Do Not Withhold Good

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, Go, and come back; And tomorrow I will give it— when you have it with you. Proverbs 3:27, 28

I have been blessed to pray with some young brothers in the church in Gururgam and a few other brothers in Delhi and NE. I reckon this as a blessing from the Lord to be able to pray with young brothers. It also helps me in my prayer life. In praying together, we are mutually helping one another to pray. By praying together they also opened up about their situation for prayer. 

One brother from Delhi has been very desperate in his prayer concerning his father being unable to pay his school fees. Due to the pandemic, lockdown, and economic crisis going on in the country, his father who is a cab drive and a daily wage earner has not be able to make enough money to pay his school fees. The school he was enrolled in had sent him a reminder and a warning to pay his fees by all means otherwise he would not be allowed to sit for the upcoming high school board exam.  When he brought this burden, we prayed for the Lord's provision. 

After the prayer, I had the burden to ask him a few more detail. In fact, they have not been paying the fee for the entire year, except the first installment. On further enquiring, he opened up that he needed to pay Rs. 56,000 which is a lot of money for a daily wage earner. I did not promise anything but encouraged the young brother to pray and learn to trust in the Lord, exercise his faith. I assured him that the Lord will definitely provide.

When the matter was brought up it was on a Thursday night prayer. On Saturday morning I felt it good to bring it to the local church brothers' fellowship for all the brothers to consider. But in the church brother's fellowship, it was felt that loaning such an amount at one go may not be a wise thing to do as this would set a trend among all the other saints too. Now that many are in need due to pandemics. Therefore, it was decided that an announcement be made to the saints on the Lord's day for the saints to offer for the needy saints, which then can be directed to those who need like this brother who had to pay his fee. Actually, that fellowship was very timely for the church and also for the education of the saints to care for the needy saints.

For the immediate need of the brother,, in fellowship, the brothers felt good for me to take care of now. Offerings for such needy ones will be used to reimburse back to clear up the loan. Therefore, I took the burden upon my shoulder, fellowshipped with my wife, and made arrangements to loan the said amount. The need was immediate and time-bound, as it had to be met by the following Monday. Therefore, on Monday the 4th of Oct, I made the transaction to the brother's account.

When the Lord placed me in a position to be able to help, I must not close my door. I must do all that I can to care for the needy saints. It is indeed a blessing to be able to help. Especially to see a young brother desperately praying to God to meet his need. As an encouragement to him in his trust in the Lord, and as a responsible brother who cares for the younger saints both spiritually and physically too, as much as the Lord provides, I have been graced to help.

After the help, he called up, and his father also called to say thank you. But I told them that it is the Lord's provision and that we all should thank the Lord together. This young brother has been so encouraged and his lips are now full of praises and thanksgiving whenever we pray. I felt that this itself is worth the little help. After all, everything we have is from the Lord! 

So, "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, Go, and come back; And tomorrow I will give it— when you have it with you". (Proverbs 3:27, 28)