“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you’ — when you already have it with you.” — Proverbs 3:27-28
It’s easy for me to turn my head the other way and go about my day. I don’t do so out of shyness or anger, but because it’s the more comfortable and convenient thing to do. But I have to ask myself, “What can I do to break out of my habit of the comfortable so I can positively impact someone else’s day … and maybe their life?”
The biggest impact comes when someone does something that’s least expected. We live in a world where everyone is very individualistic, focused on their own needs and wants. But acts of justice, kindness and selflessness are critical to making an impact. Whenever anyone goes out of their way to be kind or act selflessly toward me, I automatically want to pay it forward.
Reading the testimonies of God’s people in the Bible is a major encouragement to me. Having in words all they went through — explaining in detail the ways God rescued them — gives us rich lessons to learn from. Whenever we go through a success or a failure, a hard time or a celebration, we always have these words of wisdom to go back to. We can read about God’s people who have gone through similar situations and find peace and purpose in God’s plan. The Book of Proverbs is full of these stories!
These verses explain the urgency of our mission for Christ. “Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you…’” We have no guarantee we’ll live to see another day, another minute or another moment. Christlike obedience is immediate obedience.
Personally, I’m a really big procrastinator, which has slapped me in the face many times. This passage is a great challenge for me because you never know when an opportunity will come. And when it’s gone, it’s gone. Just like when you wake up and turn off your alarm in the morning — if you don’t get up when it goes off, you’re not going to get up.
We need to take action in response to the immediate impulse we receive from the Holy Spirit to do good works. When we stop resisting the uncomfortable and follow where God is pulling us toward, we will reap the benefits of joy found in serving Him. And we’ll be able to impact others with the love of Christ.
– Luke Weaver
Luke Weaver is a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals and a regular contributor of The Increase, providing monthly articles and opinions.
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