Easter Reflection

April 20, 2025
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius
One of the things I've had to deal with in my life is a soft heart for people less fortunate than me.  When someone experiences a calamity of some kind, often it is my heart's desire to lend a helping hand.  I think to myself, “There, but by the grace of God, go I.” 
 
Sometimes I think to myself and wonder what I would do if money was not an issue.  How would I help people if I was as rich as Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos?  Both of whom have more money than a lot of countries.  In Psalm 50:10 we are told, “God owns the cattle on a thousand hills.”  Just to be funny, I say, “These guys own the rest of them.”😊 
 
John Wesley, the founder of the original Methodist Church, once said this.  “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”  If all the world lived like that, what a better world it would be.
 
In Matthew 26:11, Jesus said, “You will always have the poor with you.”  So, even though I will help others in need as much as I can, it seems to me that if I spend all my dream money on the poor trying to raise them up out of poverty, there will still be poor people in the world.  On the other hand, if I can proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to the masses, though they be poor, at least some will be saved.  Knowing Jesus will help many to recognize their own self-worth and thereby being encouraged by Christ, they will lift themselves up to a better life.  For sure, if more people knew about Jesus there would not be such a high crime rate in our land, there would be less hate around the world.  So, if Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos calls me to ask how to spend their money, I am going to tell them over a cup of coffee, to spread the word of Jesus.  Of course, I expect that they will pay for my coffee. 😊  On the other hand, so that I am not in their debt, maybe I'll buy their cup of coffee.  
 
As you look at your own priorities in spending your money, are you spending it wisely to help evangelize the world?  None of us may be as rich as the richest among us, but with the little we have, we can accomplish so much for God's Kingdom.  Giving to God isn't as much about lifting others up as it is being obedient to the word of the Lord.  “Bring all your tithes to the storehouse...”  (Malachi 3:10)
 
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Pastor Allan
 
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