Early in 2011, a US baseball coach made the best call of his career. Tom Walter, the coach of the Wake Forest University baseball team, chose to give up one of his kidneys so that one of his players could live. A freshman player, Kevin Jordan, had been stricken with a disease that attacked his kidneys and left them functioning at just 8 percent. None of his family members was a donor match for a kidney transplant, but Coach Walter was! “When we recruit our guys, we talk about family and making sacrifices for one another. It is something we take very seriously . . . . To me, it was a no-brainer,” he said. Good call, Coach!
Selfless giving is something that should mark the lives of true believers in Jesus. As John the Baptist prepared the way for the Savior, he preached, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry” (Luke 3:11). The prophet taught that selfless giving is part of God’s plan for His people. If you have two healthy kidneys, give one to someone who has none.
Jesus would later teach about what it means to truly love and sacrifice for our neighbors. He said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31-34). And just prior to stating this command, He revealed the “most important” one: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength” (Mark 12:29-30). Note, however, that He also said loving our neighbors is “equally important” (Mark 12:31).
The way we love others is a direct reflection of our love for God. When we choose to selflessly give to another, we reflect the most selfless act of all time—Jesus’ death that we might be saved and that we might live (John 15:13).
When others need you, make the right call.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 John 3:1-24
More:
James, Jesus’ brother, nailed the importance of not simply feeling a person’s need but also doing something about it. Check it out in James 2:15-16.
Next:
What is God asking you to selflessly sacrifice for someone today? Why is showing love for others through giving such an important thing to God?
mike on December 26, 2011 at 6:56 am
I am reminded that it is “how we love” that reflects who we belong to.
Thank you for the wonderful reminder.
roxanne robbins on December 26, 2011 at 9:39 am
Today, I’m going to mull over this post and consider if or how my personal giving reflects my love and gratitude for the Lord. Thanks, Tom!
bingkee on December 26, 2011 at 6:15 pm
Hope that this post will reach to a lot of people and read because my countrymen in the Philippines who are victims of the recent typhoon Sendong desperately need your help. More than 400,000 are homeless, and more than a thousand dead and more than a thousand missing presumed to be dead. Whatever you can give whether $5 or $500 is a big, big help. Donate through UNICEF or Red Cross or Worldvision (see their websites).
bearpair on December 26, 2011 at 6:52 pm
Great devo Tom! Much needed in our day… We seem to be so quick to respond to others’ needs/requests, based on what we “might need”, when the Lord asks us only to look at what is in our hands. Thanks for the great reminder!
rick4real on December 27, 2011 at 11:15 am
Lucifer, was sent to earth as Satan the ruler of temptation and despair. If things do not change for the better and people do not change their evil ways. This world as we know will end soon, by natural disaster. Believe the good book and nostradomas. God is in charge of heaven and earth and will have the final say.