Matthew 5:42

"Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn thou not away."
Matthew 5:42


This is an interesting scripture... I think mostly because it doesn't seem very world-wise. :)  We learn to be wary of people in this modern society of ours, and to refrain from giving and loaning things to most people.  God, as always, has a better way to show us.  And, as I think about it, it makes sense to me.  The more wary we are with strangers, the more wary they are of us... and the cycle continues.  Pretty soon no-one trusts anyone.  It creates the society that we have now... where people are afraid to walk down the street at night, where we have to lock our doors.  Where we often care more about our possessions than our fellow humans. And, you know... as much as we are afraid of being taken advantage of, the only thing that creates and builds trust is offering it to others.  If we step outside of the norm and start giving, and loaning... and asking for the same in return... simple sharing... we are building the foundation of a better society.  We are building our Zion, our perfect place, where we all dream of being able to live.  I worry about being taken advantage of too... but you know... in the end, it doesn't matter at all.  It might hurt my pride, but you know... that probably needs to be taken down a few notches anyway. :)  It is the small things that make the difference in the end... that make us into community-builders instead of community-breakers.  And, to start... all we have to do is follow this simple commandment.  If someone asks us for something... let's give it.  Whether they are going to keep it, borrow it, use it unwisely, or break it irreparably.  Doesn't matter.  It is the giving that matters... it is the sincere offering of our hearts... and no matter WHAT happens afterward, it is ourselves that we are teaching, and our world that we are saving.  Times will come when giving will be one of the hardest things that we can do... right now might be an extremely hard time for us as individuals.  But even when things are bad, giving to others... of our possessions, of our time, of anything... is a good, soul-expanding thing to do.  God will take care of us, always.  So, we probably could give away everything and still be just fine.  :)  Today, let's try to worry less about what we have and more about what we can give to others.