“If” is such a small word, but it is one of the biggest words in the English language. “If” is such a big word because of the consequences that may follow our decisions and actions. We must really think before opening our mouths. Sometimes we say things we do not really mean, but depending on with whom we may be, we go ahead and do what we have said just to save face in front of peers. We surely do not want to be made fun of by our equals or our friends.
Another thing we do with the word “if” is that we go back in time and wonder if I had done this or if I had done that, things might have been different in our lives. They may have been different, but these same things we are talking about might have come out a whole lot worse. Sometimes we as parents say, “I wish I could go back and do things differently with rearing my children.” Would we really want to go back in time? We probably would have made the same mistakes that we made the first time.
We hear people say all the time, “If I only had a million dollars, I would do this or that.” Why can we not do some little thing to do good? Why does it always have to be a great thing to help those in need? Jesus said that just a cup of water in His name is a worthwhile deed (Matthew 10:42).
Are we like Naaman in 2 Kings 5:1-19? He had leprosy, and the little maid told him of Elisha, the prophet of God in Samaria. So, Naaman got ready and left for Samaria. He must have thought Elisha would have him do something great. Elisha sent his servant to Naaman and told him to go dip in the Jordan River seven times. This was upsetting to Naaman because he said, “Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” The Scripture tells us that he turned and went away in a rage.
One of Naaman’s servants said to him, “If you had been told something great, would you not have done it immediately?” Therefore, Naaman went to the Jordan and dipped seven times as he had been instructed. When he did what he was told to do, he was healed of his leprosy.
There are many things we can do that are small and not very meaningful to us, but to God and those receiving the help they are very important. We could help one homeless person or someone who needs help in some other way. If we have enough money to go out to eat or go out to places for recreation, just maybe we could or should use a little for others. Sometimes, just a few dollars can do much for someone in need.
In a congregation of which I was a member, Christians come together every Monday night to feed the homeless a hot meal. Some also take their young children to help with this project. They are learning how to give of their time to the Lord by doing good deeds.
While working to feed the hungry and those who are less fortunate than we are, one of the ladies came up with the idea to make lunches so the homeless can have another meal on another day. It would put no one in the poor house if we would all just donate one or two nonperishable items for the lunches or prepare food for the hot meal to help needy people.
Cards and tracts are placed in the sacks. It is our job to provide the lost with the information on how to become Christians and then continue to teach how to remain faithful and grow stronger in the Lord. The Lord said, “Go” in Mark 16:16; He did not tell us how to go, and this is one way to obey our Lord. Our job is to provide the lost with the Word, and it is their responsibility to do what they will with the information.
When we send our bill payments out in the mail or hand deliver them, we can put a tract with the payment. There are so many ways in which we can be useful servants of Jesus Christ, “if” we will only act out our Christianity in some meaningful way that is visible to or by which we interact with the world around us (Matthew 5:13-16).
