"We Were Created To Do Good"

So here are my thoughts on this past Sunday's message. It does feel really good to be back in church and the people are great, and it was really good to get to know Angie for that hour and some that we waited around for Pastor Kev :)

This is part three on the "Living Larger Than Ourselves" of his sermon series.

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Why Were We Created?

We were created to do good.

I would agree with this because at least I think that when we are born we are not programmed to do harm nor evil (although I know there are studies on whether or not we are genetically predisposed to be "evil")...I think from where we grow up, our experiences, what we view or listen to, influence whether or not we choose to make the right decisions.

Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.
James 4:17

A "Simple" Process for Lending a Helping Hand:

See the need.

I think this is the easiest one out of the three. I think everyone can is good at seeing the need to help someone but in our society today it is so easy to look the other way because we are so busy with our own lives, problems, etc, etc that we come up with so many excuses or reasons to why we can't help someone else.

It's difficult because I love helping people out, but I sometimes I help people out too much and completely disregard my needs. Like I've said in past posts, I need to find a good balance. I also feel like I there are times where I feel like I need to be less selfish and stop looking the other way.

A good example of this I guess would be with homeless people on the streets here. I've seen so many documentaries, and I've meet some of the homeless people it's hard to figure out what they really need or figure out whether not they are just pan handling and getting money just to feed their high or need for drugs. I wish there was a way to distinguish them, but in any respect both parties need help. It is just hard to give away money that I don't know is going to especially when you don't know their story...but how far do you go to helping them? I always cringe when I drive pass them because I'm conflicted like I had mentioned before.

I feel sorry for them and I also question them at the same time. Is that a bad thing?

"Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught."
-J.C. Watts

Feel the need.

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
Acts 20:35-38

Meet the need.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

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