We All Have Something to Contribute

We can’t do everything, so what can we do?

A young single mother struggles to put food on the table. Out of care for her and her family it is noticed by others and so a sharing of food from their own home-grown garden occurs.

Many of the men get together every Saturday morning and tinker with their cars. One of them instead of trading in his car for a new one gives it to someone in need and then teaches them the basics to care for the car.

Some university students and retired teachers give of their time to teach some high schoolers maths, physics, chemistry, English – whatever subjects they are good at.

The older woman teaches the younger ones to cook, to sew, to mend clothes, for they have never had the opportunity to learn. Knitters and crocheters taught their skills to those interested.

The older men help the younger men and train them in the way to behave in society.

The ones more capable help those less so.

Retired plumbers taught the younger ones how to change washers in a tap, the carpenters taught basic skills.

Older mothers cared for the younger mothers – encouraged them.

No matter the age, the station, the cultural background each member looks out for the other.

Authentic Christian Community.

As in the book of Acts

 All who believed were together and had all things in common;they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts,…

Acts 2:44-46 NRSV

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Acts 4:32-35 NRSV

As it states – all shared and it was given to each as any had need.

The most important part of this Christian Community was the fellowship, the God bond – as stated in Acts 4:32.

The whole group who believed were of one heart and soul……

It was Jesus who was the centre and everything else flowed from that relationship. Love God first then your neighbour as yourself.

I have seen this working in a few Churches I have visited.

Where can you give more to your church community? Where can you give to make it truly a Christian Community so that if any have needs they can be met?

Where can you offer your gifts, your skills to help those in need?

That’s how Padre Pio started a hospital. He saw a need in the area he lived in. The hospital was free and the skills of volunteer doctors, nurses, carers were organised, money was donated, the work had begun.

The title of the hospital alone showed Padre Pio’s heart – “For the relief of Suffering.”

What can you imagine?

What can you do, even in a small way?

†

May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’

Love

Rosemary

Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Where can you give more to your church community?

Let’s take this a step further and ask where can you give more to those in need? How can you fill a need of those in the world?

Where could your skills and gifts be most useful in meeting a need?