“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” James 2:14
God has given me so much in life, I grew up extremely poor, my father a drunk and my mother worked so hard to give her children their necessities in life. God has introduced me personally to one of these families. I try hard not to brag about things I do to help, because God’s blessings are for humility, not bragging. But, as Christians we lead by example, and as a Pastor I should be an example to my flock, as well as others. A good Pastor should feed his flock first and foremost, but it does not stop there, no it starts there. A good Pastor loves and cares for the flock, and the flock loves and cares for their Pastor. But we all, churches and Christians cares for others. When God spoke of works here, He spoke of many things, obeying and doing of God’s word, doing all you can in life to bring glory to God’s name, to helping others, etc. I know most Christians honestly believe they are doing all they can to help others, but are we? You know it is good to have, to be blessed of God and have things, but the having is also the task of sharing. I see lots of people share little in life, while I see many Christian children hungry and without. I cry when I see children do without, when Pastors in other countries struggle to, not just scripturally feed their flock but to also help their flock to have food, clothing, and necessities of life. Folks, as Christians it is our work for God to help others in need, and I am afraid we are failing. While we have so much in our life just a little money to a needed family is a real blessing to them. Let me share a story, I will keep it short as I can, and its not to brag but to be an example. I met a Christian woman through Facebook that kept wanting to just say “hello Pastor have a blessed day” and she would just leave. A couple of times a week she would contact me and say the same thing. One day I spoke back to her just to find out who she was because I have no one else who does this. So, over the next few weeks she, little at a time shared her story of poorness, very humbled because of their poorness. She kept talking over a few weeks sharing her story. She is a Christian in the Philippines; she has 3 children and her parents also she cares for. So, she had to take a job in another country in basically a slave market to feed and supply necessities for her family. She works and average of 18 hours a day in a like nursing home setting with only 6 hours of off time a day. She uses most of her time off to talk to friends and family and sleeps little. She works 7 days a week and never gets a day off, not a holiday, nor a vacation. Think about that folk, just give that some thought, her back hurts a lot. As we talked over time we became casual friends, I looked forward to hearing from her because with everything she has in life, she could enjoy her new Pastor friend. So, over time as I heard her story God spoke to me, God told me it was time to help, God told me this would be a blessing to me as well as them. But scammers are everywhere lurking about to steal money. I get request every week, to help but who is real and who is not? But that question is not an excuse to help, it is reason to investigate and that is what I did. After some time, I told my new friend and Sister in Christ I wanted to help her family. But she was “shy” and refused the help, only asked for prayer she said. But I insisted and she insisted she was too “shy” to accept monetary help. She began to talk more over time talking about the needs of her children and their online schooling, how she bought a used broken-down computer for her oldest child, but it had failed. That because of covid they needed online schooling. I begged, but she was too “shy”, and I begged more until one day God touched her heart to accept the help. As most know I live alone today because my wife passed so I have few expenses, so I wanted to help. But in my mind, I kept asking “is this a scam” it hurt me to keep asking myself, but the thought was there. One day she asked me to send the money to her Pastor through the church, again a large pause, who am I sending this money too, are they even like faith, could they be a fake church for a scam? And then she said the churches name, then her Pastors name, Pastor Bernardo Salacup. My heart opened wide, I thought I know him, I rejoiced and told my Sister I know him. When I first came to Texarkana, we supported Pastor Salacup in the Philippines. I have never met the brother, but I know him. So, I contacted Pastor Salacup and he was graciously supportive of my help. He told me of this family and their needs in just daily necessities. Pastor Salacup told me of his helping this family. My heart was full of joy, and I told Pastor I was going to help these folks and he was all so happy to assist. See when God sends you to help you march forward and help. So, today the family has been blessed of God with a little help, the family got food, the children got what was needed to do their online schooling, and all was blessed, even myself, I was blessed. So, this morning I left mom a text rejoicing for the family I was able to help. And I thought, mom, the very one that God used to contact me has gotten nothing, she got no food I bought nor enjoyed the other things I bought, what about mom Lord! Well mom is blessed, I know because I know Christian moms, I know this woman’s heart. This Sister that works so hard for her family’s needs, who puts her family before herself, is blessed and rejoicing that God sent someone to help her family. I know Sister, I know, because I had a mom just like you who worked tirelessly to support her poor family. Folks, this is good works, helping others is good works, The Lord said, "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, (15) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? (16) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." James 2:15 - 17 folks, that is good works, its not about us, its about God’s children! We are a family God’s family. So, I helped this family, what about the others? Folks, Pastor Salacup can do so much with a little support, He talked about this neighborhood, and it breaks my heart. Contact Pastor Salacup and ask if you can help these needy people, the help I gave was small compared to the need. Mom and I are particularly good friends today we talk a lot and she, and her daughters are such humbled and loving Christians. I am rejoicing I could help. Folks, it is really a blessing to help, so follow God’s word find a family to help and open-up a contribution and share in the blessing of giving, trust me, it is the best money you can spend. Churches help, its all about God blessing those that are without! Think, He may use you to bless a poor needy family. Find a family and help them, a little goes a long way. I’m sure Pastor Salacup can assist you in finding needy families.
