For Heaven’s Sake Help Others
I love Johnny Cash. He is my all-time favorite singer. His music is so real and honest, whether he is singing about love, murder, or some other aspect of life. But my favorite Johnny Cash music is his gospel recording. When he first met Sam Phillips of Sun Records, Johnny (born J.R. Cash) wanted to record gospel, but Sam said that wouldn’t sell. So for a number of years Johnny recorded other songs, many of which were big hits at the time, such as “Cry, Cry, Cry,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and “I Walk the Line.” In 1959, he left Sun Records and recorded his first Gospel album with Columbia. He continued recording a variety of songs until he died in 2003.
For Music Monday, I want to share a great old Gospel song by Johnny Cash called “What on earth will you do for heaven’s sake?” The lyrics are:
Would you walk that second mile, turn a frown with a smile?
Would you give a little more than you could take?
Did you shine your little light upon the children of the night?
What on earth will you do for heaven’s sake?
Would you give a little more than you could take?
Did you shine your little light upon the children of the night?
What on earth will you do for heaven’s sake?
Did you feed the poor in spirit and befriend the persecuted?
Did you show the bound how all the chains can break?
Did you sow the proper seed? Do you walk among the weeds?
What on earth will you do for heaven’s sake?
Are you patient with the weak? Are you counted with the meek?
Would you lift a lowly heart or let it break?
Could you give away your shirt and overlook a beggar’s dirt?
What on earth will you do for heaven’s sake?
Johnny Cash could have answered yes to all of these questions. He really had a heart for the persecuted, the poor, and the forsaken.
One of my favorite lines is “Did you show the bound how all the chains can break?” There are so many in this world who are bound by sins such as bitterness and addictions. So often, Christians simply judge such people as being sinners. But we are all sinners, and it is the responsibility of those who are free to show those who are bound by sin how Jesus can break their chains. This is what Jesus did. He walked among the weeds to show them how to become beautiful blooming flowers. That is what Christians should be doing also.
This world is full of people who are lost and hurting, and it is the purpose of the church and each Christian to shine the light of Christ on them so that they might see God’s love for them.
I think we all need to ask ourselves what we would do for heaven’s sake? We need to be willing to lift a lowly heart, to be patient with the weak among us, to be willing to give away our shirt and look to the heart of others rather than see only their beggar’s dirt. We are the hands and feet of Jesus on this earth, and He has called us to share His love, grace, and mercy with the poor in spirit and the persecuted among us.
As we travel through this life on our way towards our heavenly home, we need to make sure we help others along the way. So I challenge you to ask yourself today, what on earth will you do for heaven’s sake?
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Hi Linda,
Thank you for reminding us of what we would do for heaven’s sake. Yesterday our pastor shared 2 quotes by Dietrich Bonhoffer, a pastor who was killed by Hitler, on cheap and costly grace. Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: “ye were bought at a price,” and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God. (http://www.crossroad.to/Persecution/Bonhoffer.html).
I pray that we will never forget God’s amazing grace that set us free from the yoke of slavery. Thank you again for your gentle but firm reminder on what we are willing to do.
In Christ,
Vineet
Vineet, I have read a little bit of what Bonhoffer has written and it is very powerful. He definitely understood the cost of holding onto the grace of God offered through Jesus. And yet, in spite of the cost, the gift of salvation is free for the asking. One need not pay any price or do any acts of service to merit it. But once the gift is received, it compels the recipient to offer service as an act of gratitude. Thanks for sharing what you heard in church yesterday. Peace, Linda
For Heaven’s sake, I will.
“This world is full of people who are lost and hurting, and it is the purpose of the church and each Christian to shine the light of Christ on them so that they might see God’s love for them.”
Thank you Linda. The sooner we realize we’re not all small islands and that we need each other, the better it will be. Prayer is wonderful but acts of kindness won’t hurt either.
Blessings,
ann
Ann, There are so many passages in both the Old Testament and the New Testament in which God makes it clear that taking care of the widows and orphans, the poor and the downtrodden, is a priority for Him. I think it is essential that we make it a priority, too. We do need each other, though being dependent is a stumbling block for many, even Christians. Thanks for being there for me! 🙂 Peace, Linda
This was just beautiful . . .and convicting. And I needed to be convicted, all the time really. I don’t want to forget that I’m not here for me . . .but for His sake. God bless you and your ministry for Him.
Deb, There is a book by Max Lucado called “It’s not about me.” It is a great reminder that it is not about me but what I can do for Jesus and for those He loves. Peace, Linda