Experiencing Christ in Money Matter

To remember the poor and needy saints is a good thing. As much as the Lord provides and leads, it is a blessing to be able to give to others who are in need. In this matter of giving, the Lord has been teaching me to discern first. By nature, I have a soft and sympathetic heart towards people, especially, the needy saints. In the past, out of burden and care for the needy saints I used to give money in a way of offering. In a couple of cases, I realized, I should pray first and be more discerning. Soma were gifted as offerings while others were lent as they requested and even promised to pay back. To my understanding, those who said they would pay back were not in a position to pay back to date. Some had to be forgiven and written off of their debts. Such were not with good feelings neither for them nor me.

This time too, a family expressed their need in an urgent manner. Since the matter sounded urgent, I fellowshipped with my wife and transferred the money they requested. But the feeling within me was not good. I should not have acted on the coercion of a needy saint to meet their emergency need. Later, I realized that though the need for them was urgent, it could have been avoided. This act taught me a lesson. To discern first and never succumb to pressure of whatever reason.

The same person called me again a few days later and requested a huge amount of money which he again described it as very urgent. I really considered before the Lord whether to lend the money or not. As far as the money was concerned, the Lord has blessed us sufficiently. And when I fellowshipped with my wife, she also agreed to give if I felt good. In fact, we both were even willing to let go of the money in case he could not pay it back, but with the condition that the Lord wanted us to do that. As I also fellowshipped with my brother, he also felt that as long as I and my wife had the peace from the Lord, it was up to us. But he also warned that generally, this kind of person would not pay back as he had experienced it already. This request led me to the Lord to pray, consider, and reconsider. In fact, I was at the point of lending him this big amount of money.

A few days later, an incident happened in Mathura that changed my feeling altogether. Considering the situation of the saints in prison, the saints in the church,  and also considering myself as one of the full-time serving ones of the Lord, it may not be proper to easily lend a huge amount of money to a new one who was not even baptized and has not yet come into the church life. Though there were clearances in many aspects to lend, in one matter of being a proper testimony of the Lord;'s serving ones, and the need to maintain a proper relationship with the needy ones, it may not be wise to "play with money" for now. If the Lord insists again and makes it more clear concerning helping the needy saints, I can reconsider. It is best not to have a monetary relationship with the new ones. The Lord will surely have a way to meet their needs. Or perhaps, the need that they mentioned is not of the Lord but their only human desire. Only the Lord knows. Having peace and clearance in our mind in many aspects is not the necessary condition to lend. Even the testimony itself is a big issue here. In fact, the testimony outweighs all the other concerns for helping. 

Now, I became even more clear that in this case, I should not be lending money for the sake of the Lord's testimony. Instead, I should just shepherd them through the word and prayer. I must be strict in money matters. The very thing that I intend to help the needy saints with may be a stumbling block for them to experience the Lord's dealing and supply and even to come to the church life. Better is, if anyone comes into the church life, it should be purely because of the truth and life supply from the Lord, and not because of money supply to other natural or materialistic reasons.  Oh, what a struggle I went through to learn this important lesson in life and shepherding!

May the Lord supply all their needs according to His rich supply and not according to their own desire.