Quote:
Originally Posted by Hemidakota
Tom, wow....I am amazed at this point. When I read this quote, it stirs my spirit:
I been telling members for the last three years, to change the way we live due to the impending global financial bomb and move to a limited Law of Consecration in providing help to those in need. Even the First Presidency this week will have an announcement concerning financial spending again.
We should, begin to practice a limited Law of Consecration in our daily lives. As we walk or drive the streets of our cities, if we see the poor in need, [the spirit will be your guide] let our pockets, our wallets be their helping hand for that moment. Even my own family, as I was leaving the parking lot with my youngest daughter, she noticed a man on the corner with a sign stating: “OUT OF GAS. NEED HELP”. She looked at me and then looked back at him. I know I could see it in her eyes as she wanted to do something for this person. She had been saving her money for quite sometime to purchase a gift for another person. It seems out of the mouths of babes, the spirit will speak. I felt it also and we pulled over after the light was green next to the man. She opened her wallet and pulled out the largest bill she had and handed to the man. The man eyes swelled and told her God bless. I didn’t know if I should cry or give her a hug.
Last, as a family, in our services providing goods for any events, the cost out of our pockets, no longer turn in any receipts and when asked, all we have is the Lords.
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Hemidakota:
Thank you for these thoughts, and your example.
I will never forget the time that I was leaving a restaurant with my grandparents (this had to be about 25 years ago) and we saw this homeless man sitting on a bench. All of a sudden my grandpa pulls $20 out of his wallet and walks over to the guy saying, "Here ya go, fella". I don't know to what purposes that money went. At that moment, that was the furthest thing from my mind. That spontaneous act of giving is embedded in my memory.
I have tried to practice this in my own life as well.
This topic of "giving to others" is one of great interest to me. I read a book a few years ago which illustrated the concept of "true charity" in a manner that I had never considered before. Basically what the book did in one chapter was ask a question. It asked:
If you saw a homelss man on the street would you:
a) Give him some money
b) Go buy him some food
c) Give him your business card and promise him employment if he stops by your office.
Which of these acts is a demonstration of pure charity?
The answer stunned me.
The answer was -- none of those answers was true charity.
The book went on to explain that the reason answer A was not true charity was because the man needed urgent medical care, not money. B was not a good choice because the what if the man needed money or something other than food? Maybe he needed a ride to a friend's house. C was not helpful because the man does not have 2 weeks to wait for a paycheck, but he needs help NOW. Maybe he's on the verge of collapse due to starvation. A job will help him very little in the short run.
Now, this question, and the answers, was a total set-up. There is no RIGHT answer.
Then the book went on to explain that TRUE Charity is impossible without personal revelation from God. At first glance that might seem a bit odd, but think about it. For any given person -- who really knows best how to meet that person's needs? Only God knows that person's needs! It may be that the person him or herself does not even REALLY know what their needs are or how they might best be helped. And it does not have to be someone in dire straights to whom this might apply. You could be Bill Gates and still have unmet needs that only God knows about.
Here is the secret to having REAL, ACTUAL Charity. God can reveal to you what the needs of other people are!
That is the ideal. That is what we are to be striving for. That is the reason why personal revelation is so important to Latter-day Saints. It is not given so that we can understand what Figure 5 on Facsimile no. 2 means (although God will certainly reveal that if it is relevant to your salvation). Personal revelation is given to us first and foremost so that we can effectively serve our family and friends and those around us.
What this does not mean is that we are to sit at home and pray for revelation and not make a move until we get some. We are to go out there and do the best we can. It is always better to serve, even if it is not clear that we are helping that person in the way they need most. As we demonstrate our willingness, God will begin to bless us with actual knowledge about those whom we serve. It won't happen in a day or a week or a month, but it will happen, and when it does, THAT is when we are to get on our knees and THANK HIM for revealing to us how to serve our brothers and sisters BEST.
Alma 7: 23
23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal;
always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.
always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.
or if I liken this verse unto myself:
always returning thanks unto God for [the personal revelation] ye do receive [that blesses your life or someone else's].
Matt. 10: 42
42 And whosoever shall give to
drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold
water only in the name of a
disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Thanks for letting me share these thoughts.
Tom