Kingdom Benevolence
All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. Acts 4:32-35
There were no needs among them, no lack. It didn’t say there were no needs in the city, but among these Believers there was no lack because, 1) those who had money and property gave it to the apostles, and 2) the apostles distributed it to those among them who were in need. This is the way the church was designed to be. Believers in the Kingdom of God should not need to look to this world’s government for their needs. If churches made the benevolence ministry a top priority and Believers gave as the Holy Spirit—our Governor—led, there would again be no lack in the Body. Every need—not every “want”—would be met.
Benevolence, by definition, is a selfless act of kindness or a charitable act; giving to someone with no thought of any return.
Our next responsibility as Kingdom citizens is to help meet the needs of our community. That comes in many ways, sometimes as an outreach group, giving food, clothes or assisting with rent or utilities. But it may also be as individuals. Listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit—our Governor. He may lead you to meet a need when you are out in the community: buy someone’s lunch or help pay for groceries. The possibilities are endless. There are needs all around you as you go through your day. Don’t be so caught up in the daily cares of life to miss that moment. We are ambassadors for the Lord God’s Kingdom. One seemingly small act may plant a seed that one day leads to salvation as the Holy Spirit leads. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 1 Corinthians 3:7-8
Never hold so tight to money that you can’t be obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leading. I used to always say that I wanted to have enough money to be able to give on every occasion. That was before I understood the concept of the Kingdom government. It was before I understood that everything I have is His and everything I need comes from Him. If we seek Him first, everything we NEED will be there when we need it. So, if the Governor—Holy Spirit—tells me to buy a lady’s groceries, as she struggles at the checkout, to pay, I know my King has already provided all that I need for her groceries and mine.
It is a matter of priorities, as God’s Constitution tells us: Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Psalm 37:4
Remember that benevolence is far more than money. A kind word of encouragement, helping someone who is clearly having a bad day, and spreading around an abundance of grace and mercy when people don’t deserve it! Let the Holy Spirit lead you. When you do, you change the atmosphere with the Lord God’s Kingdom and its culture.
We often hear the phrase “What Would Jesus Do?” We know what He would! We just need to do it.
Father, guide us to always represent You and Your Kingdom everywhere we go!
Jesus answered him, “If you wish to be perfect [that is, have the spiritual maturity that accompanies godly character with no moral or ethical deficiencies], go and sell what you have and give [the money] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk].” Matthew 19:21 AMP
Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow. Matthew 5:42
Then the King will say to those on His right, “Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home. I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me.”
Then these righteous ones will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and give You something to drink? Or a stranger and show You hospitality? Or naked and give You clothing? When did we ever see You sick or in prison and visit You?”
And the King will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!”
Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, “Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed Me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite Me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give Me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit Me.”
Then they will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help You?”
And He will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help Me.” Matthew 25:34-45
Ministry isn’t a career choice. Ministry isn’t only preaching and teaching. Ministry isn’t meant to be about earning a living. Ministry is what we do and who we are in the Kingdom of God!
Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
All scriptures are NLT unless otherwise noted.
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you.
There were no needs among them, no lack. It didn’t say there were no needs in the city, but among these Believers there was no lack because, 1) those who had money and property gave it to the apostles, and 2) the apostles distributed it to those among them who were in need. This is the way the church was designed to be. Believers in the Kingdom of God should not need to look to this world’s government for their needs. If churches made the benevolence ministry a top priority and Believers gave as the Holy Spirit—our Governor—led, there would again be no lack in the Body. Every need—not every “want”—would be met.
Benevolence, by definition, is a selfless act of kindness or a charitable act; giving to someone with no thought of any return.
Our next responsibility as Kingdom citizens is to help meet the needs of our community. That comes in many ways, sometimes as an outreach group, giving food, clothes or assisting with rent or utilities. But it may also be as individuals. Listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit—our Governor. He may lead you to meet a need when you are out in the community: buy someone’s lunch or help pay for groceries. The possibilities are endless. There are needs all around you as you go through your day. Don’t be so caught up in the daily cares of life to miss that moment. We are ambassadors for the Lord God’s Kingdom. One seemingly small act may plant a seed that one day leads to salvation as the Holy Spirit leads. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 1 Corinthians 3:7-8
Never hold so tight to money that you can’t be obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leading. I used to always say that I wanted to have enough money to be able to give on every occasion. That was before I understood the concept of the Kingdom government. It was before I understood that everything I have is His and everything I need comes from Him. If we seek Him first, everything we NEED will be there when we need it. So, if the Governor—Holy Spirit—tells me to buy a lady’s groceries, as she struggles at the checkout, to pay, I know my King has already provided all that I need for her groceries and mine.
It is a matter of priorities, as God’s Constitution tells us: Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Psalm 37:4
Remember that benevolence is far more than money. A kind word of encouragement, helping someone who is clearly having a bad day, and spreading around an abundance of grace and mercy when people don’t deserve it! Let the Holy Spirit lead you. When you do, you change the atmosphere with the Lord God’s Kingdom and its culture.
We often hear the phrase “What Would Jesus Do?” We know what He would! We just need to do it.
Father, guide us to always represent You and Your Kingdom everywhere we go!
Jesus answered him, “If you wish to be perfect [that is, have the spiritual maturity that accompanies godly character with no moral or ethical deficiencies], go and sell what you have and give [the money] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk].” Matthew 19:21 AMP
Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow. Matthew 5:42
Then the King will say to those on His right, “Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home. I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me.”
Then these righteous ones will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and give You something to drink? Or a stranger and show You hospitality? Or naked and give You clothing? When did we ever see You sick or in prison and visit You?”
And the King will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!”
Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, “Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed Me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite Me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give Me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit Me.”
Then they will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help You?”
And He will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help Me.” Matthew 25:34-45
Ministry isn’t a career choice. Ministry isn’t only preaching and teaching. Ministry isn’t meant to be about earning a living. Ministry is what we do and who we are in the Kingdom of God!
Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
All scriptures are NLT unless otherwise noted.
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you.
