Feed My Sheep, Feed My Sheep, Feed My Sheep…
If Jesus were here today, where do you think He would be putting His alms of time, favors, gifts and money? If the bible is a reflection of His passion, His alms would not be towards a synagogue, church, the pharisees or a clergy representative. Jesus’ Alms would be towards the lowly, poor and outcast.
“I know we are expected to give, but where & how?”
Angels of God, you may not think you have much to give. However, you do. It is not money God wants, but your obedient heart. God wants His sheep fed.
This is seen in the New Testament giving model; Feed, Water, Clothe, Shelter, Visit the sick and imprisoned.
- Know someone sick? Call them to see if they need anything from town. Spend time talking, reading or babysitting for them.
- Know someone who cannot get around? Offer them a ride or help them with house chores.
- Have food you will never eat? Donate it to your local food drive or soup kitchen.
- Are you a good cook? Want to see peoples hearts melt, bring over a meal during hard times.
- Enjoy drinking fresh water? So do millions in third world countries. Donate to an international outreach agency who provides water to an entire family for $1 a month.
- Like to be sheltered in warmth? Donate those clothes in your closet that no longer fit. Volunteer your labor to home building agencies like ‘Habitat for Humanity’ and the like.
- Money poor, Time rich? Donate your time to a local charity. Remember time is money, both in the sight of man and God.
- Know anyone lonely? Loneliness is the silent killer of God’s children. Consider visiting your neighbor who is shut in. Start a nursing home program of activities or bible study. Start a prison ministry outreach. My parents who are 72 and 83, still have a nursing home and prison outreach ministry. Be an ear for them to reach out to. Pray with the lonely, confirm the salvation of these on the edge of suicide or eternity. Volunteer or pave the way for someone else to go into a “Prison Fellowship”.
Beloved of God, there are an infinite number of ways you can fulfill the ‘Great Command’ of “Feed My Sheep”. The above 6 items required of God to sustain His children are simple, clear and are not money dependent.
On that last day beloved, will Jesus say to you:
Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
or
Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Well done, thou good and faithful servant: I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
For those who are blessed with money, consider the following organizations that do not buy; Organs, Day-Cares and Choir Robes.
- Salvation Army
- Blood:Water Mission
- Living Water International
- Pure Water for the World
- Charity Water
- LifeStraw
- Operation Blessing International
- Heifer International
- Prison Fellowship
- Red Cross
- Samaritan’s Purse
- Feed The Children
- United Way
- Ronald McDonald House
- Habitat for Humanity
- Doctors Without Boarders
- Mercy Ships
- Gideons International
- Coinstar
And the like…
Do not fall into the ‘Clergy Trap’, that says your giving must be to your home church or only to christian organizations. God made no such distinctions and has a much larger plan than any ‘man of God’ can imagine. It is these vain and profane rules from the clergy, that have hobbled the work of God for millennia.
Remember it is a shallow person who will limit their giving based on tax write off. To he who is able – seek God’s direction and give $1,000,000.00 to a homeless person. Then sit back and watch God ignite an unquenchable holy fire upon the kingdom’s of men.
Other Resources
America’s Largest Charity Evaluator – See; tips, articles and independent analysis from both secular to sacred charities A to Z.