I've been reading Les Miserables in the non-original English. (Hah.)
I've learned so much about love and service. Today that's what I'd like to study about.
The scripture to start from is the obvious classic: Mosiah 2:17
And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
Or how about this classic?
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Isn't it interesting that there is NO indication of righteousness on these people's part except for service? Service alone cannot qualify us for the Celestial Kingdom, but it's sure that charity covereth a multitude of sins.
What usually stops us from helping people?
What stops me?
1) Fear of getting assaulted: Most of the time, the people who need help are the people who raise my alarm. We're taught to avoid the rough people out of self-preservation.
If you are doubly blessed for getting assaulted as you share the gospel, surely you are doubly blessed for getting assaulted as you care for the poor. Not that we should be reckless or ignore clear danger signs. But remember that God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2nd Timothy 1:7).
2) A feeling of "they have brought it upon themselves."
Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just--But I say unto you, O man, whoseover doth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God. For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?
~~Mosiah 4:27
So, that's how I'll deal with those objections.
Well, here we have a major misconception: That the only way to help others is to give them money directly. There's also Fast Offerings which is in a very literal sense "feeding the hungry." There is also emotional service, helping a friend, spending time with the lonely, visiting those who need help... etc, etc.
OH! What a great idea! For a date sometime, try gathering some siblings to learn to sing, and then putting on a Family Home Evening for a retirement home.
In short, if the essence of the gospel is love, then the essence of love is service. Therefore, the essence of living a Christ-centered life is living a service-centered life. Service to family, church members, community, and nation. It is a useful life spent helping OTHERS.
I've learned so much about love and service. Today that's what I'd like to study about.
The scripture to start from is the obvious classic: Mosiah 2:17
And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
Or how about this classic?
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Isn't it interesting that there is NO indication of righteousness on these people's part except for service? Service alone cannot qualify us for the Celestial Kingdom, but it's sure that charity covereth a multitude of sins.
What usually stops us from helping people?
What stops me?
1) Fear of getting assaulted: Most of the time, the people who need help are the people who raise my alarm. We're taught to avoid the rough people out of self-preservation.
If you are doubly blessed for getting assaulted as you share the gospel, surely you are doubly blessed for getting assaulted as you care for the poor. Not that we should be reckless or ignore clear danger signs. But remember that God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2nd Timothy 1:7).
2) A feeling of "they have brought it upon themselves."
Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just--But I say unto you, O man, whoseover doth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God. For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?
~~Mosiah 4:27
So, that's how I'll deal with those objections.
Well, here we have a major misconception: That the only way to help others is to give them money directly. There's also Fast Offerings which is in a very literal sense "feeding the hungry." There is also emotional service, helping a friend, spending time with the lonely, visiting those who need help... etc, etc.
OH! What a great idea! For a date sometime, try gathering some siblings to learn to sing, and then putting on a Family Home Evening for a retirement home.
In short, if the essence of the gospel is love, then the essence of love is service. Therefore, the essence of living a Christ-centered life is living a service-centered life. Service to family, church members, community, and nation. It is a useful life spent helping OTHERS.
