Good Fruit

Thoughts on this weeks reading:
Chayei Sarah - חיי שרה : "Life of Sarah"
Torah : Genesis 23:1-25:18
Haftarah : I Kings 1:1-31
Gospel : Matthew 11-12

Good Things of His Master's Hand
Thought for the Week
Eliezer (אליעזר) literally means "God of Help." As Eliezer goes forth to procure a bride for Isaac, he relies on the God of Help to assist him. When we set out to do the work of God, we also must rely on Him for help, especially in the matter of evangelism. After all, we are not trying to make converts to a religious creed; we are trying to change hearts. This is an impossible task for a human being. Even the greatest psychiatrists cannot change the human heart. Therefore, like Eliezer, we rely utterly on God, the God of Help.

Commentary
Then the servant took ten camels from the camels of his master, and set out with a variety of good things of his master's in his hand; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. (Genesis 24:10)

As we go forth, we must bring with us many good things from the household of God. In the midst of a lost and hurting world, we have the goods that people need. What are these good things of our Master's house? They are acts of loving-kindness, forgiveness, wholeness and peace. Many people have never experienced unconditional love. They have never known real kindness, real friendship, real compassion. But these are things we have received in abundance through Messiah, and we can pass them on to others, but only if we bring them with us. This may be the most important part of sharing the Gospel.

Eliezer brought these gifts of his master's household with him in order to establish credibility. If he had simply appeared in Mesopotamia, claiming to be looking for an attractive young girl to bring back to some faraway prince, the men of that place would have driven him away as a scoundrel and kidnapper. So too with us. If we start to speak into people's lives about God and faith without first having evidenced to them the fruit of our faith, they will drive us away as religious nuts. And rightly so. The world today has plenty of religions for sale, each one clamoring for attention like obnoxious salesmen. Consumer, beware!

But a person of genuine faith and conviction is always attractive. A person who lives out his faith and manifests his convictions in godliness and real kindness, without phoniness or pretense, naturally attracts others. What are the good things of our Master's house that we can offer to others to establish credibility? "Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23) The fruit of the Spirit is irresistible to the thirsty soul. St. Francis of Assisi is credited as saying, "Preach the Gospel to everyone, and if necessary, use words."

(taken from FFOZ.org edrash, Chayei Sarah)