Tag: Compassion

Living in the Image of God, What The Lord Has Given Us

Wealth, Treasures, and Compassion

Living in the Image of God M06S10

This bible study discusses Christ teaching regarding wealth, treasures, and compassion; to cap this year’s study series on using “what the Lord has given us” to provide for “needs that he will show us.” Christ gives the teaching in responding to the same question in two separate events. In each event, he was asked what an individual must do to inherit eternal life. In one event, Christ responds with the Parable of Good Samaritan. In the other event, he responds with the analogy of the “rich versus the kingdom of God.” We discuss the two responses to understand that they are the same. Although, the specific information that Jesus provides in each response is different, the responses convey exactly the same message: apply the wealth that God has given you to provide for needs that he will show you and he will grant you eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

This bible study ends the series on “what the Lord has given us;” with a discussion of Christ teaching regarding compassion, God’s purpose for personal wealth, and the role of compassion and wealth in human interactions and relationships. He provides the teaching as a response to the same question in two events. In one event, a teacher of the Law asked what a person must do to inherit eternal life [Luke 10:25]: “On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” Jesus responds with the Parable of Good Samaritan. In another event, the same question was posed by an ordinary citizen [Matthew 19:16]: “Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?’” Jesus responds with the analogy of “the rich versus the kingdom of God.”

We discuss the two responses to understand that they provide the same message. The two responses convey a message regarding compassion, God’s purpose for wealth, and the role of compassion and wealth in human interactions and relationships: apply the wealth that God has given you to provide for needs that he will show you and he will grant you eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

Program Note

The 2025 program year of the Banking Blessings Ministry ends with this bible study session. We will take a break to prepare for the 2026 program year, which we pray will start during the last week of February. Thank you for participating with us this year. We look forward to welcoming you and many others to the program next year.

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Individual Responsibility, Living in the Image of God

Sharing Things

Living in the Image of God M05S21

The study discusses the message of sharing from Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Apostle Paul to understand that sharing involves sacrificing something to benefit others in need. Sharing means caring for self-interest and the interest of others simultaneously, by recognizing that two or more can benefit from a supply of goods or service, either owned individually or collectively. Consistent with Christ teaching on compassion, a person earns blessing by giving up something to provide for others in need; that is, blessing through sharing by accepting less to accommodate the interest of others. Thus, sharing breeds goodwill because God blesses those that sacrifice something to benefit others in need. Therefore, a person that provides something for people to share has provided them an opportunity to share goodwill. This philosophy of goodwill by sharing is captured by a saying among Ndigbo of Nigeria that he who brings kola brings life. Life comes from sharing kola because of goodwill that comes from each participant accepting less so that others may get a share.

Sharing Things 20:43

This study seeks better understanding that God associates sharing with sacrifice and compassion. Sharing means caring for self-interest and the interest of others simultaneously and often involves accepting less so that others may get a share, from a supply of goods or service owned collectively or individually.

We discuss God’s message regarding sharing from Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Apostle Paul: to understand that God blesses those that share what they have to benefit the interest of others. Sharing is equivalent to sacrificing something in order to provide for the need of others. Therefore, consistent with Christ teaching on compassion, God blesses those that share what they have to benefit others in need.

Sharing breeds goodwill, because people provide mutual opportunities to earn blessing when they share things. Thus, a person that provides something for people to share has provided them an opportunity to share goodwill. This philosophy of goodwill by sharing is captured by a saying among Ndigbo of Nigeria that he who brings kola brings life. Each participant in sharing kola often accepts less so that others may get a share, which means the participants make mutual sacrifice to extend the benefits to others. Life comes from sharing kola because of goodwill that comes from sharing.

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Individual Responsibility, Living in the Image of God

Letter on Christian Living—Paul to Ephesians

Living in the Image of God M05S19

Paul’s letter to Ephesians regarding Christian living provides a three-part message. The first part is a call to Christian living, where he calls every person to depart from sin and turn to Living in the Image of God. Christian living is based on the understanding that God creates every person to represent him in human interactions with others: to interact with others as God would interact with them if he lived in human form among them. The second part of the message declares that the Holy Spirit is our partner for Christian living and enables a person to receive and follow God’s guidance to fulfill his purpose for you in every situation. Paul provides advice on being filled with the Holy Spirit, to understand God’s purpose for you in interactions with others. The third segment of the message provides examples to illustrate the individual responsibilities in human interactions for Christian living; specifically, regarding compassion, peace, mercy, and motivation for and practice of righteousness.

Letter on Christian Living—Paul to Ephesians 22:23

In this bible study, we discuss a section of Paul’s letter to Ephesians, where he provides a three-part message regarding Christian living. The first part of the message is a call to Christian living. Paul calls every person to depart from sin and turn to Living in the Image of God: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” [Ephesians 4: 22–24].

The second part of the message explains that God provides the Holy Spirit as partner in Christian living [Ephesians 5:17–19]: “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.”

In the third part of the message, Paul provides examples to describe the individual responsibilities in human interactions for Christian living. The examples include compassion, peace, mercy, motivation for righteousness, and several examples regarding practice of righteousness [Ephesians 5:4–5]: “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”

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Living in the Image of God

By the Name and Power and for a Purpose of Jesus

Living in the Image of God M05S03

In an interaction with the Sanhedrin (council of Jewish rulers, elders and teachers of the law), Peter and John explained their healing a lame man as an act of compassion motivated by care and accomplished by the name and power of Jesus. That is, human actions of Peter and John by faith of the name and power of Jesus led to a miracle that healed the lame man. Their explanation conveys a message: that an act of compassion motivated by care of the needy fulfills God’s purpose and will be accomplished by the name and power of God. Therefore, in a call to compassion (when you are alerted to provide goods or service to benefit others in need), focus on doing what you can humanly do; because your task belongs to God and he will work through your human effort to accomplish his goal.

By the Name and Power and for a Purpose of Jesus 18:21

We discuss Peter-and-John explanation of their healing a lame man: to understand their message of compassion, that an act of compassion motivated by care of the needy fulfills God’s purpose and will be accomplished by the name and power of God. Peter and John were brought to the Sanhedrin (council of Jewish rulers, elders and teachers of the law) to explain their healing a lame man [Acts 4:7]: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

They explained that the healing was “an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame” [Acts 4:9] and accomplished “by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth” [Acts 4:10]. That is, human actions of Peter and John by faith of the name and power of Jesus led to a miracle that healed the lame man.

Their explanation to the Sanhedrin conveys a message that an act of compassion is a task of God and will be accomplished by the name and power of God, through a combination of human effort and miracles. Therefore, in a call to compassion, focus on doing what you can humanly do, because your task belongs to God and he will work through your human effort to accomplish his goal.

As we discuss previously under Managing Expectation in a Call to Compassion (M05S02), a call to compassion means that God alerts a person to the need of another and calls the person to recognize the need and needy, care about the needy, commit to providing goods or service to alleviate the need, and persevere in seeking to do so. Peter and John recognized the lame man’s need, cared about him, committed to doing what they could to alleviate his need, and persevered by faith of the name and power of God to accomplish the objective.

We discuss their interactions with the man as a series of step-by-step human actions that culminated in a miracle healing of the lame man.

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Living in the Image of God

Managing Expectation in a Call to Compassion

Living in the Image of God M05S02

Peter and John encountered a lame beggar at the temple gate in Jerusalem. The man was there to solicit financial help and expected money from them. However, they could not offer money but recognized they could offer him healing in the name of Jesus. They managed his expectation, by explaining to him that the nature of what they could offer differed from what he expected. Managing beneficiary expectation in a call to compassion is important, to enhance beneficiary appreciation and prepare them for their responsibility of propagating the benefit of the service through others in need. Having modified the man’s expectation, Peter and John offered him a helping hand, which he accepted and was healed instantly. He showed appreciation by following the apostles through the temple court; jumping, dancing, and praising God; in a public testimony regarding his healing.

Managing Expectation in a Call to Compassion 19:41

In this bible study, we discuss managing expectations in a call to compassion, based on Peter-and-John interactions with a lame man they healed in Jerusalem. Peter and John were going to the temple for prayer when they encountered a lame beggar at the temple gate. The man was there to solicit financial assistance and expected a gift of money from them. They, however, realized they could not offer money but instead could offer him healing in the name of Jesus. They managed the man’s expectation, by explaining that the nature of what they could offer him differed from what he expected.

Managing beneficiary expectation in a call to compassion is important: to help the beneficiary understand what is being offered and prepare them to appreciate the offer better. Beneficiary appreciation is important to prepare themselves for their responsibility of propagating the benefit of the human service through others in need.

The lame man understood what they were offering him before accepting their offer. They offered him a helping hand, which he accepted knowing that the hand was not presenting an offer of money. He was healed instantly. He showed appreciation by following the apostles through the temple court; jumping, dancing, and praising God; in a public testimony regarding his healing.

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Individual Responsibility, Living in the Image of God

Individual Responsibility for Positive Human Interaction: Summary of Responsibilities

Living in the Image of God M04S11

Previous studies in this program lead to understanding that God assigns individual responsibilities to people based on creating every person to represent him in human interactions with others. He assigns individual responsibilities regarding positive reputation, i.e., visibility of human value; care and diligence, i.e., in a call to compassion; appreciation; peace; humility; protection of civil rights; and individual responsibilities regarding faith and human effort. We provide a condensed discussion of the responsibilities to better understand the human implications of Christ teaching regarding final judgment: that God will accept into his kingdom those, and only those, that perform their individual responsibilities in human interactions and relationships.

Individual Responsibility for Positive Human Interaction: Summary of Responsibilities 21:19

We learned in the preceding bible study (Individual Responsibility for Positive Human Interaction: Continuous Living) that God will accept into his kingdom those he judges as people that perform their individual responsibilities in human interactions and relationships. In contrast, he will not accept those he judges as people that decline their individual responsibilities. Also, we know that God assigns individual responsibilities based on creating every person to represent him in human interactions with others. This bible study provides a condensed discussion of the individual responsibilities based on previous studies in this program.

We discuss the individual responsibilities regarding positive reputation, i.e., visibility of human value; care and diligence, i.e., in a call to compassion; appreciation; peace; humility; protection of civil rights; and individual responsibilities regarding faith and human effort.

We discuss each of these aspects of the individual responsibilities in enough details to understand the human implications of Christ teaching regarding final judgment: that God will accept into his kingdom those that perform their individual responsibilities in human interactions and relationships; but will not accept those that decline the responsibilities; based on how he sees a person at the time. A more-detailed discussion of each aspect of the individual responsibilities is available at the Banking Blessings Ministry website under Individual Responsibility Series.

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Individual Responsibility, Living in the Image of God

Individual Responsibility Regarding Appreciation

Living in the Image of God M04S04

Christ teaching, based on his interactions with healing recipients, conveys a message that appreciation and public testimony regarding appreciation are important in human interactions and relationships. When God calls a person to provide goods or service to benefit another in need, he also calls the beneficiary to receive the goods and service with appreciation. He calls the beneficiary to appreciate the human provider and appreciate God in thankful recognition that he positioned and empowered others to assist as they can. An appreciating beneficiary could motivate others that in turn motivate chains of more others; thus, generating a network of provider-receiver interactions growing in time and space.

M04S04 Individual Responsibility Regarding Appreciation 15:45

This study focuses on understanding the responsibility of the beneficiary in a call to compassion. Recall that the beneficiary is the receiver of goods and service provided by others to alleviate his or her need. The beneficiary has a responsibility to appreciate the goods and service, appreciate the human provider, and appreciate God for empowering the provider. Further, every person has a responsibility to appreciate others for their intrinsic value as potentially God’s representative in a future human interaction.

We discuss Christ teaching regarding appreciation, based on his interactions with healing recipients. The bible provides accounts of his interactions with the woman healed of persistent bleeding, a man healed of leprosy, and another man freed from demons. His interactions regarding their healing convey a message that appreciation and public testimony regarding appreciation are important in human interactions and relationships. His teaching leads to an understanding that when God calls a person to provide goods or service to benefit another in need, he also calls the beneficiary to receive the goods and service with appreciation. He calls the beneficiary to appreciate the benefactor (that is, the human provider) and appreciate God in thankful recognition that he positioned and empowered the benefactor to provide goods or service to benefit the needy.

An appreciating beneficiary could motivate others that in turn motivate chains of more others. If you appreciate a person, you would be polite to them; respectful of them; and attentive to their needs and communication. Also, you would appreciate God for connecting you with them and empowering them to interact with you. You would be motivated to be good to them and others and, as a result, motivate others that motivate chains of more others. Thus, appreciation of a single act of compassion could generate a network of provider-receiver interactions growing in time and space.

Furthermore, God calls every person to appreciate others for their intrinsic value as potentially his representative in future human interactions. Therefore, every person has an individual responsibility to appreciate others for their intrinsic human value; appreciate goods or service received from others; appreciate the human provider of such goods or service; and appreciate God for empowering others to participate in positive human interactions and relationships.

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Individual Responsibility, Living in the Image of God

Individual Responsibility in Call to Compassion

Living in the Image of God M04S03

Christ teaching in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats and an earlier message through Prophet Isaiah provide an understanding of the individual responsibility in a call to compassion. When God directs a person to an opportunity to provide goods or service to benefit others in need, he calls the person to recognize the need, care about the needy, commit to contributing goods or service to alleviate the need, and persevere in seeking to contribute. He promises blessing for those that complete their responsibility in a call to compassion but punishment for those that decline theirs.

M04S03 Individual Responsibility in Call to Compassion 19:41

We discuss Christ teaching in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31–46) and an earlier message through Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 58:7–9) to understand the individual responsibility in a call to compassion. As we discuss in previous studies (e.g., Responsibility in Call to Compassion), a call to compassion is when God directs a person’s attention to the need of another person less able to provide for the need. Through the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, Christ defines the individual responsibility in a call to compassion: recognize the need and needy, care about the needy, be motivated by care to commit to contributing goods or service to alleviate the need, and persevere in seeking to contribute.

He uses the parable to provide a message of people serving God by serving other people. He categorizes as righteous, people that serve God by providing goods or service to benefit other people in need: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” [Matthew 25:40]. Also, he uses the parable to explain that a person declines a call to serve God when he or she declines assistance to another person in need: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me” [Matthew 25:45]. Regarding a call to compassion, the phrase “the least of these” means the needy (i.e., a person that has a need but is less able to provide for the need).

God promises blessing for those that complete their responsibility in a call to compassion: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” [Matthew 25:34] (also, see his promise in Isaiah 58:8–9). In contrast, he promises punishment for the others (i.e., those that decline responsibility in a call to compassion): “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” [Matthew 25:41].

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From the Gospel, Living in the Image of God

Individual Responsibility Regarding Human Capabilities

Living in the Image of God M03S20

Christ teaching in the Parable of the Talents provides understanding that God distributes portions of his resources as grants of human capabilities to every person; which he expects all to deploy toward their individual responsibility to themselves, others, and the environment. He expects every person to do this the same way he would, if he were to manage human responsibilities and capabilities directly in human form. Further, he expects every person to expand and diversify their human capabilities by using them, rewards those that do, and punishes those that stagnate theirs by declining opportunities to use them.

Individual Responsibility Regarding Human Capabilities 20:53

We discuss Christ teaching in the Parable of the Talents to understand that God distributes portions of his resources among people as grants of human capabilities: to empower every person to perform their individual responsibility to themselves, others, and the environment. He expects every person to deploy the resources he grants to them toward their individual responsibility, the same way he would if he managed human responsibilities and capabilities directly in human form. Also, he expects every person to expand and diversify their capabilities by using them.

Further, Christ explains through the parable that God recognizes two human categories based on what a person does with the capabilities he granted to them. One category is the righteous. These are people that use their capabilities and expand and diversify them as a result. The other category is the wicked, which are people that stagnate their capabilities by refusing to use them. God rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked.

This understanding of the Parable of the Talents is based on Matthew 25:14–30 and enriched by our previous discussion of Living in the Image of God.

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From the Gospel, Living in the Image of God

Against Hypocrisy

Living in the Image of God M03S19

We discuss Christ teaching against hypocrisy through two events in the bible. First, in the Sermon on the Mount, he describes hypocrisy in terms of the motivation for doing something. He provides examples to distinguish between motivation that pleases God and motivation that displeases him. An act of worship or righteousness pleases God if motivated by seeking to fulfill his purpose. Other motivations displease him, such as seeking recognition, admiration, or honor. The second event is an address to his disciples and followers regarding relationship with Teachers of the Law, where he highlights two aspects of the individual responsibility in interactions with authority—respect for authority and rejection of hypocrisy.

Discuss Christ Teaching Against Hypocrisy 21:50

In this bible study, we discuss Christ teaching against hypocrisy using information from two events in the bible. The first event is the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). He devotes a good part of the sermon (Matthew 6:1–18) to hypocrisy. He describes hypocrisy in terms of the motivation for doing something, using examples to distinguish between motivation that pleases God and motivation that displeases him. He explains that an act of worship or righteousness pleases God if motivated by seeking to fulfill his purpose. Any other motivation amounts to hypocrisy. Acts of worship or righteousness do not please God if motivated by seeking human recognition, admiration, or honor.

The second event is another major teaching when Christ addressed his disciples and followers regarding their relationship with Teachers of the Law. The address is at times referred to as the Seven Woes (Matthew 23). We focus on the first part of the address, where he highlights two aspects of the individual responsibility regarding interactions with authority. The first is the responsibility to respect and heed the authority and the second is the responsibility to recognize and reject hypocrisy that could manifest with people in authority.

Our discussion of hypocrisy includes an examination of a current event with a focus on understanding the motivation for doing something. Are you motivated by Living in the Image of God: recognizing that God has a purpose for you in every situation and seeking to advance his purpose through your response? Or, are you motivated by a desire for human recognition, admiration, or honor? The answer may not be binary; because human recognition, admiration, or honor could be associated with an objective motivated by Living in the Image of God. However, we expect our discussion to advance understanding and bring us closer to God’s purpose.

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