Ephesians 4:28 (ESV)
Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor,
doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share
with anyone in need.
Again and again, the Bible calls us to share with people in
need: in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, in Jesus’ teaching, and here in the
letters of Paul.
The command to work hard, “doing something useful with
[our] own hands,” earning enough that something might be left over, goes hand
in hand with being compassionate.
What’s more, Paul presents working and sharing as a way to
climb out of a dishonest way of life. There’s something clean and good about
doing something useful—and then giving the surplus away. It reverses the old
way of life in which a person would steal from unsuspecting, innocent
passers-by, often by lurking in dark places and waiting to prey on them.
Paul calls us back from the abyss of a corrupt life to the
truth that our first ancestors had God-given work to do. How good to plant
seeds, water them, and see them send up shoots; how good to tend and prune and
sweep, taking care of the garden of creation we were given (Genesis 2:15).
Paul shows us a way of life that is characterized by growth
in Christ, in a loving community of believers who do something good and
useful—not sitting around idly gossiping, sniping at each other, fueling
conflict and bitterness. How wonderful is the fellowship of loving, kind,
compassionate people redeemed by Christ!
Dear Lord, we long to grow into a loving community in
Christ. Help us to be useful and
compassionate to people around us in need. We pray that You will Guide us, In
the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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