#2 THIEF- PEOPLE. (CHAPTER 2) Feb. 2, 2020
Philippians 2:4-Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
The Apostle Paul points out the thieves, which would rob us of our joy, and then he shows the attitudes or mind-set we must have in order to slay these "thieves."
If you could sum up chapter 2 of Philippians, it would be that Paul talked about people and how we are to be a blessing to them and how they are a blessing to us.
A little girl jumped off the bus as it stopped at her home and slammed her way through the front door. She marched defiantly up the stairs into her room and slammed the door. All the time she was muttering under her breath, "People-people-people-PEOPLE-." Her Dad knocked at the door, asking, "May I come in?" "No," she replied. He asked, "Why can't I come in?" Her answer, "Because you're a people."
Someone posted on Facebook...The older I get….the more I understand why Ernest T Bass (The Andy Griffith Show) threw rocks at people!
Helping Difficult People!
Sometimes life can take a turn that makes you see things in a different light.
A few weeks ago, Patrick Greene of San Antonio, was known in Henderson County simply as a professed atheist who threatened to sue Henderson County about the courthouse manger scene. Greene’s experience with Christians was of narrow-minded individuals who had treated him unkindly throughout his life.
“My wife and I had never had a Christian do anything nice for us,” Greene said. “Just the opposite.”
That changed when the 63-year-old learned he had a detached retina. Greene was forced to give up driving his Yellow Cab, and resign himself to his impending blindness.
Eye surgery would cost $20,000 he said, and he didn’t even have the money to pay bills or buy groceries.
Jessica Crye, a member of Sand Springs Baptist Church in Athens, learned of his troubles on the Internet, and felt compelled to help.
Crye’s pastor, the Rev. Eric Graham, contacted Greene to find out more about his needs.
“I said first of all, I don’t want $20,000,” Greene said. “That would be ridiculous, because there’s a chance the surgery would fail. On top of that, there’s a chance it could become detached again.”
Greene told Graham he had a more immediate need.
“I said, if you really want to contribute something to help, we need groceries,” Greene said.
Greene said he was “flabbergasted” to learn that a group of Christians in Henderson County was reaching out to help an atheist, who in February had informed Commissioners Court that he would sue if the manger scene reappeared this year.
“I told my wife about it,” Greene said.
“They’re going to help us?” Karen asked.
Greene thought that if anything, he’d see $50, maybe $100.
A few days later, the Christians made good on their promise, and sent a check for $400.
“I said I can’t believe it,” Greene said. “I thought I was in the Twilight Zone.”
The money went to help pay the rent, and provide necessities from the grocery store.
The contributions didn’t stop at $400 either, Cry said. More money is coming in.
Greene is so amazed by the generosity of the Christians in Henderson County, he’s sharing the story through the media, and is thinking about writing a book.
“I’m going to call it the real ‘Christians of Henderson County, Texas,’” Greene said. “These people are acting like what the Bible says a Christian does.”
Greene plans on publishing the work as an e-book.
“I’m dedicating the book to my wife, the young lady who started the idea, and Reverend Graham.”
Crye said just about everyone she’s heard from has been supportive of reaching out to Greene. A couple have expressed resentment about helping someone who has been such a vocal atheist.
“I like to look on the positive side,” Crye said. “It’s wonderful what God has done.”
Now, rather than keep trying to keep the manger scene removed, Green said he’d like to add his contribution.
“I have decided to show my appreciation to the Christian community for all their help, and I am going to buy a star for the top of the Nativity scene. You people can figure out how to plug it in,” Greene said.
They say helping one person might not change the world, but it could change the world for one person.
We have two hands. One for helping ourselves and one to help others.
“I think we have become conditioned to think that someone else will do it.
Helping Just Thru Being There!
"I was grocery shopping when I received a call that my grandpa had died. My grandpa and I were close my whole life, everybody called me his little shadow. We knew it was coming, but to hear it over the phone put me into a shock. I just stood there and went white and numb. An older couple happened to be standing near me and sensed something was wrong. They asked but I couldn’t make words come out. They sat with me for a while, got ahold of my best friend to come pick me up, AND bought the groceries in my cart. Then, not too long after, they sent flowers to my house! Apparently they had my friend’s phone number from when they called her and they paid her to send a bouquet to me. That was one of the worst days of my life and I miss my grandpa every single day, but that kindness and humanity makes me cry in a good way."
Helping Thru Finances!
When the supermarket clerk tallied up my groceries, I was $12 over what I had on me. I began to remove items from the bags, when another shopper handed me a $20 bill. “Please don’t put yourself out,” I told him. “Let me tell you a story,” he said. “My mother is in the hospital with cancer. I visit her every day and bring her flowers. I went this morning, and she got mad at me for spending my money on more flowers. She demanded that I do something else with that money. So, here, please accept this. It is my mother’s flowers.” – Leslie Wagner, Peel, Arkansas.
Helping Thru Doing Something!
Riceman, a YouTuber who does social experiments and pranks, did an experiment in which he told people his brother was missing to see how they would react. The reaction of one homeless man showed him how generous a person — even with little means — can be.
The man was standing on the corner, holding up a sign reading "U.S. Vet in need, please help." Riceman went up, gave the man some change, and told him that his brother was missing and to let him know if he saw him. When Riceman walked away, instead of holding up his own sign to passing cars, the man held up the sign with Riceman's missing brother on it. He deliberately chose to stop asking for money for himself, in order to help Riceman.
When Riceman returned, he told the homeless man about the experiment and asked him why he chose to hold up the missing person's sign rather than continuing to ask for money. The man told him, "What kind of a person would I be if I didn't help someone else?" Riceman then gave him some cash and a hug, moved by his desire to help someone in need.
As long as we look upon people as problems, we are going to be miserable. But when we realize that God has put people around us to win to Christ, build up, to encourage, we find them a challenge and a joy.
