THE CHRISTMAS GIFT

There are days when I pat myself on the back and feel a little pride that Becky and I are spending our retirement years and retirement money to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the poorest of the poor in East Africa helping to provide for BOTH spiritual AND physical needs. I see people in America that give to help those in need and, like me, rightly feel good about their giving.

As for my possessions, my western way of thinking dominates. I worked for it. It’s mine. God has blessed me and so I willingly share a portion. But when is giving enough? Many of us wrestle with this question.

Jesus said “Inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. And these will go away into everlasting punishment.” (Matthew 25:45-46 NASB)

Now I know that we are saved by the grace of God through our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross and not by works. But this scripture tells us something about the heart of God and how He wants us to live our lives. Didn’t Jesus tell us that the greatest commandment is to love God and the second is like it which is to love our neighbor?

 

The people of the early church had no lack because those who had shared with those who did not (Acts 4:34). As Christians in America today, we really don’t live like that. But elsewhere in the world, they still do. 

 

This is a message that I received on December 19, 2013 from a Kenyan man that I work with.  Check out our previous blog “Someone We Won’t Forget” dated December 22, 2013 for more information about 13 year old Musembe (in photo) who has AIDS. Burning Plow Ministries and a Kenyan church work together to periodically supplement the family’s meager food supply.

 

 

[Please excuse the spelling and grammar. English is this man’s third language.]

 

“Hi Dad praise the lord? We are fine and doing good, Dad i had a need and when i was planing how to tolk to you Carol called me and told me Musembi is unwell, we had some money for Xmass and we have used the money to bring him to the hospital now is here.”

 

“we had some money for Xmass and we have used the money to bring him to the hospital”

 

This man spent his family’s Christmas money to help someone else who was in need.  He has very little himself. He has no car, no motorcycle, no bicycle and walks or takes public transportation wherever he goes.  His Christian beliefs are part of his very fiber in everything he does.

 

This makes me feel a little ashamed and inadequate.

 

“Lord, I know that I have not done enough.  Let me see your people through your eyes.  Help me learn to be quick to help those in need.“

 

And don’t forget to continue to pray for Musembe.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

 

Don and Becky Cameron