I am not sure where the idea originated other than the heart of God but a group of people rallied around the idea of taking common everyday laundry baskets and filling them with groceries and household items. These baskets were offered on the altar of the church and then each family was challenged to take their baskets and an address they were given and to deliver their baskets on a Sunday afternoon.
I will not forget one elderly gentleman in our church who testified about knocking on the door of a house and simply telling the residents, “We have a basket filled with love for you.” It was a very simple act but it touched so many people. Mainly those who delivered the baskets. It is truly more blessed to give than to receive. [Acts 20:35]
It really takes so very little to make a difference. John wrote in [I Jn 3:17-18] “But whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children let us not love in word or tongue but in deed and truth.”
Churches are often good at telling communities they love them but do a poorer job of putting that love into action. O, I have seen love shared by churches with my very own eyes. I have witnessed people rally together to rebuild houses devastated by fire or floods. I have seen thousands on top of thousands of dollars given to those who were in need. I have witnessed churches dispersing clothing and school supplies for those needing some assistance. Churches have met the needs and even fulfilled the Christmas wishes of children who would otherwise have gone without as well as sending shoe boxes filled with love, toys, and clothing all over the world wit organizations like Samaritan’s Purse.
When the church of the Lord Jesus really rallies together to love their communities and the world it is a beautiful thing. On the other hand, when churches become so focused on building their own kingdom that they do not meet the needs right under the shadow of their steeples this is tragic. There are hurting people all around us and if we choose not to look with spiritual eyes we will look right past them at our beautiful steeples and buildings and miss the point all together.
I am not advocating the social gospel where we meet physical needs and stop right there. I am thinking that meeting spiritual needs is just an avenue to tell people the great news that God offers forgiveness for mistakes and morale blunders. In a world filled with negative and violent news I think this is a welcome change. We meet physical needs in order to have the open door to meet spiritual needs. [Mark 2:1-12]
It was just an ordinary laundry basket. God took those little white baskets and moved people to fill them with canned goods, baked cooking items, clothing, books, snack foods for children and it was all done in the name of Jesus. Those simple baskets were prayed over and filled with more than food, they were filled with love. I love that man’s introduction as he and his wife stood at the door of complete strangers and said, “We have a basket filled with love for you.”
It was just a simple gesture but it was doing something. We have this world’s goods and we know that people are often in need. The fact that we cannot meet every need in the world individually as well as corporately should not keep us from doing something!
Baskets of love should not be an event but rather an ongoing lifestyle. We should walk in the Spirit asking the Lord to open our spiritual eyes to see needs and then we must be willing to sacrifice and give to meet those needs. At times that might mean money. It might mean physical labor to help with house repairs or yard work. It might mean giving a bag of groceries or clothes. When we all do a little it can turn into a big deal collectively.
What needs are in front of you? What is the Lord calling you to do to meet those needs? Do you need to rally the troops where you are to make a difference? It doesn’t take much. A basket filled with love can go a long way.
No comments:
Post a Comment