Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord. – Proverbs 19:17
After 66 days at sea, including sailing through treacherous storms, the Mayflower finally reached America. The Pilgrims had intended to settle in the northern parts of the existing Virginia Colony. But fierce winds blew them far north to Cape Cod in the Massachusetts area. If the Pilgrims had arrived there years earlier, they would have been met by the fierce Patuxet Indian tribe which would have probably killed them. But in 1617, a plague mysteriously wiped out the tribe except for one man: Squanto. He had been in England at the time of the outbreak. Squanto returned to the area just before the Pilgrims arrived to find his entire tribe gone. So the land was abandoned and open—a prime situation for the Pilgrims.
Squanto lived with the Pilgrims and accepted their Christian faith. He taught them how to live in the New World. Pilgrim Governor William Bradford described Squanto as “a special instrument sent of God for their good.” He taught the Pilgrims to fertilize their cornfields with shad from nearby streams and to add beans and squash once the corn shoots had broken the ground. He taught them how to catch eel from the creek and riverbeds. This was a delicacy to the hungry Pilgrims. Squanto served as their interpreter and facilitated a peaceful pact with the nearby Wampanoag Indians which lasted for more than fifty years.
God calls you to be generous with your time and talents, to help others in need. When you do, thank Him for allowing you to be a vessel of His love and mercy. Pray that Christians across the nation will do the same.
Today’s Verse: Proverbs 19:17
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will repay him for his deed.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 1 Peter 4:10-11; 1 Timothy 6:17-19
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
