Hello everybody,
Because of the extreme situation we have so suddenly find ourselves in, this will not be a standard-length posting. It is a one-off, the likes of which may never appear on this forum again – a response to extraordinary circumstances.
As you all know, our dear brother Ray has recently received the most shattering news concerning the state of his health. Such terrible news has generated plentiful posts expressing affection, gratitude, shock, sadness and distress. It has been heart-warming – even quite emotional – to read through those posts. It brings us to realise the tremendous affect that the years of Ray’s dedicated toil has had on so many very deeply, grateful people.
They bring to my mind the thousands of emails sent to Ray over the years which have spoken delightfully of the wonderful joy and freedom that an understanding of truth has brought to them. It has indeed proven the case that the truth shall make you free! These people do not just express simple thanks for what they have received – they speak of being transformed forever……. truly life-changing affects! The affect on them reminds me of the Lord speaking of His coming:
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.(Matthew 24:27)
Ray’s thousands of hours of dedicated toil have helped all of us wonderfully and forever……..but now, Ray could use a little help from us.
The efforts of one man have helped many forever. But now it is time for the efforts of the many to help the one man for a while.
It would be extremely beneficial at this time in particular for us to review the counsel of the Word of God concerning two things:
(1) our responsibility toward those in need [especially those of our own (spiritual) household].
(2) that verbal declarations of faith, well-wishing and other kind words are of no value without action.
If you genuinely want to know of your responsibility (and are prepared to act accordingly) toward our vulnerable brother in need, then carefully and thoughtfully consider the following:
But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
(1 Timothy 5: 8 )
Powerful words!! We should consider the primary meaning here – which is the spiritual meaning.
What are the terms ‘his own’ and ‘his own house’ primarily referring to? We can let the words of the Lord Jesus Christ answer for us:
47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.(Matthew 12: 47-50)
So we can see that the primary meaning here is indeed spiritual – ‘his own’ and ‘his own house’ primarily refer to our brethren in Jesus Christ.
BROTHER RAY?
Do you think of Ray as a brother in Jesus Christ? Have you ever personally referred to him as such – in thought or deed? Have you ever nodded approval when others have done so?
If the answer to any of these three questions is ‘yes’, then you have owned Ray as a brother – a brother in Christ. Will you now DIS-own him when he is in particular need of our care and support? Will you fail to help to provide for him?
But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Denied the faith? Isn’t that a bit extreme?
The Lord Jesus Christ doesn’t seem to think so:
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
(Luke 6:46)
The Lord Jesus Christ teaches us that it is contradictory (and useless) to acknowledge Him through the words we speak whilst denying Him in the things we do – or fail to do.
There is just no getting away from the truth that no matter how rousing and vitriolic a verbal proclamation of faith may be, without tangible deeds to witness to it, that professed faith is stone dead. There is no life in it. The ‘faith’ that is only evident through the spoken word is no faith at all – in fact it denies the true faith.
True faith is much more than easily spoken words – it is positive, visible and effective action!
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you SAY unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye GIVE THEM NOT those THINGS WHICH ARE NEEDFUL TO THE BODY; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O VAIN MAN, that FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD?(James 2: 14-20)
That is such rich, powerful, instructive and wonderful scripture! How precisely fitting to the current, needful circumstances we are involved in! We should tremble!
I think verses 15 and 16 are particularly significant right now; what each of us will do or fail to do to actively contribute toward what is needful for Ray and his care.
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
There is no shying away from the plain exhortation of this scripture.
If we find a brother or sister in genuine need yet all we offer is to wish them well whilst failing to provide any practical assistance, what use is that?
The answer is – it is no help whatsoever!
Remember, we are talking here of a brother of God’s household (of which you, reading this, also claim to be part) now being in great need of our help and support. So many of us who have greatly benefited from Ray’s toil have publicly poured out great and gushing expressions of gratitude for having so enormously gained. So many have expressed great joy and relief at their release from the prison of previously held false beliefs which held them captive for years – even a lifetime!
Are we that have gained so from Ray’s years of labour going to simply wish him well and not even lift so much as a finger in PRACTICAL, ONGOING ASSISTANCE?
Remember, faith that is merely spoken of is no faith at all. In these circumstances of immediate and genuine need, all the well-wishing in the universe is entirely of no consequence. Practical faith – faith in action is what is required. That is the true faith.
THOSE THAT SAY, BUT DON'T DO.
Be under no illusion; the Lord is very clear in His teaching – saying yet not doing is rank hypocrisy!
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
(Mark 7:5)
We are all too often pleased to SPEAK right things – but much less willing to DO right things.
Noble thoughts and intentions simply are not enough!
These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, BUT their heart is far from Me.
(Matthew 15: 8 )
We suddenly find Ray vulnerable and need of practical assistance – our fine, well-intentioned words are pleasant on the ear, but of no practical use.
We do not need to provide him with luxury items – although we should earnestly desire and be pleased for Ray (and anybody else, for that matter) to have good things in abundance.
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
(3 John 1:2)
I am only calling for us to collectively provide what is needful for a vulnerable brother in his hour of need.
Now that this hour of great need has come upon him, will we shamelessly neglect his needs and abandon him to continue on just our well wishes and compliments?
Now, I know some have already given kindly – and that is wonderful. I don’t know how many have given or how much. But I do know that provision is needed on an ONGOING basis.
Thanks be to God, Ray has been able to start his treatment. But what about next month.....the month after......and the month after that? I have been sorely troubled by concern over this.
It will not do to feed a hungry stomach this month only to abandon it to starvation next month. We must provide relief for as long as the need continues.
If just a proportion of the thousands who have written of their enormous gratitude for the fruits of Ray’s labour would unwaveringly commit to unfailingly contribute to his requirements each month, then no individual need be financially stretched.
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS ACTING TOGETHER AS ONE BODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE WHOLE.
I understand that approximately 125 people will be attending the annual conference this month. Now, many of those attending will already be making monthly contributions to bible-truths. But, purely by way of illustration, suppose that 125 people each firmly pledged to contribute $20 per month toward Ray’s needs, then a monthly budget of $2,500 would be available to provide for Ray’s needs. 250 people contributing $10 dollars per month would produce the same sum.
We can play with the figures all we want but the point of this illustration is that a reasonable body of reliable people can comfortably provide Ray with the means to cover his treatment costs – and hopefully whatever additional things may be required along the way.
We are not talking about the provision of the luxury of a private airline here – or even anything as luxurious as a private skateboard!
We are talking of the fundamental necessities to fund Ray’s chosen treatment and unforeseen future requirements.
I am not suggesting that anybody should be deprived of basic needs nor the basic needs of their family. But I am fully convinced that of those that can afford to run computer-plus-monthly-internet-services there are not many (if any) that genuinely do not have the means to make a modest (monthly) contribution to help support the brother that has toiled long, hard hours for the spiritual benefit of so many.
29 Then the disciples, EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
(Acts 11: 29-30)
Yes, the carnal mind does think to keep tight hold of money…..lest something happen and I myself be in need. There are many that are inclined to say “Of course I would really like to contribute something………BUT I really can’t afford to”.
As you’re reading this, reach down and place your hand on your midriff. Now, if you can pinch more than an inch of fatty tissue, I would guess that you can probably afford to help with Ray’s medical and daily needs! If things are hard, one less doughnut per day? One less burger? One less beer? Is every dime really so crucial? Or do you just want to be sure that there is as much as possible for self?
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting (aionian).
9 And LET US NOT BE WEARY IN WELL DOING: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 AS WE HAVE therefore OPPORTUNITY, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
(Galatians 6: 7-10)
This is a wonderful opportunity to do good to a man who is of the household of faith! It would be a tragic waste not to take it!
God presents us with opportunities to do good which may not even be recognised as such. Nonetheless, there are those that take these opportunities without even realising they have done so:
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
(Matthew 25: 37-40)
On the other hand, there are those who are presented with these wonderful opportunities to do good, but do not see them for what they are. They are so focused on looking after their own interests that they fail to see the needs of others – even when it is staring them in the face! Thus they miss the glorious opportunity to act according to the counsel of God’s Word (Love thy neighbour as thyself).
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
(Matthew 25: 42-45)
Again, I will be bold and state unequivocally that there are exceptionally few that are in a position to read this internet-borne message that genuinely do not have even one dollar of spare income capacity in a month.
If the cost of your mortgage or rent were to suddenly be increased by $20 per month, would you really have to move immediately to a more modest place? Would an overall increase of $20 in your total monthly outgoings really result in your ruin?
I think that most people would not have too much difficulty in finding some way to accommodate such an increase in their outgoings. More often than not, it is simply a question of motivation - where our real desire dwells.
No, for the most part, I think that when people say that they "just can’t afford to help", what they really mean is that they would prefer to keep any money they have for their own personal use (although I do acknowledge that there are those in this world that genuinely do not have enough to meet their own basic needs).
TIME TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEEDS OF OUR DEAR BROTHER - LIKE IT OR NOT!.
To my knowledge, Ray has never once asked for money for his service in ministering to so many. Think about it for a minute: why should a man who has put in thousands of hours of toil for our spiritual benefit ever have been left to scrape by on Social Security in the first place?
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11 IF WE HAVE SOWN UNTO YOU SPIRITUAL THINGS, IS IT A GREAT THING IF WE SHALL REAP YOUR CARNAL THINGS?
12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 DO YE NOT KNOW THAT THEY WHICH MINISTER ABOUT HOLY THINGS LIVE OF THE THINGS OF THE TEMPLE? AND THEY WHICH WAIT AT THE ALTAR ARE PARTAKERS WITH THE ALTAR?
14 EVEN SO HATH THE LORD ORDAINED THAT THEY WHICH PREACH THE GOSPEL SHOULD LIVE OF THE GOSPEL.
(1 Corinthians 9: 7-14)
As I said earlier, Ray and his wife have been living off Social Security even though they have been ministering to our needs. According to the Word of God, we should all have been contributing to their daily needs all along.
Those of us who have neglected to contribute to their needs whilst benefiting from their ministry have failed in our duty. Sadly, it is now done and we cannot change it.
But can not so many of us who have so wonderfully benefited (forever) from Ray’s toil and patience now pull together to faithfully provide in his moment (relative to forever) of need?
Will we (as a body) be careless of providing him of what is needful? Has he not got enough pressing concerns at this very trying time without having to think of how he might be able to fund his needs?
It is shameful and even disgraceful to think that members of the body of Christ might fail to provide sufficient, practical, ongoing assistance to help ease Ray’s current hardship. Will the hand not put food to the mouth? Will the mouth withhold from the hungry stomach? Will the stomach fail to supply the intestines? Failure in these things would not edify the body but only weaken it. The whole body would eventually suffer harm.
Let us act as a body in helping and caring for Ray. Let us love him after a Godly manner – as the Lord loves all:
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
(1 John 4: 20-21)
Yes, it is true that we are not yet perfect – but as a body, we are more than able in this Godly duty. After all, it is the will of God that we replicate His love.
Can you really not find some small means to help?
ONGOING - EVEN INCREASING NEEDS?
If we concern ourselves to provide for the needs of a man this month, we should be as concerned to provide for his need next month. What is the point of feeding his hunger this month and then abandoning him to starvation next month? The truth is, we should be concerned to provide for his need as long as he remains in need.
I have said it before but I will say it again; It is vital for us to be sure to remember that Ray’s needs are ongoing………he needs provision month-in, month-out – WITHOUT FAIL
Please don’t be spurred to action in the passion of the moment only to become fainthearted later – perhaps beginning to think after a few months that you have done your bit…….that you have other things to do with ‘your’ money (remembering also that ‘your’ money is also the provision of God ).
The desperate plight of a brother we hold very dearly has brought us to consider here the most relevant counsel of God through reviewing our consideration of the Word of God.
BE STEADFAST; BE FAITHFUL; BE TRUSTWORTHY.
If you are able to start contributing, be faithful! Do not faint after a short while. There are those who are accepting of the Word of God at first only to return to later start thinking again on the things of the world:
And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
(Mark 4:19)
THE VANITY OF SPEAKING WITHOUT ACTION - THE VANITY OF HEARING WITHOUT ACTION.
As it is vanity to speak the Word of God and of right things yet fail to act accordingly, likewise it is vanity to hear the Word of God and of right things yet fail to act accordingly.
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 BUT WHOSO HATH THIS WORLD’S GOOD, AND SEETH HIS BROTHER HAVE NEED, AND SHUTTETH UP HIS BOWELS OF COMPASSION FROM HIM, HOW DWELLETH THE LOVE OF GOD IN HIM?
18 MY LITTLE CHILDREN, LET US NOT LOVE IN WORD, NEITHER IN TONGUE; BUT IN DEED AND IN TRUTH.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
(1 John 3: 15-19).
I am first in – a friend of mine is second. How many will join us?
Perhaps the Moderators will help co-ordinate things?
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Topic: WELL WISHING AND KIND WORDS – NO! RAY NEEDS SOLID PROVISION!! (Read 7592 times)