Doing Justice and Loving Mercy: Compassion Ministries, Mentor's Guide, MG16

/ 1 4 9

D O I N G J U S T I C E A N D L O V I N G M E R C Y : C O M P A S S I O N M I N I S T R I E S

apostle. God loves the hilariously cheerful giver, the one who is looking for opportunities to make his or her goods and services available to others who cannot return the favor. In a real sense, this is the definition of godliness, it is the way in which our God responds and works on behalf of those in the world. God is neither partial nor stingy; he lavishes his goodness on others, it is his very nature to be generous and good. Let the plain teaching of the Scriptures elaborate this point: Matt. 5.44-48 - But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? [47] And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? [48] You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Ps. 36.6-7 - Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O Lord. [7] How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. Ps. 65.9-11 - You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it. [10] You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. [11] You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. Ps. 136.25 - . . . he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever. Ps. 145.15-16 - The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. [16] You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. Luke 12.24-28 - Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! [25] And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [26] If then you are not able to do as Ps. 145.9 - The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. Ps. 104.27 - These all look to you, to give them their food in due season.

4