Happy New Year to all of you again! Yes, it is 2022! Praise God!
So, on this New Year’s Day, I want to encourage you to start this new year with a good work, by giving to Ethiopia!
In the context of the current Ethiopian situation, our hearts may fail as we are unable to see any bright days to come. But bright days and good days will come to our homeland, Ethiopia, and our people, Ethiopians regardless of what we see and feel; but only IF we God’s people do what is right.
What is the right thing to do at this point?
If you ask me, the one right thing at this point to do for Ethiopia and our suffering people is to GIVE!
Yes, let’s give what we can give!
And when we give, let’s trust God to use our gifts to bless our people. Know that it is not our money that blesses others but God. Our gifts won’t restore our country at this point but God! Let’s always keep this truth in our hearts.
“This is what the Lord says:
Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who draws strength from mere flesh
and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”” Jeremiah 17:5-8 NIV
Notice, it says, “they will not see prosperity when it comes.” Who are they? Those who do not trust in God! But those who trust in God see prosperity when it comes.
Also, when we give, let’s give to be a channel for God’s blessings to come through and reach our homeland and our people, not so we get more money.
“Give and you shall be given” verse was preached to us many times so we became not generous but greedy and stingy! We give knowing primarily that God blesses our gifts to the people who are receiving them.
According to the whole counsel of God, our needs are well taken care of by our Shepherd (Psalm 23:1). Our giving shows that we received everything we have from God and we trust God for all our present and future needs and that what we have won’t determine our fate but God!
And when we give (in foreign currency), let’s use a direct method to exchange our money, not black market. I mean, how can we ask God to bless our gifts while we use black market to exchange our money? No brainer! A person, who does not know God, exchanges money in black market. What about a person who is a new creation in Christ Jesus?
The word of God says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 NIV
We cannot follow the pattern of this world! We are new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
You see, the Bible calls us “a holy nation.” Do you know why? Because by our deeds we “declare the praises of him who called” us “out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
How can we declare the praises of God by going to a black market like the people of this dark world?
Yes, I confess, I admit. In the past, I too used black market to exchange dollars to birr (Ethiopian currency), but I confessed and repented of my sins. Praise God! So, here I am encouraging you guys to do the same.
The word of God says,
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
So, my friends, let’s you and I turn from our wicked ways and express our trust in God by giving what we have to our people who are in need.
May God bless this New Year to you and your whole household! May God make this year to you a year of blessing in all areas of your life! And may God remember all your good deeds in your time of spiritual, mental and physical needs! ///