Skip to main content

Giving to the One Who Asks - Matthew 5:42

Matt. 5:42 "Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away."
It doesn't mean giving to the chronic borrower, who lacks a sense of responsibility, who borrows but never has the ethical sense of returning back. The chronic borrower is reckless and irresponsible, and wishes to make others pay for what he wants to freely enjoy. To pay for his desires is to increase chaos and havoc in the world of economy. Our rule is verse 48: "you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." In the same manner that our Father will not give to everyone who asks out of selfish desires and with an ungrateful entitlement attitude, we are not obligated to give to everyone who asks. Also, a good father doesn't give to his child whatever he asks unless he knows that the giving is good for the child; similarly, if someone who is addicted to alcohol or drugs or to vanity comes and asks of you money which you know he's going to spend it for his addiction, you shouldn't give to him. In addition, if there is someone who has possessions that he doesn't wish to spend, but covets what you have, such a person is a greedy miser, who deserves punishment like the rich man in Nathan's parable who killed the poor man's lamb instead of one of his own to feed a visitor. Do not associate with adulterers and winebibbers (Prov.23:20; James 4:3,4). But, give to the one who is in real need and is placed by God's providence in your path to be shown charity; and, if you're not very sure, it is better to give than to receive, it is better to err on the side of the right than err on the side of the wrong, for why should you be ashamed on the Day of Judgment when He says, "I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' (Mat 25:42-43)
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Poll Results: Are all Mission Fields Harvest Fields?

On Monday, April 30, I started a poll on the following question: Jesus said: "The fields are ripe for harvest... I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." (Jn 4:35,38) DOES IT APPLY 2 NON-JUDEO LANDS AS WELL? They don't need preparation and sowing? Rather, they are as equally ripe for harvest as Judea-Samaria was because of previous labor by somebody (local indigenous religions and prophets!)? A total of 18 votes were cast with the following main results: YES = 9 I believe it wherever the gospel is preached and people respond. = 5 NO = 1 I'M NOT SURE = 0 One Scholar responded saying: "I think God's Spirit is at work with all people all the time through various way, and sundry ways as Hebrews says. hence they are ready for harvest... but the church is too slow to go." A Pastor responded saying: "I do believe that even in the remotest areas, the fields are alread...
1 comment
Read more

Rocketing Prices Make Vegetables and Fruits a Luxury in India

Prices of agro-products soar higher in India, making fruits and vegetables almost a luxury. The Times of India reports: "The price of almost every vegetables except onion and potato has gone up to 25 to 30 per cent in the wholesale market and retail price staggering up to 45 to 50 per cent. A random market survey revealed an increase in the price of spinach to Rs 40-45 from Rs 10-15 kg a few days back. "The price of tomato has gone up to Rs 55-60 from Rs 40 a kg and capsicum to Rs 60-80 from Rs 40 per kg at the start of this month. The price of onion has gone up to Rs 20 from Rs 15-18 per kg but still remained steady in the market. "Variation between the wholesale prices and retail prices is staggering between 25%-30%." (Lucknow: July 17, 2009). Lauki (bottle gourd) went from being Rs. 7-10 per kg to Rs. 40 per kg. The price of lentils has shot up to Rs. 85 per kg from Rs. 40-45 per kg. The saying "dal bhat ab ameeron ka khana hei" (lentils and rice are n...
1 comment
Read more

Three Divisions of Philosophical Theology

Also discussed as "God of the Rationalist or God of the Empiricists " at Philpapers.org Philosophical theology can be basically divided into three classes: Rationalist theology, Empirical theology, and Intermediate Theology. Rationalist Theology  includes isms such as monism (e.g. Parmenides and Zeno) and non-dualism (Advaitins of India) whose assertions are usually supported by arguments that rationally dismiss experience as false and irrational. This they do with reference to ultimate concepts such as unity, necessity, infinity, immutability, and transcendence (none of which can be predicated of the things of experience). Thus, God becomes the "wholly other" transcendent reality that can only be talked about  via negativa. Empirical Theology,  on the other hand, is quite the opposite of the previous. It actually brings religion down to the earth. The gods and goddesses are more human like, and earthly; and, of course, positively understandable in empirical categor...
1 comment
Read more