“Everything is permissible” – but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible” – but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others” – 1 Corinthians 10:23-24

“Looking at it one way, you could say, “Anything goes. Because of God’s immense generosity and grace, we don’t have to dissect and scrutinize every action to see if it will pass muster.” But the point is not to just get by. We want to live well, but our foremost efforts should be to help others live well.” [The Message]

A paraphrase [The Message] can often help you see the point more clearly. For many people these are very difficult times. The loss of a job, the demise of one’s retirement plans, and higher living costs are a few of the devastating factors affecting many people.

The challenge of this passage is not to focus on getting by, but to look to the needs of others. Is that your perspective?

We cannot meet every need that we see or hear about. But we dare not allow the overwhelming needs of others to become our excuse to do nothing.

  • Have you ever given your shoes to another who had none?
  • Have you ever given your Bible to another who had none?
  • Have you ever babysat so the parents could enjoy an evening of peace?
  • Have you ever bought a furnace for a family who could only afford the cold?
  • Have you ever bought a refrigerator for a family who could not afford a replacement.

In the Old Testament, you find the idea of feeding and caring for the poor. This is not providing leftovers. It is providing that which will satisfy.

“…the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.” [Deuteronomy 14:29]

Are you looking for opportunities to serve others? Here is one place where you will discover God’s blessing.