On December 27th, Howard Fisher invited a former mission companion, Jeff Porter, to teach a lesson about charity and service.
Brother Porter started out by referencing Matthew 25 where the Lord tells the parable of the sheep and the goats and then asked us why the sheep were chosen when the goats were not. Someone said that the people who were the sheep had given service, and the people who were represented by the goats had not. Bro. Porter agreed and then asked what some of the possible reasons were as to why the goats hadn't given service. Someone else said that the goats had been selfish, unable to see beyond their own wants.
He then asked us to relate an experience when someone had provided service to us that was particularly memorable. I thought about how I appreciated it when Matt Johnson and Dewain Jenkins came over 2 weeks ago to help clear all of that heavy, wet snow off of my driveway!
Bro. Porter then referenced Moroni 7:45, singling out the phrase "...seeketh not her own". He said that this made reference to the natural tendency to seek out those who are like us, or with whom we feel the most comfortable. Conversely, charitable people will seek out those who need help, people whose interests are different, or people with whom they would not normally associate.
Brother Porter then talked about the poor Zoramites in Alma 32 and how they had been refused admittance to the synagogue that they helped to build because of how poor they were. Alma didn't care that they were poor, but he cared that their poverty had helped them to be humble. In chapter 34, Amulek further taught the people that unless they visited the sick and gave of what they had that their prayers were in vain, and that they were "as hypocrites who do deny the faith." (v.28) I thought that this was important, to realize that everyone needs to be giving and charitable, even when they think they have few means to do so.
In conclusion, Bro. Porter came full circle and again referenced the parable of the sheep and the goats; he challenged us to get out of our comfort zones and help those who we know need it, not waiting for our bishops or stake presidents to assign us to assist others, but to do so ourselves.
This was a very good lesson, coming as it did soon after Christmas. The tendency during the season is to be extra helpful, but then we allow our efforts to lessen as the new year goes on. Let's not let our good deeds diminish! I know that as we help others as much as we can, whether it is during the Christmas season or not, we will be blessed with the things that God knows we need, and we will cultivate patience and charity.
--Jordan Fauver
Brother Porter started out by referencing Matthew 25 where the Lord tells the parable of the sheep and the goats and then asked us why the sheep were chosen when the goats were not. Someone said that the people who were the sheep had given service, and the people who were represented by the goats had not. Bro. Porter agreed and then asked what some of the possible reasons were as to why the goats hadn't given service. Someone else said that the goats had been selfish, unable to see beyond their own wants.
He then asked us to relate an experience when someone had provided service to us that was particularly memorable. I thought about how I appreciated it when Matt Johnson and Dewain Jenkins came over 2 weeks ago to help clear all of that heavy, wet snow off of my driveway!
Bro. Porter then referenced Moroni 7:45, singling out the phrase "...seeketh not her own". He said that this made reference to the natural tendency to seek out those who are like us, or with whom we feel the most comfortable. Conversely, charitable people will seek out those who need help, people whose interests are different, or people with whom they would not normally associate.
Brother Porter then talked about the poor Zoramites in Alma 32 and how they had been refused admittance to the synagogue that they helped to build because of how poor they were. Alma didn't care that they were poor, but he cared that their poverty had helped them to be humble. In chapter 34, Amulek further taught the people that unless they visited the sick and gave of what they had that their prayers were in vain, and that they were "as hypocrites who do deny the faith." (v.28) I thought that this was important, to realize that everyone needs to be giving and charitable, even when they think they have few means to do so.
In conclusion, Bro. Porter came full circle and again referenced the parable of the sheep and the goats; he challenged us to get out of our comfort zones and help those who we know need it, not waiting for our bishops or stake presidents to assign us to assist others, but to do so ourselves.
This was a very good lesson, coming as it did soon after Christmas. The tendency during the season is to be extra helpful, but then we allow our efforts to lessen as the new year goes on. Let's not let our good deeds diminish! I know that as we help others as much as we can, whether it is during the Christmas season or not, we will be blessed with the things that God knows we need, and we will cultivate patience and charity.
--Jordan Fauver
3 comments:
Jordan, you did such a good job on your article! The ward newsletter will be all the better for your contribution!
I also wanted to thank you for letting me "attack" your rough-draft. :) I don't get the opportunity to proofread very often anymore and I really miss those kind of writing opportunities. I know it was an uncomfortable process for you but look at how polished your work is now! Wow!
I love you, Honey! Thank you for taking care of me and humoring me and spending time with me...
Mmmmmmwaa!
Thanks, goo of mine!
I'm not used to having anyone proof-read my stuff, and even though it was difficult, my article is better because you helped me.
Thank you for your care of me...
Thanks for the advice with the car :)
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