How can we practically "share with the saints who are in need" today? The Call to Open-Hearted Generosity “Contribute to the needs of the saints…” (Romans 12:13). Scripture treats this command as a present-tense lifestyle, not an occasional project. Sharing is meant to be woven into daily discipleship. Understanding the Word “Share” • Greek koinōnéō carries the idea of joint participation, not mere handouts. • We give as if we are meeting our own needs, because Christ has knit His body together (1 Corinthians 12:25-26). • The pattern began in the Jerusalem church: “There were no needy ones among them” (Acts 4:34-35). Practical Ways to Share Today 1. Meeting Immediate Material Needs • Keep a discreet fund (envelope, bank sub-account, or church benevolence) ready for groceries, rent help, or medical bills. • Invite struggling believers for meals and send leftovers home (Isaiah 58:7). • Cover utility bills anonymously through the provider so no one is embarrassed (Matthew 6:3-4). 2. Leveraging Skills and Time • Offer car repairs, tutoring, legal advice, or childcare at no cost. • Help elderly saints with technology, paperwork, or home maintenance (James 1:27). • Organize ride rotations for medical appointments or church gatherings. 3. Sharing Living Space • Open guest rooms to missionaries on furlough, displaced families, or college students between semesters (Hebrews 13:2). • Rotate church small groups through homes to lighten any one host’s burden. 4. Coordinated Church-Wide Efforts • Establish a deacon-led benevolence team that quietly vets requests (Acts 6:1-3). • Partner with trusted ministries for disaster relief; send both funds and volunteers. • Create a “needs board” (physical or online) where members post requests and others claim them. 5. Long-Term Support • Commit to monthly gifts for persecuted or impoverished believers abroad (2 Corinthians 8:4). • Provide no-interest loans, coupled with financial mentoring, to help saints regain stability. • Offer scholarships for seminary students or families pursuing adoption. Guarding Our Motives • Give cheerfully, not grudgingly (2 Corinthians 9:7). • Refuse to publicize others’ hardships; protect their dignity (Proverbs 11:13). • Remember we are stewards of the Master’s assets, not owners (Psalm 24:1). • Expect eternal reward, not earthly applause (Matthew 6:1). Stepping Out: First Steps This Week • Ask your church leadership where the current needs are. • Set aside the first portion of any unexpected income for saints in crisis. • Invite one believer facing hardship over for a meal and listening ear. • Clean closets and tool sheds; give quality items you no longer use. Scriptures to Meditate On • Romans 12:13 — “Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.” • Galatians 6:10 — “As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.” • Hebrews 13:16 — “And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” • 1 John 3:17-18 — “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no compassion on him… let us love not in word and speech but in action and truth.” Continual reflection on these truths stirs both heart and hands to obey Romans 12:13 in tangible, joyful ways. |
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