While talking to a ministry leader of a WELFARE WORK, I’m reminded of the precious life lesson of helping people which must not be JUST giving to them no matter how needy they may seem.
In order to really help people we must help them to give what they have; what they can give. If they can’t give money they can give help (physical or whatever they have).
This was illustrated very clearly in the story of Joseph in Egypt. During the 7 years of famine after the 7 years of prosperity, the people who needed grain had to come to Joseph to give something in exchange for grain.
First they bought grain with their money.
(Gen 47:13 NKJV) Now there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine.
(Gen 47:14 NKJV) And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.
When the money failed, they bought grain with livestock
(Gen 47:15 NKJV) So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, "Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed."
(Gen 47:16 NKJV) Then Joseph said, "Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock, if the money is gone."
(Gen 47:17 NKJV) So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys. Thus he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year.
When even the livestock are gone, they sold their land and even their bodies in exchange for grain so that they won’t die
(Gen 47:18 NKJV) When that year had ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, "We will not hide from my lord that our money is gone; my lord also has our herds of livestock. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands.
(Gen 47:19 NKJV) Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land may not be desolate."
(Gen 47:20 NKJV) Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh's.
(Gen 47:23 NKJV) Then Joseph said to the people, "Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land.
Then in exchange for the labour of the “now servants of Pharaoh” they were given 4/5 of the harvests for food.
(Gen 47:24 NKJV) And it shall come to pass in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones."
Conclusion
What do you think of what Joseph did?
What do you think the people think?
Do you think that they hated Joseph for buying their lifestocks, their land and even made them servants?
Read the verse below and see the answer.
(Gen 47:25 NKJV) So they said, "You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants."
Joseph realised that he must not take dignity away from the people.
He must not make the people "poor, useless beggars".
The people had dignity. They can give something in exchange for food.
They cannot be just takers!
They are made in God's image to be givers.
They can be givers!
In order to really help people we must help them to give what they have; what they can give. If they can’t give money they can give help (physical or whatever they have).
This was illustrated very clearly in the story of Joseph in Egypt. During the 7 years of famine after the 7 years of prosperity, the people who needed grain had to come to Joseph to give something in exchange for grain.
First they bought grain with their money.
(Gen 47:13 NKJV) Now there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine.
(Gen 47:14 NKJV) And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.
When the money failed, they bought grain with livestock
(Gen 47:15 NKJV) So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, "Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed."
(Gen 47:16 NKJV) Then Joseph said, "Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock, if the money is gone."
(Gen 47:17 NKJV) So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys. Thus he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year.
When even the livestock are gone, they sold their land and even their bodies in exchange for grain so that they won’t die
(Gen 47:18 NKJV) When that year had ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, "We will not hide from my lord that our money is gone; my lord also has our herds of livestock. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands.
(Gen 47:19 NKJV) Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land may not be desolate."
(Gen 47:20 NKJV) Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh's.
(Gen 47:23 NKJV) Then Joseph said to the people, "Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land.
Then in exchange for the labour of the “now servants of Pharaoh” they were given 4/5 of the harvests for food.
(Gen 47:24 NKJV) And it shall come to pass in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones."
Conclusion
What do you think of what Joseph did?
What do you think the people think?
Do you think that they hated Joseph for buying their lifestocks, their land and even made them servants?
Read the verse below and see the answer.
(Gen 47:25 NKJV) So they said, "You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants."
Joseph realised that he must not take dignity away from the people.
He must not make the people "poor, useless beggars".
The people had dignity. They can give something in exchange for food.
They cannot be just takers!
They are made in God's image to be givers.
They can be givers!
Pastor, very good write-up.
ReplyDeleteJesus said to His disciples, "when you give" not "if you give" (Matthew 6:2)! Hence, Christian giving is not optional, but rather essential.
Being a faithful giver in the little things that we have is truly a blessing!. "It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Thanks Lieuza for your comments.
ReplyDeleteYou are a great example of a giver who gives no matter what conditions one may be in.
You are living the MORE BLESSED LIFE!