Food for Thought: Sharing

A guy explained that the Internet was down at his apartment, and then added, "I guess my neighbors forgot to pay their bill." Reader's Digest, June 2015, p.113

I don’t think that is what the Apostle Paul meant when He said in Hebrews 13:16: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

Yes, roommates might share one internet connection, as long as they also share the costs. But some people seem to think that as long as something is available, it is theirs for the taking. On the other hand, there are those who think that what they have is theirs alone, and they don’t need to share with anyone. The truth is that everything belongs to God! We are “owners” by civic custom only. All that we have is on temporary loan from God. Our moral obligation is to share what we have with those less fortunate than ourselves.

Luke 6:38 points out that we should: “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Not that we should give in order to be rewarded. But that we should give because it is the right thing to do, especially if we have more than enough and the other person is in need. We are to give out of gratitude for what God has done for us. As it says in I John 3:17 “But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?”

“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them, not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”1 Peter 5:2-3

“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19