Dorcas,
the untold truth of the Bible hero.
Bible stories explained.
Tabitha, or Dorcas, as she was popularly called,
was a disciple of Jesus, and a part of the early church.
She lived in Joppa,
but her giving attitude was widely known.
Her identity was that of a very generous woman
who was excited to be a part of God's kingdom advancement.
And loved to take care of the needy around her.
The Bible says that she was doing acts of kindness to people
and was regular and consistent.
She gave clothes, money, and so much more.
"Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha.
Which by interpretation is called Dorcas.
This woman was full of good works
and almsdeeds which she did.
And it came to pass in those days,
that she was sick and died.
Whom, when they had washed,
they laid her in an upper chamber.
And for as much as Lydda was nigh to Joppa,
and the disciples had heard that Peter was there,
they sent unto him two men.
Desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
Then, Peter arose and went with them.
When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber.
And all the widows stood by him weeping.
And shewing the coats and garments
which Dorcas made while she was with them.
But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down and prayed.
And turning him to the body said, 'Tabitha, arise.'
And she opened her eyes.
And when she saw Peter, she sat up.
And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up.
And when he had called the saints and widows,
presented her alive.
And it was known throughout all Joppa,
and many believed in the Lord."
Acts 9:36-42.
What must have distinguished her was her manner of giving
which was built on selflessness.
And not on the need to virtue signal or act good.
1 Timothy 6:17-19.
"Command those who are rich in this present world
not to be arrogant, nor to put their hope in wealth,
which is so uncertain.
But to put their hope in God,
who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds.
And to be generous and willing to share.
In this way, they will lay up treasure
for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age.
So that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."
Generosity towards the things that please God is another way
of expressing our honor to him.
Proverbs 3:9 and 10.
"Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the first fruits of all your crops.
Then your barns will be filled to overflowing.
And your vats will brim over with new wine."
When giving to the less privileged,
making it as dignified as possible is essential.
We must never make the recipients feel they are disturbing
or represent a burden.
Dorcas didn't treat them like she was doing them a favor.
This is how she endeared herself so much to the people.
Then when she fell ill and eventually passed on,
it caused an uproar.
She was too much of an asset as a loving mother figure
that they wanted her alive.
"Give and it shall be given unto you.
Good measure, press down, and shaken together,
and running over, shall men give into your bosom.
For with the same measure that you mete withal,
it shall be measured to you again."
Luke 6:38.
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart,
so let him give.
Not grudgingly, or of necessity,
for God loveth the cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you,
that ye always having all sufficiency in all things,
may abound to every good work."
So, what are some lessons that we can glean
from this great lady called Dorcas?
Number one,
giving makes us become more like our Father in heaven.
One of the greatest characteristics of our God
is that he is a giver.
The fact that we are alive is a testimony
of his giving grace.
God gives, gives, and never stops giving.
Nobody could ever measure up to our Father in giving.
When we allow ourselves to begin to share
what we have with others,
we will start living out the nature of our Father
that is on the inside of us.
That truth must have been rooted in the heart of Dorcas.
Number two, giving destroys selfishness,
as it makes us focus on others.
Man is naturally selfish,
and will want to keep all that he gets for himself.
The rich fool in the Bible hoarded all of his harvest.
And that very night, God required his soul from him.
God is always honored when we consider others,
and refuse to yield to a lifestyle of greed.
Number three, giving opens doors for us
to receive much more than we have given.
"Give and it shall be given unto you.
Good measure, press down, and shaken together,
and running over, shall men give into your bosom.
For with the same measure that you mete withal,
it shall be measured to you again."
Luke 6:38.
In God's kingdom, and even in the natural world around us,
harvest will always follow seed time.
That is God's unchanging principle.
When we sow, we can be rest assured that we will reap.
Number four,
giving turns us to witnesses of God's faithfulness.
When we allow ourselves to become instruments
in God's hands to channel his resources,
we will automatically impact lives
till they are drawn into the kingdom of God.
God's favor and blessings upon our own lives
will also stir the hearts of men to open themselves up
to the saving grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
This is exactly what happened through the life of Dorcas.
God wants to use us to reach unto others
through our good works.
It is possible to live a life that counts
and brings advancement to God's kingdom,
without necessarily being in the center of every happening,
or shining under the spotlight.
The Bible is full of people
who put up so much of their substance,
just to see the light of God's counsel shine
into the hearts of many people,
that darkness had controlled for too long.
Matthew 6:19-25.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moths and vermin destroy.
And where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.
Where moths and vermin do not destroy.
And where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.
When a man found it, he hid it again.
And then in his joy, went and sold all he had,
and bought that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
looking for fine pearls.
When he found one of great value,
he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."
This is why we are introduced to someone called Dorcas
in the scriptures.
Without elaborate references
to any of the relationships she had,
the impact of her works could not be skipped.
Let us pray.
Father, I thank you for sending Jesus to me.
Thank you for giving your son's life
on the cross of Calvary for my salvation.
By doing this, he has taught me
to give my best to you, also.
Please grant me the grace not to withhold
more than is necessary.
In the name of Jesus, I ask that you help me
to open my heart and hands for the benefit of others.
I give you praise and glory
for molding me into your very nature.
In Jesus' name, I pray, amen.