Are you helping take care of and provide for any relatives you have who are unable to take care of themselves, especially parents and grandparents? Do you know that doing so, it is God's will? A Christian duty?
There is a great blessing and favour as a prize for those looking after their own people, regardless how they treated us in the past, regardless how much we have to offer.
I've seen these blessings over my parents' lives. My dad's mom moved in with us when I was only 8 years old. She was a difficult woman to deal with. She didn't know God, she was stubborn, etc...in fact before my dad married my mom, she mistreated her so much for being "a protestant". Life turned around and here she was, in my house...under the roof and under the care of that "protestant" woman, who looked and took care of her way better and more than her own daughters.
It wasn't an easy task, but my mom just did what God asked her to do. My mom understood (and taught us through her actions) that "hurting people hurt people" and we must develop a merciful, forgiving attitude towards those who have hurt us. When we have truly forgiven we are willing to help those who does not deserve to be helped...we don't deserve God's help either, but He helps us and expects us to do the same for others.
There are no excuses to ignore this duty. We may do other "good works" or "church work" but if we ignore this duty, we are not doing what is right. If a believer fails to provide for his own relatives he is worse than an unbeliever who does perform his obligation better.
My husband has also taught me this lifestyle, the blessing behind blessing other people, specially our immediate family.
We provide for his parents on a monthly basis and we have helped all of his siblings to try to get them on their feet and become somehow independent.
I have learnt that though God wants us to be blessed and have our desires met, He first and foremost wants us to do our duty as believers in Christ. If we dont care for our own families, God is not pleased.
God teaches us in His word no to hide ourselves from the needs of our own flesh and blood and this instruction is followed by a promise
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[a] will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.. Isaiah 58:7-8
Blessings do follow obedience :-)
Remain blessed sisters, have a great weekend ahead.
Angie