Bible
Study: Proverbs 3, 27 to 34 and Luke 8,
16 to 18.
One lesson
life has taught me is that it is only when you are in need that you get to know
who your true friends are. There are many people whom you assume to be friends
right now because you are of some benefit to them but the moment the tide
changes, they would not even pick up your calls not to mention respond to your
messages. We are all guilty of this. We are only good to people when we stand
to gain something from them and we only respond to their invitations when it is
our turn to collect from them. Today’s first reading calls for change.
If you see
a brother or sister of yours in need, please help. Do not say “Go away and come
back tomorrow” when it is in your power to help right now. Of course, you may
not always have the money or resources to give but at least say something to
encourage them. A kind word, even a smile, a nod that says ‘I am with you’ can
go a long way to relieve their plight. One of my Lecturers, Father Panteleon
Iroegbu, now of blessed memory, back then was always fond of singing: “Help,
Not Hinder… Help, Not Hinder.”
Ignoring people
completely does not make you richer, it only makes your world smaller because
by refusing to help, you reduce your number of friends, and you also reduce
opportunities for golden ideas that you could stumble upon while trying to
figure out solution to other people’s problems.
I was
listening to Robert Kiyosaki’s audio book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” and one of the
secrets of becoming rich Robert shared in that book was the act of generosity.
He explained that the rich become rich because they give, that is, they are constantly
thinking of solutions to people’s problems. It is that process of trying to
solve problems affecting the general population that opens up ideas to them
which eventually makes them rich.
So for
instance, while his poor dad was buying a big house for himself and his family
only, his rich dad was investing in apartment buildings to house hundreds of
people. At the end of the day, his poor dad’s big house was costing him so much
money to maintain, while his rich dad’s apartment building was fetching him
millions in rent.
Let us
learn the meaning of the saying: “No one ever became poor by giving.” And
sometimes, giving may not mean dashing out money. Giving may just be sympathy;
getting to find out why that person called your number or how he or she is
doing. Giving may just be your time, those few minutes you spend listening to
people. Giving may just be making people understand that even if they are no
longer useful to you, you still care about them.
When you
give, you become a lamp that has been lit in a dark place. You can no longer be
hidden, you cannot be put down or trampled upon. For making life sweet for
others, you become a force to be reckoned with. Be good to people. Jesus says, “Use
that unrighteous mammon to win friends for yourself so that when it fails, you would
be welcome into eternal habitations.” Luke 16, 9.
At no
point is ever okay to do evil. Even if you happen to be at the receiving end of
people’s ill treatment, do not seek retaliation otherwise you begin a perpetual
cycle of wickedness. What is bad is bad regardless of whether it is an act of vengeance
or not. I do myself no good if I refuse to pick your calls simply because you didn’t
pick when I needed you most.
At no
point is it ever justified to act against our Christian values. NOT EVEN IN
SECRET. As Jesus says to us today, there is nothing hidden that would not
eventually be exposed. Be good to people whether or not they appreciate you. And
do not worry about broadcasting it, because your help in secret will one day be
spoken of in high places.
Let us
Pray: Lord God, deepen our love for you and for our neighbour that we may serve
you by sharing our goods with the poor. Amen.
Good morning.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you.
Fr. Abu
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