How to live life as a Christian, Distributing to the needs of the saints

Just because you’re a Christian, it doesn’t mean you automatically have all the answers on how to live life. But we try our best by reading, praying, studying God’s word, and relying on the Holy Spirit. Even when we are doing all of that, we sometimes struggle to know what the right thing to do is. If we look to scripture, specifically Romans 12, we can find some help. When we look to Romans 12:13 we read that sometimes we need to focus on others and not ourselves. When we are distributing to the needs of the saints we are doing our part in living out the Christian life.

*Every Monday I will post another important aspect from scripture, on how God wants us to live life like a Christian. I will do this until we have covered the whole chapter.*

SCRIPTURE:

Romans 12:13

13distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

BEHAVIOR:

Distributing to the needs of the saints

WHAT AND HOW:

• What does it mean to be distributing to the needs of the saints?
• How does distributing to the needs of the saints, help us to live life as a Christian?

What It Means

What does it means to distribute to the needs of the saints? First of all, distribute to the needs means to help, and secondly, a saint is a believer in Christ. (Ephesians 4:12, Romans 8:26-27) So, it means that we need to help other Christians.

There are many ways that you can do this through. Your church is a good way to do this (I Corinthians 16:1). Most churches have collections, offerings, and groups that cater to helping those who are sick, out of work or can’t work, or have lost a family member, to name a few. Also, on your own you can help a neighbor, friend, or family member whose in need, or you can help a stranger in the grocery store by letting them go in front of you in the check out line, or maybe paying some of their bill if they are short on money.
God will always provide us ways to distribute to the needs of the saints if we ask Him, let Him and wait on Him.

How it Helps us Live the Christian Life

Distributing to the needs of the saints helps us to live life as a Christian because it gives us a purpose. First of all, God has called us to help other saints that are in need. Also, sometime focusing on helping others is exactly what we need to do get through our troubles. This life is bigger than our own problems, and God knows that helping other believers is good for us and for them. Helping other believers is a big part of living the Christian life, and the more we do it the more we understand why we need to do it.

COMING UP:  Given to hospitality

References:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

We hope you search our Free Bible Studies from Christian Fellowshipping for more encouraging ways to fellowship with God and other believes.

ROMANS 12

verses 1-2

​I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

verses 3-8

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

verses 9-16

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

verses 17-21

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.