I Can Do Something

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,when it is in your power to act.Do not say to your neighbor,“Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow”—when you now have it with you.

Proverbs 3:27-28 (NIV)

The New Testament companion to this proverb is found in James 2:15-16, which says, “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?” (NIV).

Good question: What good? I love that God cares about all of this. I think of some of the missed opportunities in the Bible. I think of the innkeeper who turned away Mary when she was about to give birth to the Son of God. I think about the people in Noah’s day who saw him build that huge boat with just his sons. They could have helped.

And so we are encouraged to not miss the many opportunities around us. Okay, let me just throw out some things to pray about. Do you have elderly neighbors? Why don’t you ask, next time you go to the store, if they need anything? Do you know a single mom? Why don’t you ask if her son or her daughter needs new tennis shoes? Do you know someone who is sick? What if you made some extra soup or an extra casserole this week and took it over to them? Do you know of a family whose dad has lost his job? What if you filled a grocery bag with cereal and milk and eggs and peanut butter? Jesus said, “Inasmuch as you did to one of the least of these My brethren, you did to Me” (Matthew 25:40, NKJV).

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.

—EDWARD EVERETT HALE

Let’s Pray

Lord, please show me one thing I can do today to meet a need or lift a burden.

One Year Bible Reading

Genesis 37:1–38:30; Matthew 12:22-45; Psalm 16:1-11; Proverbs 3:27-32