“My country ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty...” Unfortunately, that common song could be re-written, “bitter land of poverty.”  However, as Christians we should help.  In this day where hate seems to rule, murderers seem to profit, and greed is everywhere, we should pull together, rise above and beyond the strife, and give to others.  Give a little.  Give a lot.  Give love, give forgiveness, give time, give mercy, give patience, give food, and give clothes--just give.  Jesus, the King of the Universe, thought giving was a worthy cause.  He declared, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). It is no secret that God has blessed us.  He loves us and has given to us without hesitation.  He went as far as to give his own Son in order to keep us from burning in the eternal lake of fire that we all deserve.  With that knowledge, it seems easy to give a little food to keep a child from going to bed hungry.  It is easy.  Many of us have enough change jingling in our pockets to buy a can of beans or a box of pasta at the Dollar General. 

            God asked us to give to others, and told us that we would also be blessed because the more you give, the more God wants to give you.  The Apostle Paul wrote, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:7-8).  Luke writes, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38). 

            Yes, God tells us to take care of others, to love others.  True Christians want to share the love of Jesus, and they desire to do the things he asks.  Jesus declared, “Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry, and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me” (Matt. 25: 34-36). 

Summer Smith (student at East Carolina University)

Music Credits:

 Count Your Blessings, Edwin O. Excell 1897, MIDI sequenced by Al Simms Jr @aol.com and edited by wcsmith.