Give (Alex Smith)

Alex Smith is a college student at the University of Delaware. I've known him for as long as I can remember. He's a guy that has always taken time out of his day to help where he is needed.
I hope you enjoy his blog entry!!

What would this world look like if we pushed ourselves?

Now, there are different ways to push one’s self. Physically and emotionally are the two most thought of. But what if we were to push a relationship?

It’s well known that we should not be content in our relationship with God. We should never
reach a settling point.

But what if I stretch it? Everyone has the line of giving to God. Of saying, here God, I give
you “fill in the blank”. For me, in the past it has been either a stressful exam or amount of work, a struggle in a relationship, an unknown question.

Then I read a book. And it made me realize, as Americans, our idea of pushing ourselves for God is pathetic. Especially when it comes to giving of money and possessions. People give money towards things, but there is always that line. We are called to feed the hungry, clothe the homeless, care for the widows.

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The following is from Matthew 25: 35-46

‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave
Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed
Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.“Then the
righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty,
and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You
in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to
You?’ “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did
it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the
eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and
you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a
stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison,
and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see
You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care
of You?’ “Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do
it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ “These will go away into eternal
punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
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Last time I checked, they were all still out there and we therefore have more we need to give.

That’s how I’ve been challenging myself. Instead of getting my new phone I’ve been waiting for, I gave money to world vision. I trust if I need the phone, somehow it will be provided.

So here is my challenge:

Give.

Instead of going out to eat, buying a new shirt, movie, video game, whatever it is you’ve been eying; take that money, ALL of it, and give it to the needy.

Go to worldvisions website.

Go to any charity. Wherever you feel called, and watch what God can do!