Monday April 6, 2009 POOR? ALWAYS!
Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon, a man who had suffered from a skin disease. While Jesus was sitting there, a woman went to him with a bottle of very expensive perfume and poured it on his head. The disciples were irritated when they saw this. They asked, "Why did she waste it like this? It could have been sold for a high price, and the money could have been given to the poor." Since Jesus knew what was going on, he said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me with you. She poured this perfume on my body before it is placed in a tomb. I can guarantee this truth: Wherever this Good News is spoken in the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her." Matthew 26:6-13 Well, right off the bat we see that Jesus was going against the people of His day by being in a leper's home. Yet, don't you think the man didn't stay a leper? Once we meet Jesus, it is hard to stay what we were when we met Him. I would love to meet this brave, impulsive woman who risked reputation and financial freedom to worship at the feet of Jesus. It didn't matter to her that it was a leper's home - her Savior was there. Apparently, she was being obedient to God by anointing Jesus for His time of suffering. What is amazing is that the disciples became indignant over money, but aren't we the same way? We, like the disciples, know that all God has to do is "think" and the poor people of our day would be rich. However, in His wisdom God chose to leave the poor among us to test our motives. What will we do with the gifts He blesses us with? Let me share a few words of wisdom from Proverbs 19. table with 2 columns and 5 rows 1 Better to be a poor person who lives innocently than to be one who talks dishonestly and is a fool. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but a poor person is separated from his friend. 7 The entire family of a poor person hates him. How much more do his friends keep their distance from him! 17 Whoever has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his good deed. 22 Loyalty is desirable in a person, and it is better to be poor than a liar. table end God often uses the people around us to help us understand our motives. Having two wild children in our home has truly brought out the best and the worst in us. God has used their presence to help us gain a deeper understanding of faith and trust in God. These children are truly God's sandpaper in our lives right now. Yes, in His wisdom, God allows the poor to always be with us and uses them to help us grow spiritually. Heavenly Father, I praise you for Your mercies that are new every morning, for all people. I thank You for Your discipline and rebuke that helps me see myself as You see me. I thank you for the robe of righteousness that You dress me in even when I fail. I thank You for looking beyond my faults and seeing my needs and teaching me to do the same with others. Oh, Father, help us this day to understand our motives and to get our priorities in order. May all the glory go to You. ******************************************* O. Addison Gethers e-mail address : [email protected] or [email protected] window live messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
