Give to those that ask? Really!?

Okay...last day of this then I'll be moving on to something a little different!  Some resolutions, I am putting in my Family Blog because they're more about "family fun" related things, I'll post a link to that when it's up.  But these next two are related in a way & about MONEY...which is something in life that tends to teach me a lot of lessons.  So here we go...

3.  Get out of credit card debt.  We don't have a LOT but yes there's some & it sure would be nice to not have to spend our hard earned money on interest to these card companies.  It can really be a stress on people, on life, on relationships when there is debt...Proverbs 22:7 says ⁷ The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.  Sometimes, being in debt can feel that way, like we are just working to pay the people we owe money to.  It's not what God has in mind for us & it keeps us from being able to use our hard earned money in ways that He want us to be able to.  I do believe He will show you how to get out of debt as you pray about it, because it is His will for our lives also that we be free from it.  So it's a worthy goal, even if you can only do a little here a little there.   Hopefully, we should be able to accomplish this over the next few months!  Yay!  Then to tackle those bigger debts next year maybe!

4. Help or give to others when asked & we can:  So one day I was reading Matthew 5, there are the parts in verses 38-42.  This is never an easy read because Jesus is telling us when someone slaps us to turn the other cheek, if they sue us for our shirt give them our best coat also...UGH!  Really!  Not the biggest fan of these verses, BUT it IS Jesus' very words, and as a follower of Christ I need to listen & try to understand & figure out how this relates to my life & the situations that will arise & give me the opportunity to use it.  So then the next verse ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.  Okay, I don't know about you, but I have some people in my life that would ask to borrow money who could have money if they had kept that job or made wiser choices or I also always make that argument of "well they're probably not going to spend it wisely anyway, why should I do that!"  This was a very recent happening & as I asked God  "wouldn't that be foolish, is that being a good steward of what you've given me, we're just now beginning to get back on top of things ourselves?"  He very clearly showed me the next verses in Matthew 5:

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[i] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Not that this person was an "enemy" but still, the understanding He gave me was this...it's easy to love those who love you back, to give to those who would repay you & use it wisely, to do good deeds for those who are kind back to you.   But even those who are not Christians can do that, even tax collectors (in the Bible times deemed the lowest of the low) can do that, and what reward is there in doing something that is easy to do?  How will we as Christians look any different from the rest or stand out unless we love our enemies, give to those who don't deserve it, be kind & reach out to those who have hurt us.  What they do with what I've given them, is not my concern.  Is God not the one who is ultimately in control & will cause either of us to prosper & grow or not?  Do what he's asked of ME & leave the rest to HIM!  That is NOT anyone's normal reaction for sure, but have we been called to normalcy?

Which leads me to this as well...Proverbs 3:27 ²⁷ Do not withhold good from ^[j]those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it.

Just as important, to those who DO deserve it, if there is a need that I can meet...MEET IT!