Introduction

• I John 3:16-18
• Deuteronomy 24:19-22
• Matthew 5:42

Let’s do the same as the good Samaritan.

• Luke 10:30-37 - “Go and do the same.”
• Helping people means some amount of sacrifice.
  • Time, money, materials.
  • We have to live with a little margin so we can help others.
  • I Timothy 6:18-19
• Helping people starts with LOVE.
  • Luke 10:27
  • Ephesians 4:28
  • Matthew 5:38-42
  • James 1:27

There are various ways to help people.

• I Timothy 5:4-8
• II Kings 4:8-10 - The wealthy woman in Shunem provided a room for Elijah to use when he passed by.
• Matthew 25:34-36
• James 2:15-16

What’s the best way to help someone?

• Matthew 13:44
• James 5:19-20
• Is there a better way to help someone than to help them put aside sin?
• Philippians 3:7-8, 11

Local churches are authorized to provide for needy Christians.

• Public charities have a charter that dictates how the money is to be spent. Jesus has provided the charter for his church.

Scriptures about providing for needy Christians

Acts 2:44-45

• This is referring to sharing of funds. The phrase “all things” here must be taken in context. This is not authorizing sharing of sexual partners or some sort of communism. This was voluntary sharing.
• This was a unique situation with many new Christians being far from home longer than anticipated.

Acts 4:32-35

• Compare Acts 5:2; 23:3 - “Laid at the apostles’ feet” is an idion meaning “putting something under the apostles’ control.”

Acts 6:1-3

• This was for the widows among the disciples. There were surely more needy widows in the city at large.

Acts 11:27-30

• Some use this passage in support of the “sponsoring church arrangement,” arguing that the church in Jerusalem must have been a sponsoring church because many churches in the area were helped, but we only read of Barnabas and Paul visiting the church in Jerusalem. But we can’t draw this conclusion directly. Barnabas and Paul may have visited more churches that are not mentioned individually.

Romans 15:25-27

• Paul was delivering money from Macedonia and Achaia to the needy saints in Jerusalem.

I Corinthians 16:1-3

II Corinthians 8:3-4, 14

I Timothy 5:16, 5

Observations

• Churches are authoring to provide for needy Christians; individuals are authorized to provide for anyone.
• God did not set up the local church as a general charity.
• How generous!
• Use wise judgment.

Introduction

• God usually makes things simple in the Bible, contrasting two clear options:
  • Cain vs. Abel
  • Joseph vs. his brothers
  • Moses vs. Pharaoh

Obedience

• Matthew 21:28-31 - How many times are we told to do something and do not do it?
• Jesus is teaching us something that applies in every situation - are you obedient or not?

Pride

• Do you like being wrong or apologizing? Apologizing is a learned behavior.
• Jeremiah 10:23 - It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
• Are we humble enough to turn to God?
• Psalms 59:1-9 - When trouble came, David turned to God.

Judas vs. Peter

• Matthew 26:75; 27:3-5 - Peter wept bitterly, then returned to Christ. Judas had remorse and hanged himself. Judas shows us that feeling bad about something is not enough.

Saul vs. Paul

• Philippians 3:4-11
• We are known for where or who we come from.
• The biggest contrast was where he put his faith.

I Samuel 21

• I Samuel 21:1 - Eli’s family came from Nob.
• I Samuel 21:4 - See Matthew 12:1-8. The Pharisees were judging hypocritically here and Jesus makes the point by referencing what David and his men did eating the shewbread.

I Samuel 22

• I Samuel 22:19 - Compare Saul’s behavior with Agag and the Amelekites in I Samuel 15:7-9. He refused to obey God in that instance, but then kills innocent people here (or at the very least, consents to the killing).
• I Samuel 22:18 - See I Samuel 2:31-33. This was part of the judgment against Eli’s house (Ahimelech was a descendant of Eli).
• Through all of this, it does not say David inquired of the Lord until I Samuel 23:2. David likely learned a very difficult lesson here.

Introduction

• We are all so close to eternity. We must let that weigh on us.
• We must do right now while we have opportunity and not trip at the finish line.

Israel’s sin

• Exodus 15:22-25 - Israel at Marah
• Exodus 16:1-3 - Israel demands food
• Exodus 17:1-3 - Israel demands water
• Exodus 32:1 - The Israelites sin at Mt. Sinai with the golden calf.
• Numbers 11:1, 4-6 - God sends fire when Israel complains.
• Numbers 13:1, 26-33 - The spies return from Canaan beaing a bad report.
• Numbers 14:11, 22-35 - God condemns Israel to wander in the wilderness.
• Deuteronomy 1:26-33 - Moses retells the story.
• They grumbled and complained the entire time!

The people complained

• God had it all under control.
• They missed the big picture of how close they were. They were only 30 miles from Canaan!
  • Heaven is right around the corner for us!
• They forgot what God HAD done and focused on what he HADN’T done.
  • Deuteronomy 1:29
  • Complaining is really a lack of gratitude.
  • Complaining is sinful and it’s not a minor thing!
• A lack of faith in God
  • They forgot how big their God was.
  • What are your giants?
    • Isaiah 59:1

Moses’ error

• Numbers 20:1-13 - They were back in Kadesh in the fortieth year of wandering! They were again only about thirty miles from Canaan.
• Careful what you say when you are upset.
• Obey ALL of God’s word.
• Remember … it’s all about God.
  • Deuteronomy 8:11
• Hebrews 11:13