Verse: Proverbs 3:27-28
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it with you.
Thoughts
This is one of those verses we could memorize, make a life goal, and repeat to ourselves every morning. Do not withhold good from others when it is in your power to act. Wow.
Let's think about that. When is it in our power to act?
Sometimes we can feel that the ills of this world are too big for us. That we can't really affect any change about racism, poverty, homelessness, people not knowing Jesus, or any number of issues. But the truth is that we can. We can affect change each day, in our lives, in the places where "we have power to act."
We have to be careful not to let the size of the problem discourage us from taking small steps in the right direction.
When it is in my power to love my neighbor, I make a difference.
When it is in my power to show kindness to someone who is hurting, I make a difference,
When it is in my power to be generous with someone in need, I make a difference.
When it is in my power to build bridges with people different from me, I make a difference.
When I share my faith with a friend, and pray for God to touch their lives, I make a difference.
When is it in your power to act? What opportunities to give goodness to others do you have each day? Take this verse with you today and look for the ways in which you could act. Ask God to reveal them to you, to lead you into situations where you can give something good to another person.
I'm convinced we miss many opportunities to partner with God in the lives of others simply because we are too busy to notice. Let's ask God to slow down our lives, open our eyes, and prompt us to do good for those around us.
Prayer
I pray that you would teach me to see those "God moments" where I can partner with you to touch the lives of others!