What the more is for...

Matthew 5:13-16

Easy-to-Read Version

 

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its taste, it cannot be made salty again. Salt is useless if it loses its salty taste. It will be thrown out where people will just walk on. it.

14 “You are the light that shines for the world to see. You are like a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden. 

15 People don’t hide a lamp under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand. Then the light shines for everyone in the house. 

16 In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.

 

We must be like salt and make things better.  We must be like light and make things brighter.  

 

We must leave a legacy which is what people will remember when we are gone.  

 

Acts 1:8

Easy-to-Read Version

8 But the Holy Spirit will come on you and give you power. You will be my witnesses. You will tell people everywhere about me—in Jerusalem, in the rest of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.”

 

We are to be witnesses not judges or prosecutors of others. 

 

Matthew 25:37-40

Easy-to-Read Version

37 “Then the godly people will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food? When did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink? 

38 When did we see you with no place to stay and welcome you into our home? When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? 

39 When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?’

40 “Then the king will answer, ‘The truth is, anything you did for any of my people here, you also did for me.’

 

We must meet the practical needs of people, so they will open their hearts to God.  

 

Acts 16:5

Easy-to-Read Version

5 So the churches were becoming stronger in their faith, and the number of believers was growing every day.

 

We must invest in launching new churches and strengthen existing churches, so we can in turn reach the world.  

 

Luke 10:2

Easy-to-Read Version

2 He said to them, “There is such a big harvest of people to bring in. But there are only a few workers to help harvest them. God owns the harvest. Ask him to send more workers to help bring in his harvest.

 

Matthew 16:18

English Standard Version

... I (Jesus) will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

 

God blesses us with more than we need, so that we can be a blessing to others.  We must remember what the more is for. 

 

Genesis 12:2

English Standard Version

2 And I (God) will make of you (Abraham) a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

 

When we bless others, we become like God, and God will bless you for it.  There's almost nothing God won't do for those who help others.  

 

Luke 12:48

Living Bible

...Much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater.

 

The more God blesses us.  The more He expects us to bless others.

 

Deuteronomy 21:17

Living Bible

17 He (the father of each family) must give the customary double portion to his oldest son, who is the beginning of his strength and who owns the rights of a firstborn son, even though he is the son of the wife his father doesn’t love.

 

The father gave the firstborn a double portion to take care of his siblings after the father was gone.  

 

Hebrews 12:22-23

English Standard Version

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect...

 

We are God's first born, we have been given the responsibility to take care of others.