Saturday, June 4, 2016

Alma 1:30 -- On Helping Everyone

"And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need."
Alma 1:30


This is something to aspire to.  Usually the pride cycle that we see in the scriptures (and in life) is prosperity --> pride --> evil --> tragedy and loss --> poverty --> humility --> obedience --> good --> prosperity --> pride, etc.  Keeps cycling.  But here, these people were able to freeze the cycle in goodness for a while and not jump straight to pride.  Instead, they got to prosperity and they remained good, and they helped the people around them.

I really like also that it points out that there was no respect of persons going on as to those who stood in need.  They didn't just help people in the church, or who were similar to them.  They helped people in need... all of them, whoever they could help.  That's a good message for us to remember, in the midst of a society that seems to be more and more polarized about who does and does not deserve our compassion and assistance.

Today, let's not let the pride cycle move us towards the dark side.  Let's be thoroughly good, blessing and helping the people around us as much as humanly possible.  Let's help where we see a need, and leave the judging in God's hands.

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