Beloved, I am glad to share with you today on the next window of the temple of truth, namely unlimited service. Recall that the expression “unlimited service” is borrowed from an Oriental usage introduced by the Persians, according to which state employees, and in particular postal couriers, were allowed to require men to carry a message or a message burden.
In other words, the public authorities had the power to compel anyone to perform any official duty; and people have adapted to it, thus subscribing to a desire for submission, obedience and self-denial.
This usage helps to better understand why the Lord Jesus said in Mat 5.41: “If anyone forces you to go a mile, do two with him.” It is actually a great act of love doing that and not to resist in a situation where we can do something for one’s neighbor.
- RENUNCIATION OF SELF
The duty of beneficence is illustrated:
– the commandment of Moses: Deut 15: 12-14 “If one of your Hebrew brothers, man or woman, sells to you, he will serve you six years; but in the seventh year you shall send him away from home. 13 And when you send him away from home, you will not send him away empty; 14 And thou shalt make gifts to him from thy flock, and from thine threshing floor, and from thine winepress, and from the blessings of Jehovah thy God.”
(Neh 8:10 “And they said to them, Go, eat fat meat, and drink sweet liquors, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord, and do not grieve because of the Lord will be your strength.”)
-the advice of the wise man: Pro 25:21 “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.” ; Ecc 11.1 “Cast your bread on the face of the waters, because with time you will find it;”
-The words of the prophet: Isa 58:7 “Share your bread with the hungry, And bring into your house the poor without shelter. If you see a naked man, cover him, and do not turn away from your fellow man.”
-the commandments of Christ: Mat 5.42 “Give to him who asks you, and do not turn away from him that will borrow from you.” (Luke 3.11 “He answered them, and he that hath two tunics to share with him who has none and that he who has something to eat should do the same.”); Luke 12.33 “Sell what you have, and give it into alms. Make yourself purses that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where the thief does not approach, and where the moth does not destroy.”
fraternal love, some examples: 1 Sam 18.3 “Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his soul.” ;
Act 20.38 “They kissed him, grieved above all because he had said they would not see his face. And they accompanied him to the ship.” ; Rom 16.4 “who exposed their heads to save my life; it is not I alone who gives them thanks, but all the churches of the Gentiles.” ; 2 Cor 12.15 “For my part, I will gladly spend, and will spare myself for your souls, I said, loving you more, being less loved by you.” ; Php 1.8 “For God is my witness that I cherish you all with the tenderness of Jesus Christ.” ; Phil. 4.1 “Therefore, my beloved ones, and very dear brethren, you who are my joy and my crown, remain thus firm in the Lord, my beloved ones!” ; 2 Tim 1.17 “On the contrary, when he came to Rome, he sought me with much eagerness, and found me.”
Examples of altruism
-Abraham: Gen 13.9 “Is not the whole country before you? Separate yourself from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.” (Gen 14.23 “I will not take anything of yours, not even a thread, or a string of shoes, so that you do not say: I have enriched Abram. Nothing for me!”)
-Joseph: Gen 50.21 “Be without fear; I will talk to you and your children. And he comforted them, speaking to their heart.”
-Mose: Num 11.29 “And Moses said to him, Are you jealous for me? May all the people of the Lord be made of prophets; and may the Lord put his spirit on them!”
-Jonathan: 1 Sam 18.4 “And he took off his cloak, to give it to David; and he gave him his garments, even his sword, his bow, and his girdle,” (1 Sam 23:17 “and said to him, “Do not be afraid, for the hand of Saul my father will not come to you.” I will be in the second row near you, Saul, my father, knows it too.”)
-David: 2 Sam 23.17 “And he said, Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this thing. Would I drink the blood of those men who went to the risk of their lives? And he did not want to drink it. This is what these three valiant men did.”
-Daniel: Daniel 5:17 “And Daniel answered in the presence of the king, Keep your gifts, and grant your gifts to another; I will nevertheless read the writing to the king, and I will explain it to him.”
-Paul: 1 Cor 10.33 “In the same way that I also strive in all things to please everyone, seeking, not my advantage, but that of the greatest number, so that they may be saved.”
Christ : Rom 15.3: “For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, The reproaches of those who insult you have fallen on me.”; 2 Corinthians 8.9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath made you poor, and rich, that he may be enriched by his poverty.” ; 2 Cor 12.5 “I will boast of such a man, but of myself I will not boast, except of my infirmities.”
social duties: we all have them:
-to foreigners: Ex 22.20 “He who offers sacrifices to other gods than to the Lord alone will be destined for extermination.” (Ex 23.9 “Thou shalt not oppress the stranger: ye know what the stranger feels, for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.”); Lev 19.34 “And ye shall treat a stranger to dwell among you, as a native from among you; you will love him as yourselves, for you have been strangers in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” ; Lev 25.35 “If your brother becomes poor, and his hand bows close to you, you will support him; you shall do the same for the stranger who dwells in the land, that he may live with you.”
-to the fatherless and the widow: Deut 27.19 “Cursed be he who violates the rights of the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow! And all the people will say, Amen!”
II. THE PROMISES
remember the divine promises to the generous ones: Psa 41.2 “Blessed is he who is interested in the poor! In the day of evil the LORD delivers him”;
Pro 3.9-10 “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” ; Pro 11.25 “The beneficent soul shall be satisfied, and he who sprinkles shall himself be watered.” (Pro 22.9 “The man whose eyes are benevolent shall be blessed, because he gives his bread to the poor,” ; Pro 28.27 “He who gives the poor do not feel the scarcity, but the one who closes his eyes is charged with curses,” Ecc 11.1 “Cast your bread on the face of the waters, because with time you will find it;”); Isa 58.10 “If you give your own sustenance to the hungry, If you satisfy the needy soul, Your light will rise on the darkness, And your darkness will be like noon time. Luke 6.38 “Give, and it will be given to you: a good measure will be poured into your bosom, tight, shaken, and overflowing; for they will measure you with the measure that you have used for them ” (Luke 14:14 “And you will be glad that they can not repay you, for it will be restored to you at the resurrection of the righteous.) 2 Cor 9.7 “What each one gives as he has resolved in his heart, without sadness or constraint; for God loves him who gives with joy.”
charitable encouragement : 2 Chr 31.10 “Then the high priest Azariah of the house of Zadok said to him, Since they have brought offerings into the house of Jehovah, we have eaten, we are satisfied, and we have left many, for the LORD has blessed his people; and here is the great quantity that remains.” ;
Psa 112.9 “He makes bounties and gives to the needy; His justice remains forever; His head rises with glory,”
-Pro 11.25 “The benevolent soul shall be satisfied, and he who waters shall himself be watered.” ; Pro 22.9 “The man whose eyes are kindly shall be blessed, because he gives his bread to the poor, but he who is noble forms noble designs, and persevereth in his noble designs.” ; Isa 58.10 “If you give your own sustenance to the hungry, if you satisfy the needy soul, your light will rise in the darkness, and your darkness will be like the south”; Malachi 3.10 “Bring all the tithes to the house of the treasury, that there may be food in my house; Put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts. And you will see if I do not open for you the locks of heaven, If I do not pour over you the blessing in abundance.” ; Luke 6.38 “Give, and it will be given to you: you will pour into your breast a good measure, tight, shaken and overflowing; for they will measure you with the measure you have used.” ; 2 Cor 6.9 “as unknown, though well known; as dying, and here we are living; as chastised, though not put to death”;
Examples of human compassion:
– Pharaoh’s daughter: Ex 2.6 “She opened it, and saw the child: it was a little boy crying. She took pity on her, and said, He is a child of the Hebrews!
-Some rulers of Israel: 2 Chr 28.15 “And the men whose names have just been mentioned arose and took the captives; they used the spoil to clothe all who were naked, they gave them clothes and shoes, they made them eat and drink, they anointed them, they drove on all the donkeys that were tired, and they led them to Jericho, the city of palms, near their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.” ; Job 29.13 “The blessing of the unfortunate came upon me; I filled the widow’s heart with joy.”
-the good Samaritan: Luke 10: 33-34 “But a Samaritan, who was traveling, having come there, was moved with compassion when he saw him. 34 And he drew near, and bound his wounds, pouring in oil and wine; then he put him on his own horse, took him to an inn, and took care of him.”
-The gaoler of Philippi: Act 16:33 “And he took them with him, and at that hour of the night he washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his people.”
-the inhabitants of the island: Act 28.2 “The barbarians showed us an unusual kindness; they gathered us all near a great fire, which they had lit because the rain was falling and it was very cold.” (Heb 10.34 “Indeed, you had compassion for the prisoners, and you accepted with joy the removal of your goods, knowing that you have better goods and that always last.”)
Examples of goodness
-Joseph: Gen 50.21 “Be without fear; I will talk to you and your children. And he comforted them, speaking to their heart.” ;
-Moise: Ex 2.17 “The shepherds came and chased them away. And Moses arose, and defended them, and gave their flock to drink.”
-Booz: Ruth 2.16 “And ye shall take off for her a sheaf of ears, that ye let her glean, without reproaching her.”
-David: 2 Sam 9.1 “And David said, Is there still any man left of Saul’s house for me to do him good for Jonathan?” ; Pro 31.26 “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and kind instructions are on her tongue.”
– The good Samaritan: Luke 10.34 “And he drew near, and bound his wounds, pouring in oil and wine; then he put him on his own horse, took him to an inn, and took care of him.”
-The gaoler of Philippi: Act 16:33 “And he took them with him, and at that hour of the night he washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his people.”
-the inhabitants of the island: Act 28.2 “The barbarians showed us an unusual kindness; they gathered us all near a great fire, which they had lit because the rain was falling and it was very cold.”
From the foregoing, we learn from the Word of God, the duty to renounce ourselves and to put ourselves at the disposal of the State authorities to fulfill any obligation required by it. We are all encouraged to do charitable work, knowing that our God has made promises to the generous. Our prayers are with you all in these beneficent acts and obedience, by the grace of our heavenly Father.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows :
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all adoration, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to your questions and comments, before sharing with you next week on the following window of the temple of truth, which is kindness.
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you profusely.
David Feze, Servant of the Lord Almighty.