“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:16-18 ESV)
There are many ways in which we can lay down our lives for others, especially for those in the family of God (referencing “the brothers”). And remember here that when this was written that they did not have the internet and television and smart phones and all the many ways that we have now of communicating with people all over the world. So this was speaking of those who were local to them, especially since it references “seeing” his brother (fellow believer in Christ) in need.
And the reason that I state this is that, in our world today where we can communicate with people all over the world, we are continually being bombarded with requests to help people. And that is not necessarily a bad thing, and we may be led of the Lord to help people in that way, but it can sometimes be overwhelming, too. And sadly, not in every case, there are many scam artists out there who fake their situations in order to scam people out of money which may not actually go to those in need.
And I am not saying that we should not help others who we cannot physically see, but that the Scripture is referencing a fellow believer in Christ who we can physically see his needs. And here again, there are many scam artists among us, too, and many “users” who just use others and who take advantage of others and who fake their needs or who ask for money for one thing while they go and spend it on something else, usually something not good for them. So, just be aware that not everyone is legitimate.
And why do I say all of this? It is because we can be put on “guilt trips” for not helping people who claim to be in need who are not really in need, and we can be put on “guilt trips” if we don’t help everyone who asks us for money. And that is not what is intended here by what this is teaching us. For we, as individuals, can only help so many people, and I believe we should use wisdom and guidance of the Lord in who to help, for we can’t possibly help everyone who asks us for money. So let the Lord be your guide.
But the point here is that if we see a fellow believer in Christ in true need, and if we have the financial means to help him, but we ignore his need because we want to hold on to all that we have, that is not loving others with the love of God, but that is being selfish and greedy. But I do believe that we should use wisdom and discernment in this area, and that we should pray over every situation we are aware of and seek the counsel of the Lord so that we make certain we are acting in good faith in all that we do.
But the bottom line in all of this is that we are to be people who care about the needs of others, and not just their physical needs, but their spiritual needs, too. For this section of Scripture begins with referencing what Jesus did for us on that cross, which was not to meet our financial or physical needs, but which was to meet our need of him as our Savior and our Lord, and of deliverance out of our lives of slavery to sin, and of empowerment of God to now live holy lives, pleasing to God, no longer as slaves to sin but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness, by the grace of God.
And when we give of ourselves and of our time to share with others the truth of the gospel so that they can come to know him, too, we are laying our lives down for the brothers and for all people because we are now subject to being hated, rejected, cast aside, unwanted, abandoned, and mistreated for the sake of the name of Jesus, and for the sake of his gospel, and for the sake of righteousness. For not even all who call themselves Christians will receive us if we are sharing with them the truth of the Scriptures.
So, listen to the Lord. Let him be your guide in this. Be sensitive to the needs of others, but also exercise wisdom and good judgment. Realize that there are many different ways in which we can help people in need and so trust the Lord to show you what he has in mind for you to do. Like in some cases it is better to buy people food than to give them money. Or maybe we could teach them a skill which would help them to get a job. For we have to look at what the real needs are, and not just on a surface level.
But be those who are sharing the truth of the gospel of our salvation with others and who are ministering to the body of Christ spiritually, too. For we are called of God to encourage and to exhort one another, and to speak the truth in love to one another, and to warn each other against walking in sin, and against false teachings and false teachers, and against scam artists who want to take advantage of us and others for no good purpose. So do not neglect the spiritual needs of other Christians, either.
[Matt 5:13-16; Matt 28:18-20; Jn 4:31-38; Jn 13:13-17; Jn 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:14-18; Acts 26:18; Rom 10:14-15; Rom 12:1-8; Rom 15:14; 1 Co 12:1-31; 1 Co 14:1-5; Eph 4:1-16; Eph 5:11-27; Php 2:1-8; Col 3:16; Heb 3:13; Heb 10:23-25; 1 Pet 2:9,21; 1 Jn 2:6]
He Gives Purpose
An Original Work / June 9, 2012
“Listen to Me when I’m calling to you.
Obey freely My word.
Follow Me in all of My ways.
Do all that I say.
Hear Me gently whisper to you
My will for your life and future.
Give all of your life and heart to
Follow Me always.”
Repent of your sins and worship Jesus.
He’s your Lord and Master.
He died for your sins so you could
Live with Him today.
He has a plan for your life and
He gives purpose and direction.
He gives meaning to your life,
So follow Him today.
“I love you so much I gave My life for
You to walk in My ways,
Living for Me each day as you
Bow to Me and pray.
Witness for Me of your love for Me and
Of My grace and mercy,
How I died to save you of your
Sins now and always.”
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