Daily Reading: 2 September

(from www.christianaid.org.uk)

Value other people as a gift from God.

Something to read

‘Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above…’

- James 1:17 from full reading James 1:17-27.

Something. to think about

So often in life we treat things, acquire them and dispose of them as though they were ours. James reminds us that everything we do and all that we have not only comes from above, but is all a gift.

Our time, energy, love, compassion and generosity are all found firstly in God and it is thanks to Jesus that we have an idea of what love truly looks like. It can be tempting to treat things and even people as though we had ownership of them, or as if once they serve our need they are redundant to us. We tread on dangerous ground when we begin to treat people like things, and things like people.

All things come from God, even those things which we think we have produced and therefore assume we own. If we believe that to be true, we should treat all things as precious and people even more so – for they are God’s gifts to us and the world.

Something to do

As you go about life today, try to be thankful for the people around you, and for the gifts they bring. Be grateful to God for what you have and reflect on how you treat your belongings.

Something to pray

Gracious God, help me to see all things as coming from you, and to live with rejoicing in your care for creation.

Amen.

Today’s contributor is the Rev Jarel Robinson-Brown, who, at the time of writing, is a Methodist Minister serving in the London District, Lesnes Abbey Circuit.