Proverbs 19:17-18

¹⁷Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. ¹⁸Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.

Monstera

I cultivated two Monstera plants, one inside our home and one at the church foyer. Few years passed by, the Monstera plant at the foyer has huge leaves while the Monstera plant in our home has smaller leaves. They are half the size of the Monstera leaves at the foyer. Why? The plant box of the Monstera in our home is smaller than the plant box I used at the foyer.

God created plants uniquely. But the surroundings of the plant affect, limit and regulate its growth. There are plants that can thrive in smaller space. There are plants that require larger space to maximize its growth.

Similarly, our environments could affect our progress and regress. King Daivd declared in Psalm 40:5, ⁵Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.

How many wonders of the Lord that you experienced and personally tell others about? Have you already discovered the plan of God for you? His plan is the best adventure we can explore. We’ve got to seek his grace and find out how we can explore his plan and testify for his glory after that.

We pray, “Lord, how can I bring glory to your name?” But our mind entertains like, “Oh, I wish I could travel and gather good memories to remember!” It’s natural! Many people travel and expect to gather good memories. But how many old people praise God for their good memories?

Does God grant a prayer of bringing glory to him when personally, we think about traveling for good memories? Maybe, God is calling us to join mission and at the same time, we can explore good memories to testify.

Short-term Mission

When I joined the short-term missions, I was hoping to be assigned where poor people can only have a bowl of porridge twice a day. I thought that for 2 bowls of porridge daily, I could lose some fat. But I was assigned where they served at least 12 different kinds of food every meal. You know what happened, I gained 10 pounds in 2 weeks. Why did God allow that?

I interpreted that the Lord was telling, “Lorenzo, if you go to missions, I will provide for your needs. You won’t get hungry!” Mission experience is amazing. We traveled to wonderful places. I also expect God to reward me.

One option to store up eternal treasures in heaven is helping the poor. God wants us to practice generous hospitality, goodness, kindness to the poor.

1. Poor

¹⁷Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,

and he will reward them for what they have done.

Rich or poor, God created us all. Intentionally, God allowed poverty for us to invest for eternal treasures. Helping is investment. Businessmen help anyone they expect to be future business partners. They invite the rich to attend special occasions, why? They expect future venture or personal favor from the rich. They invite people who can help them in their ventures.

Together, let’s reflect on what the Lord advised in Luke 14:13-14,

¹²Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. ¹³But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, ¹⁴and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Interestingly, the opposite is what we normally do, right? We invite relatives, friends, especially those who have money, why? We expect to be repaid for our kindness. In the western world, they invite for extravagant dinner and expect guests to shoulder the cost. If you can contribute to the cost of their extravagant meal, you are most likely appreciated readily.

Why do we invite and expect returns? We can only think of immediate renumeration. We hesitate to invite the poor, why? It requires godly effort. And we just cannot conceptualize that rewards from the Lord are eternally satisfying for all eternity. Instinctively, we want reward now and not later.

Proverbs 22:16 warns, ¹⁶One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

Oppressing the poor and giving gifts to the rich cause poverty, how? It’s not easy to explain, but we trust that God favors us when we help the poor while gifts given to the rich are wasteful. God promised no return.

Do you want your gifts to have great returns? Be kind to the poor, and the Lord remembers to reward your kindness in eternity if not at present. Inviting anyone to a party should be intentional. We could spread the good news of salvation in Christ during special occasions like Christmas party.

2. Party

¹⁸Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;

    do not be a willing party to their death.

Trained children in Christian disciplines. If they take the other way, parents, you’re freed from guilt as willing party to tragedies they may suffer. How many independent children still listen to their parents. Discipline and teach your children while there is hope. If children are gone, hope is gone.      Parents, don’t be harsh and cruel to children in the guise of discipline. Parental discipline should help children be grateful to you and not resentful.

It advises in Ephesians 6:1-4 (GNT) ¹Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents, for this is the right thing to do. ² “Respect your father and mother” is the first commandment that has a promise added: ³so that all may go well with you, and you may live a long time in the land.

⁴Parents, do not treat your children in such a way as to make them angry. Instead, raise them with Christian discipline and instruction.

It is open secret of blessing from God to obey and respect parents. Parents want children to be blessed, but parents should discipline their children in godly instructions that they may appreciate later in their life. Most likely, those who ignore parental discipline attract tragic incidents.

Earbuds

It was reported that at one crossing, train light signals were flashing. The horn and bells of the train were loud. Alert individuals pay attention to warnings. But an inattentive woman ignored the loud warning of the train. Her ears were plugged with earbuds. She was also eating “Taquitos.”

The careless woman was walking on the railway. She was knocked down by the train. She was seriously injured and taken to a hospital. Police officers reported that they found illegal drugs in her possession.

With earbuds maybe, the woman was listening to loud music so that she did not hear the loud horn and bells of the train. She may have enjoyed eating “taquitos” so that she did not pay attention to her surroundings.

God has designed parents as examples to train and guide children.

Together, let’s learn from what it advises in Ephesians 6:18, ¹⁸Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

May God grants wisdom to parents and discipline children in godly righteousness. May our children internalize more seriously that obedience and respect to parents could results to so much blessings from God.

May the Lord bless us to be attentive also to his disciplinary teaching. May God bless us to be quick praising him and testify of his love and grace.

<))’> ><))’> tmec\ltsii\2026 <‘((>< <‘((><