Many Filipinos get excited when someone comes to bring help in the form of 'aid.' Sosyal na term 'yan for alms. This is because many of us are always in need. Today, a large number of our people have become dependent on 4Ps, and I was told na mag ra-riot ang mga beneficiaries if the government scraps the program. Furthermore, many Filipinos are concerned about how President Duterte is alienating the US and European Union. It is because these countries might stop the aid they are giving to our country.
Alam ba n'yo na ang lokal na tawag sa aid ay limos? Bakit ba tayo kontento na pinaglilimusan? Di ba ang mas maganda, tayo ang tumutulong, hindi ang tinutulungan?
In Psalm 37:25, David said, "I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread." Since we often find ourselves begging bread, does this mean we are not righteous? Or could it be na hindi lang natin naintindihan ang righteousness that the Bible speaks us?
The most precise definition of righteousness in the Bible is found in Deuteronomy 6:25 (NLT) and it says, "For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us." According to this verse, righteousness merely means being obedient to the commandments of the Lord and living according to His ways.
In 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, Paul said, "Stay away from all believers who live idle lives... For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you... Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: "Those unwilling to work will not get to eat." Here, Paul clearly shows us that part of God's instructions is that we work so that we will never beg. In fact, sabi ng Proverbs 28:19, "Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty." Problema sa atin is, we do not just forsake our land, we even allow foreigners to take control of our resources! Why are we this way ba? But what is God teaching us so that we do not end up begging?
In 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10 (NLT), Paul said, "Stay away from all believers who live idle lives... For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you... Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: 'Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.' Here, Paul clearly shows us that part of God's instructions is that we work so that we will never beg. In fact, sabi ng Proverbs 28:19 (ESV), "Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty." Ang problema sa atin, we do not just forsake our land, we even allow foreigners to take control of our resources! Why are we this way ba?
I am learning that it is because ang idea natin ng blessing from God is like the manna the Israelites received when they were roaming the desert. Gusto natin maghintay parati sa "awa" ng Diyos, kaysa magtrabaho para may makain tayo. Do you know that manna stopped falling the day the IsraelitesJews entered the Promised Land? This was because they had a fertile land of their own, God expected them to work the land so it would provide for their needs and give them abundance.
Sana all Filipinos will understand that God channels His blessing come through our work. Sana din dumating ang panahon na tayo ang nagbibigay ng tulong at hindi ang tinutulungan. When we live according to the ways of the Lord, we will never beg for anything anymore.
