Two Seas

My first year scouting fields without the help of a spouse had me worried. Daycare was going to be expensive. Time was going to be a precious commodity, and I was going to have to be very patient and gentle with my children because I knew I would be physically exhausted. I prayed for help and again, my faithful Father took care of me.

A dear friend of mine, and a sister in Christ, knew the position I was in. She had been praying to our Lord for a way to help me. With one solution God answered both of our prayers.

Our Father gave my friend the desire to make supper for our family every Tuesday night from May until August. On Tuesdays, I would pick up my children from daycare and supper from her house. I didn’t have to be busy making supper after work. I could stop, relax, and enjoy my children one night a week. This also gave me a break on our grocery bill for the summer.

This is how God designed the church to work, taking care of each other when we were able, and receiving care when we were not able. In fact, our Lord says in his word if a man sees someone in need and does nothing to help that someone, the love of God is not in him (1 John 3:17-18). We are commanded by our King to help; it’s not a suggestion. My new husband brought up a great question regarding this last night. He asked,

What if the people are not believers? What if they are lazy, and really don’t deserve help?

I had to answer honestly…do any of us deserve help? In Colossians 3:23-24, we are reminded we don’t work for humans. We work for the Lord, so we ought to do all things for him, and he does deserve our best…always.

A while back I heard a sermon on the Sea of Galilee and the Dead, or Salt Sea. The pastor gave what I thought was the best explanation as to why we had to keep our blessings from God flowing to someone else. The pastor pointed out the Sea of Galilee is healthy. Abundant life can be found in this body of water, both terrestrial and aquatic. The Dead Sea is called that because it has no life in it. The salt content is so great, aquatic plants and fish cannot survive. The difference between the two bodies of water is the flow of water. Water flows both in and out of the Sea of Galilee. The constant supply of fresh water, and expulsion of used water, provides a healthy bank of nutrients for living organisms.

The Dead Sea also receives an inflow of fresh water. However, the difference lies in the fact that it has no water flowing out of it. There is no way to expel the used liquid, which then becomes stagnant and life draining. In the same way, if we keep God’s blessings to ourselves we will grow proud, selfish, and develop a sense of entitlement. We will forget we need a Savior and that his promise of salvation is a gift we don’t deserve.

Yet, if we receive his blessings, and keep them flowing to people incredible things can happen! Someone who may never step foot in a church, or who may never pick up a Bible can still experience God’s goodness, hospitality, and mercy. Our Lord, through his children, still finds ways to touch to those who may be “turned off” by religion. In his unfathomable love for his creation, God is willing to reach out to people even if we refuse to reach out to him. Would you rather be a life giving Sea of Galilee or a life draining Dead Sea? Someone needs Jesus through you.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

James 2:14-17