認祢，說“耶和華是誰？”」當您有太多東西的時候、很有錢的時候，您往往就會忘記了神！您會說：「神是誰？」有很多時候，有錢的人往往覺得自己就是那位神！有句諺語說：「有錢能使鬼推磨。」意思是您有錢，連鬼也會聽您話的。有這樣的一個權，不驕傲的話實在也難。有這樣的一個權，能夠使鬼也替你工作的話，您還需要神嗎？所以，有錢的信徒，第一個要避免的危險就是驕傲。

第二個要避免的危險乃是假的安全、保障。我們都要很誠實的面對自己。當您看到您銀行戶口那帳本時，那個數目字時，特別是越來越多時，您會有種安全感，是不是？噢！我不需要再擔心了，有些什麼事，我銀行裡已經有錢了！我們還記得當股票市場最高峰的時候，當指標一直高升時，我們心中好樂是不是？我不需要為孩子的學費擔心了，我退休之後也有著落了，我退休之後，有錢可以環遊整個的世界，去些我從來沒有去過的地方，給我們的滿足、安全感。如果您手上有個 自滿 手機的話，您大概有一個股票市場的軟件。或者每天，或每一、二天把它按來看不看。好像有人說：我每次看都是綠色的，好高興啊！紅色就是指著股票下降，綠色就是往上昇，當您看越來越綠時就有安全感。是嗎？當我們看股票降到一萬點以下的時候、九千、八千時，那天早上醒過來，發現我們投資的都沒有了。我想我們住在曉士頓的人都知道「安隆」公司股票，在高峰時，我們很多人將我們的一生的積蓄都投放在這個股票裡。但是，也是一夜之間、二天之間全部沒有了。就好像在路加福音裡的財主，那一年他的收成非常的豐富，然後他自己說：「怎麼辦呢？我沒有地方來蓄藏我的收成，我將現有的倉房拆掉，我要蓋更大的，將我所有的糧食放進去，然後我跟我的靈魂說，這裡有好多的東西，足夠我享用多年，我可以安安穩穩吃喝快樂吧！」但是，神跟他說，無知的人啊！今天我要你的生命的話，這些歸給誰？他以為他的寶藏就是在這個看得見的收成裡面，使得他可以好好的享受他的人生。但是神說：如果我今晚將你的生命拿去的話，你的財富歸給誰？

這裡的經文告訴我們，不要將我們的盼望放在這個錢上。乃是我們要仰望這一位賜給我們百物的！因為祂是那位真正的供應者、也是那位維護、扶持我們的神！永遠不會丟棄我們的神！

III •  信徒要將神賜的金錢慷慨的給出去 .

當我們有錢的時候，我們要小心，不要陷入驕傲的陷阱裡。當我們的盼望、期望放在裡面看不見的錢財上，這些都是負面的景況。讓我們看看正面的教導，當您手上有錢，您怎麼辦？怎麼算、怎麼用您手上的錢？當我們只有一點點的時候，聖經提醒我們不要貪心。現在我們有了，那聖經怎麼說，十八節：「又要囑咐他們行善，在善事上富足，慷慨好施。」

要我們用手上有的，去行善、做好事、幫助別人，不單單去幫助別人，這裡說要善事上富足—意思不是偶而幫助人一下。就好像每年到聖誕節時，我應該幫一下那些貧窮的人，我拿一點錢出來，或拿一點錢給「天使樹的事工」。這些都很好的，這些要做的，但是這裡講的是生活的方式，是不停的做。不是出於一個教條主義態，我不做不行，我會自己買這麼多禮物，我不給人家一點的話，我們內疚。我給了您，幫助了這些貧窮的人，然後我把錢用在自己的身上，我就覺得心安理得。不是這樣的。這乃是一種生活的方式，將我們手上有的先拿出來給人，這裡說是慷慨好施，在英文翻譯裡是講道有一個願意與人同享的心。將我們的錢和那一些沒有錢的人一起的分享。可能我們當中有人說：我能跟人分享的錢是非常有限，我真的沒有太多的錢。但是我們也可一試，我們是否可以跟人分享我們家庭的溫暖、家庭裡的歡笑，每次我們煮東西的時候，可以多煮一點，分享給那缺少的人。神要我們固定的要在金錢上慷慨的去幫助那些貧窮的人。財富不是囤積起來的，不是越來越多、越來越多，乃是要與那些沒有的、那些弱小的、那些無助的人分享。

神要我們透過我們慷慨的給出去。將那憐憫的心能夠表達出來，像那在我們四周缺乏的人，那是神將他們帶到我們生命裡的人：在這城市的人、國家裡的人 、或世界各地方，我們要儘我們所能，將我們所有的給他們。

我時常被弟兄姊妹對教會慈惠的奉獻所鼓勵，許多弟兄姊妹沒有人提醒就很慷慨解囊奉獻到教會裡的慈惠基金。這筆款項是幫助那些經濟上有困難的人。我還記得幾年前，有位年長的弟兄到我這裡說：牧師，我每個月的開支我都知道，所需要的錢也都有了，那剩下來的錢、這些多餘的錢我要給出來，您可不可以幫助我，告訴我要怎麼拿給別人、或給那個機構？他的那個慷慨，他在善事上的付出，讓我深深受到感動。

當我們這樣慷慨施捨、慷慨給出去的時候，會有什麼後果呢？在十九節：「 這樣，就為自己在來世積聚財富，作美好的基礎，好叫他們能夠得著那真正的生命。」在這一節的經文告訴我們二件事情。

首先，當我們與人分享我們有的，我們就積財寶在天上。當我們與人分享的時候，我們銀行的賬簿戶口是越來的越少，但是天上的那本賬簿是越來的越多。你我每個人都要做決定，您看到的重要，或那看不見永恆的事更重要。

第二、當我們與別人分享我們有的時候，這裡所講的，就得著那真正的生命。這也有另外一個翻譯，您就會知道什麼是真正的生活。一個真正的生活，不是都是為了我自己，那真正的生活就是將我有的，分享給別人。一個愛的生活、一個施予的生活、是一個真的生活。詩篇七十三篇廿五節：「 除祢以外，在天上，我還有誰呢？除祢以外，在地上，我也無所愛慕。 」好美的一句話，也是一句很羅曼蒂克的話。當您在退修會讀這段經文的時候，「 除祢以外，在天上，我還有誰呢？除祢以外，在地上，我也無所愛慕。」把我們的心深深的受到感動，一邊唱，我們的眼淚都會流出來，是不是？但是，如果您的心是在地上的錢財的話，沒有辦法讀這段經文。很多時候，當我面對這段經文時，就像一把刀刺著我，真的嗎？真的在天上除祢以外，在天上，我還有誰呢？除祢以外，在地上，我也無所愛慕。您每天、每個禮拜您看多少次您的賬戶—那本支票本，您看多少次您投資的記錄，當我們經常看的時候，我們那能讀這一句話？我們一直的記得我們的心跟著我們的錢走，錢在那裡，心就在那裡。

結論

最後，我想與大家分享我上周末聽到的一個故事做今天的結束。一對夫婦，他們都是在密西根州的醫學院教書，他們除了自己的孩子外，他們也領養了二個有智障的孩子，把他們養大成人。夫妻二人合併薪水大約美金四十萬，當然在醫學院教書是這個數目。但是您知道嗎？他們將五萬到六萬塊留給自己用，另外的卅五萬都給出去。

這一對夫妻有一個小孩是醫學畢業的，當他一畢業後，他就參加了無邊界限醫生的組織，在蘇丹和伊所奧匹雅那裡工作了七年，他有一次回來的時候，他與朋友有如此的分享：你知道伊所奧匹雅最好的食物是什麼？蟑螂。因為在蟑螂裡有油，是人需要的。他也說在那樣的個世界裡生活了七年之後，很難回到美國來生活。他有次到華盛頓去看朋友，在冬天晚上在開車，經過了一群無家可歸者，車開到一個地方，那個年輕人說停！停！停！回頭走，他們就到一個 KMART ，這幾個年青人買了好多好多毛毯，再回到經過的那無家可歸者的地方，一個一個的派毛毯給他們。然後有人問他們，你們是跟那個組織來的？沒有！我們是自己來的，他們知道他們的需要，然後將其他都給出去。

我相信這裡的許多弟兄姊妹，按照我們社會的標準，我們大概不算是窮的人，那我們怎麼樣來用我們的錢？我們是不是錢越多，就買越多的東西？就買越好的東西？買越貴的車？買越大的房子？是不是我們要學習要知足，然後將神給我們的給那些有需要的人。

我時常聽人說：他們好有錢。也有人說：這個教會好有錢。我想我們都聽過。當我在思考這段經文的時候，我在想如果把話轉一轉會多好，他很富裕在做善事。這個教會也好富裕，將錢給出去。也看一下我們的支票簿，有多少是寫給自己的？多少是寫給別人的？教會也是一樣，看看我們的預算，多少是用在自己的身上，多少是用在世界各地的貧窮人身上？神將各樣美好的豐豐富富的賜給我們，為的是叫我們多做善事，叫我們在善事上富足，叫我們慷慨的施捨。

Date:   11/07/2010

Text:   1 Timothy 6:17-19

Title:   Be Generous

Theme: Since God is the giver of all good things, His children are to be lavish in doing good.

Introduction:

  We have heard this statement: I've been rich and I've been poor; and I can tell you that rich is better. I don’t think there is anyone here who deliberately wants to be poor. Some of us may remember when we first came to this country, how thin our wallets were. . One individual had only $50 to $100 in his pocket and had to work in a farm to pick apples. Others had to paint houses or work in packaging warehouses in the summer to pay for tuition, room and board. No one likes to repeat those life experiences, nor do we want our children to experience that. We’d all rather be rich.

  Two weeks ago, in our study of 1 Timothy 6:3-10, we learned about how to live when we have few resources, when we are poor. We are told to be content with what we have. If we try to satisfy the insatiable desire of wanting to have more wealth, it can lead us into temptations, possibly destroying us.

This morning, In Paul’s final words to Timothy in this letter, he turned his attention to the wealthy. . Of course, wealth and poverty are relative terms and neither can be clearly defined. Some of us may count ourselves poor, but we can always find those poorer than us. Few of us would consider ourselves rich, for we can always point to others who have far more . If I would commented that you were rich, you probably would say, compared to Bill Gates, I am a beggar. In every society, there is a recognized difference between the poor and the rich. In this country, according to the federal government guidelines; for a family of 2, if the total income is $14K, or $22K for a family of 4, it is considered poor.

  For those with some money, what are we to do with what we have? The passage before us clearly tells us the truth that since God has given us much, so we are to be generous in helping others.

I •  Believers are to enjoy the good things from God.

Vs.17b, “ 17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” In James 1:17, “ 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” These two verses tell us that all good things are from God. Good things include friends, families, food, travels, paintings, music and money. Yes, money is from God and is good. The scripture never teaches that money is evil. Only our desire for more money can become the root of all evil. Money itself is good and Paul writes that it is for us to enjoy, just as we enjoy friends, families and arts.

This means that we don’t need to feel guilty about using money to buy something we like. Once in a while it will be good for us individually or with friends and family members to enjoy good food in a fancy restaurant. Instead of staying in a Motel 6, we can also enjoy staying at, Holiday Inn or Hilton. God has given us good things for us to enjoy. When we see others with a better car, a bigger TV screen or a bigger house, we should be happy for them. Instead of making envious sour grapes comments.

II •  Believers are to avoid the danger money can bring.

When I was in China this May, I heard this: When man has money, he will become corrupt, while Women make money by corrupt means. ( 男人有錢會變壞，女人變壞會有錢 ) . There is some truth to this statement, right? In vs.17, we read that Timothy is to charge, meaning to command, to instruct the principles about being rich. Please note that these are not simply suggestions or options for us to consider. . No, rather, they are commands, truth to be instructed and followed. What is the truth about money that the wealthy ought to listen and obey? Vs.17, “ 17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches,…” This is negative instruction, dangers that the wealthy need to avoid.

First, when we have money, it can easily lead to pride& arrogance. Wealth can brings us a sense of achievement. Do we remember the first new car we bought, or the first house we bought? “I have worked so hard for this day. We finally can say, this is my car, my house.” There is that air of self-congratulation. We take pride that with our bare hands, we have created such wealth around us. With wealth, also comes power. The more money one has, the more power we accumulate. People like to flock to the wealthy.. In this week’s mid-term election, much was about power. We want to grasp the power we don’t have or keep the power that we have. With power, there also come privileges, even though some of those privileges are bought, such as membership in different kinds of club houses. Wealth, achievement, power and privilege can all lead to pride and arrogance. Look at what I have accomplished in life through hard work. Even though we say it is all God’s grace, yet what is clearly communicated is our own ability.

The scripture clearly tells us that pride has no place in God’s kingdom. This is the prayer we read about in Proverbs 30:7, “ 7 Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9 lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” When we have too much, we’ll say, Who is the Lord? Very often the rich person will think that he/she is God. The Chinese have a saying, that money can even turn a devil/ghost listen to you, “ 有錢使鬼推磨。 ” With this kind of power, it’s difficult not to brag. So the first danger to avoid when you are rich is pride.

The second danger to avoid when we are rich is: false security. If we are honest with ourselves, when we look at our fat check book, it does bring us a sense of security, right? I think most of us remember the hay days of the stock market. Looking at the Dow Jones Stock value, keep going up and up, can really make us happy and feel secure. Now I don’t have to worry about my children’s tuition and my retirement. We map out the plan for retirement, & travel plans around the world. But when the stock market drops under the 10,000 mark, we woke up one morning and found a large portion of our investment gone. For those in Houston , we definitely remember the days when Enron’s stock was high. People put money in, some even depending on Enron’s stock for their retirement. Yet, literally, overnight it was gone. It’s like that rich man in Luke 12:16ff. He had a good harvest, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’" 18 "And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods." 19 "And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’" 20 "But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’" he thought his security was in building a bigger warehouse to store his abundance and to enjoy life. But God said, if I am to take your life tonight, what will happen to your wealth?

Instead of putting our trust in our wealth, we are to put our trust in God. We are to trust that he is the provider and sustainer of our lives. He will never let us down.

III •  Believers are to be generous with what God has given them.

We have learned not to be proud, nor to place our hope and security in wealth. These are the negative instructions on possessing money. Now we come to the positive aspects. What are we to do with money? When we have little, we are to make sure not to be greedy. But now, what are we to do with what we have? Vs.18, “ 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,…”

We are to use what we have to do good, rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share. Give to those who are in need. Not just occasionally giving some money to the needy, like once a year during Christmas. But, instead, to do it regularly. Not out of a legalistic spirit, but ready to share, meaning a willing heart to share with those who have little. We may not have the money to share with others, but we can share the warmth and laughter of our home. God wants us to be generous in helping others on a regular basis. Wealth is not for us to hoard and keep accumulating, but to share with those who are poor, weak and helpless.

God wants us to use what we have to show kindness to the poor around us: in this city, in this country and in other parts of the world. God has given us much so we can give much to others.

I am often encouraged to see the congregation generously giving generously to the church’s Benevolent Fund. The money in this fund is used to the needy.

I remember several years ago, an elderly man came to me saying, “Pastor, I have enough money for my daily expenses. I know how much I need every month. Any additional amount of money, I want to give away. Can you help me decide where to give it?” I was touched by such a generosity in doing good.

What is the consequence of such living? Vs. 19,“ 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” This verse tells us two things.

First, when we share our possessions with others , we are actually saving our treasures in heaven. Yes, when we share, our earthly bank account will decrease, but the account in heaven will increase. Secondly, when we share with others, we’ll then truly live. This means when we live a life of generous giving, we are then truly living in this world. Living a life of love is true living. In Psa 73:25, “ 25 Whom have I in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.” When we refuse to let go of our money, it will be really tough for us to read and listen to these words by the psalmist.

Conclusion:

  I want to conclude with a story I heard last weekend. It is about a family where both the husband and wife are professors at a medical school in Michigan . Besides their own children, they have also adopted and raised two handicapped children. The annual combined income of this couple is about $400K. They kept $50 to 60k for themselves and give away the rest. They are rich and generous in good works.

  This couple has a son who is trained in medicine. After he completed his medical training, he joined Doctors without Boarders, working in the Sudan and Ethiopia area. On his trip home, he shared that the best food he could find in Ethiopia was cockroaches. Why? Because of the oil in this insect. He also shared that having served in that part of the world; it would be very hard for him to return to live in the States. He was visiting his friends in Washington D.C. one winter night. They were driving down the streets and suddenly he asked the friends to stop the car and turned around. They went to a Kmart where he, bought many blankets. They then drove to a shelter that they passed earlier and distributed the blankets to the homeless. Here was a young man, even though he had little, yet was generous in doing good works. He was ready to share with those who had little or none.

  Most of us would not be considered poor according to our society’s standard. What are we doing with our money? Are we accumulating more and more, and our bank account getting more and more? God’s word teaches us that he has given us much, so that we can give away to help the poor.

  I often hear people say: so and so is very rich, or that church is rich. How nice would it be to hear: “they are very generous in good works. Or, look at this church, how much she gives away every year, this church is rich, in good works.