I remember calling others to provide food for those who lost loved ones or for some who were sick in the congregation.  The congregation had about 200 and many times needs would arise and they would call on me to find members willing to step up and prepare meals.  Most of the time money was given in the place of dishes being prepared for the bereaved or ill.  The money helped provide food, but didn’t prepare the food.  Workers were in demand during those times, but sadly, few wanted to participate.

We never think how we might feel if we were in the same position of being ill or bereaved.  I remember how thankful I was when members in my congregation brought food to me when my husband died.  Thought I did not immediately feel up to eating, the food was there and I didn’t have to prepare anything.  It indeed was a blessing.  I will never forget the kindness in taking time to help me.

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them:  for this is the law and the prophets”    Matthew 7:12

“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”      Philippians 2:4

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works.  Can faith save him?  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”      James 2:14-17

This same principle applies to teaching programs within a congregation.  Are we willing to study God’s Word to teach others?  Do we leave the study and teaching to others?  We cannot teach if we are not qualified, and the the only way to be qualified is to study the Scriptures.

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”   II Timothy 2:15

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”    II Timothy 2:2

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and, lo, I Am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.      Matthew 28:20

“One thing to watch is the “can’ts” and the “cans.”  I must learn that I can’t get off dead center if I think I can’t, that I can’t aim low and rise high.  I need to learn that I can do much more than I have ever thought.  It is a known fact that nearly everybody lives below his or her capacity.

It is stimulating, therefore, to think on what Horace Traubel has said:

“What can I do?  I can speak out when others are silent.  I can stay up when others are asleep.  I can keep on working when others have stopped to play.

I can give life big meaning when others give life little meaning.  I can say love when others say hate.  I can say every man when others say one man.  I can try events by a hard test when others try them by an easy test.

What can I do?  I can give myself to life when others may refuse themselves to life.

Every age is the age of the individual:  individual mind, individual will, individual virtue, individual goals and individual responsibility.

What can I do?  I can be a tiny light in a world of darkness.  A soldier in the army of God.  A sower that scatters good seed.  A little leaven that affects the whole lump.  True – life has its bitterness but is sweet to those who pour on the sugar.”      ~ Leroy Brownlow

“Many things aren’t equal, but everyone gets the same 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  We make time for what we truly want.”     ~ Unknown