Sacrifical Providing for those in need

“The love of God is sacrificial: ‘For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich’ (2 Cor. 8:9). Such an attitude on the part of the Son of God toward the eternal riches must, if reproduced in the Christian, affect largely his attitude toward earthly riches… Thus the mighty heart of God may be manifested in a human life, and this one word ‘love,’ together with the other eight words which indicate the fruit of the Spirit, is a representation of true Christian character. The other eight words, when traced in the Scriptures, will also prove to be divine graces which are realized in the human heart only as they are imparted… These divine graces are not produced in every Christian’s heart. They are produced in those who are ‘by the Spirit walking.’” He That is Spiritual, L. S. Chafer.

Over the last thirteen years of my ministry at Grace Community Church and community in which it resides, I have learned quite a bit about the needs of others and learning to love those who are in poverty by trying to help them. Many each day even in the United States of America are without food each week or very little. It is a tough and sad time to see those who do not have, for one reason or another. It’s just sad.

As I read this passage from Chafer, it caused me to reflect upon the statement of Paul in 2 Corinthians 8:9, “though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” If Jesus, who has and had everything, could take His life and come to this earth in lowliness, how should the Christian’s life be a reflection of His? I know that it doesn’t mean that each of us is to live a life of poverty to better identify with Jesus. In fact I’ll take it one step further so we might understand what he is saying. If we do have those things in life called riches, why can’t we take the time to love people enough to see their needs and try to help those? I think this is what true Christian character is as defined by Jesus. Remember 1 John 3:17, “But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?” or in James 2:15-16, “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?”

Just think of what the world would look like? What if garage sales (which are ways to get rid of things we really don’t need any more and seek to make some extra cash) were converted to bringing to those who were in need? What if our food banks in churches were stocked with so much food because each family decided to get a little extra (because they could) and bring it into the storehouse? And not even the stuff on sale or closeout?

I think then our communities would look a little different. Those who don’t have would have. Those who have needs might be met, rather than us hanging on to things and trying to justify some way of getting rid of them accumulated over time and will never use again. We are a nation that could effect change, and it could start by the church leading the way! Think about something you have today that you don’t use (not your junk) and find someone who could use it. Then show your love and compassion for your fellow man by providing for them.

Proverbs 19:17 says this in closing, “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”

Being the Presence of the Almighty

“…the love of God is without end: ‘Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end’ (eternally, John 31:3). The love of God in the believer is said to ‘suffer long’ and then is kind.” He That is Spiritual, L. S. Chafer.

This last week as we were away on a cruise ship to the Western Caribbean, I spent a few hours on the muster deck of the ship reading a book by one of my favorite pastors, John MacArthur. The book is entitled “Alone with God.” The deck at sea this day was quiet with only a few walkers doing their daily laps to help them curb their eating guilt. My wife had taken the time to do a few laps around the ship (making each round about ¼ of a mile) while I read. The breeze quietly moved across the deck where I was seated in a comfortable deck chair making the sea air soothing and refreshing to breathe. The waves breaking against the front of the ship were calm by the time they moved across mid-ship where I was seated as I felt the ship rise and fall.

Before I began reading, I spent was praying. I was thanking the Lord for the vacation we had, the beautiful ocean I saw passing by, and several other things which were in the forefront of my mind. After finishing, I began to read. As I read Chapter 1, something which spoke to me about the awesome privilege of prayer.

MacArthur talked about the essence of prayer and said this: “For Christians prayer is like breathing. You don’t have to think to breathe because the atmosphere exerts pressure on your lungs and forces you to breathe. That’s why it is more difficult to hold your breath than it is to breathe. Similarly, when you’re born into the family of God, you enter into a spiritual atmosphere wherein God’s presence and grace exert pressure, or influence, on your life. Prayer is the normal response to that pressure. As believers we have all entered the divine atmosphere to breathe the air of prayer. Only then can we survive in the darkness of the world. Unfortunately many believers hold their spiritual breaths for long periods, thinking brief moments with God are sufficient to allow them to survive. But such restricting of their spiritual intake is caused by sinful desires. The fact is, every believer must be continually in the presence of God, constantly breathing in His truths to be fully functional.”

While reading, I could sense the presence of God during that time, being away from all the chaos in the world I consistently live. But somehow, the presence of God seemed to be so near. How is it that He felt so near in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico and not in St. Augustine? Have I been holding my breath in the real world back at home? Of course this isn’t true but it seemed like it. Maybe it was because this was the first time I had to get away from the “darkness of the world?” Is it possible to be in God’s atmosphere and presence back in reality? Of course, but sometimes it makes it very difficult though. I admit like most Christians that my prayer life could be better and want to be better. I think most real Christians would agree on this point, but what if we treated it like breathing air? What happens when we try to do without breathing for too long? We can’t do it!

This is the way our Heavenly Father has shown us His great love for us. He wants to connect with us throughout our day, every day, not times when we get away. He wants us to be in connection with Him just like breathing air. And when we manufacture times of prayer, they really aren’t the type He seeks. They are normally just 911 prayers, seeking His intervention and leaving it all to Him to do something about and take care of the issues. When we pray each day, we are asking for the Almighty to intervene with Heaven’s power. Let’s face it, God really doesn’t need us; we need Him. We are the recipients of blessing, not Him!

Excerpt from: John F. MacArthur Jr., Alone with God, MacArthur Study Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1995), 13.

Acts of Love in the Father's Name"...

“…the love of God is toward His Spirit born-children. ‘Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life’ (Rom. 5:9-10); ‘Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it’ (Eph. 5:25). He loves His own even though they are wandering away, as is revealed in the return of the ‘prodigal son.’ ‘If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us’ (1 John 4:12). By this divine compassion the Christian proves his reality before the world: ‘A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, of ye have love for one another’ (John 13:34-35). Such divine love is also the test of our brotherhood in Christ: ‘Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother hath need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?’ (1 John 3:16); ‘We know we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren’ (1 John 3:14).” He That is Spiritual, L. S. Chafer.

For last several years, the Lord has been quietly dealing with me about the things we are so richly blessed with. This caused me to look upon those who are in my path who are in need. It is strikingly obvious to me when there is a need as the prompting from the Holy Spirit says quietly to me; “You have the ability to help this person.” It is then I decide if I want to be obedient to the prompting or not. I have tried pretty hard in the past few years to be obedient to those times of prompting. Let’s face it, there are too many times in my past whereby I saw it and ignored it. Now I’m not talking about the people who are standing on the street corners begging for food or money in this case (the Lord knows who are genuine in their needs and those who want us to support an addiction). What I’m talking about are those who are in genuine need that pass us each and every day and we fail to open our closets, our hearts, and sometimes even our wallets to help them.

Just think of what society would be like if everyone did their part to help the less fortunate. There would be no hungry people every day, no young families who struggled to clothe their children, and no people struggling financially to get by in their daily lives. Government programs such as welfare, food stamps, and other means to support and help people would go out of existence. What a great experience that would be? What about older widows and shut-ins who would never have to worry about being cared for, fed, or even have chores done around their houses without having to pay someone? In fact what about a family which would take in their loved ones? What about a community which was in tune with the needs of everyone around them? Think about a neighborhood where crime wasn’t a problem because all the needs of those around them were met. Think about the young men who wouldn’t be without fathers at home because someone cared enough about the family to lend a hand in helping them to succeed! Folks I could go on and on about this…

Does this all sound like a pipe dream though? It might if we viewed it that way negatively, but what if it was possible? I tell you today it is possible through an institution which God ordained some 2000 years ago. It’s called the church. You see in the era of Jesus, the church took care of the needs. There wasn’t government assistance in this era. The church took care of the needs. There weren’t needs; the church took care of them.

So how does each of us play a part to accomplish that goal? We begin with that one or two person(s) who we are passing each day. We invest in them. We take interest in them. We spend time with them. We learn their needs, and then meet what needs we can and when we can’t, we find some other way to help them. This is the acts Jesus was talking about in the verses of love mentioned above. Take time this week to remember this verse; “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother hath need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” (1 John 3:16).

Time for a self-checkup and see if God’s love dwells in you today…

Focused or Divided Love

“The love of God abhors the present world system. ‘Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world’ (1 John 2:15-16). Such purified love will always be the experience of the one in whom the love of God is imparted.” He That is Spiritual, L. S. Chafer.

In this verse, John’s use of the word “world” is the word “kosmos.” He is advocating a temporal, ethical dualism in which there is a constant battle going on between the realms of darkness and light. When people love or “agapao” the world, they are misapplying this human emotion in a way that will lead to their demise. The object of one’s love or affection is decisive and our allegiance must not be divided. Our affection must be focused and specific. If not a battle ensues for either side. One will always win over the other when it does.

The correct application of love here springs from the fact that the believer has a singular loyalty and commitment to the Father. This verse states clearly that one cannot love the world and love God at the same time. The absolute nature of this statement is striking and compels careful and serious reflection. The stakes are high. Because the Father’s kingdom is at war with the kingdom of this world, the two will never coexist peacefully. To pledge allegiance to one side is to declare opposition to the other (Daniel L. Akin, The New American Commentary).

Each day, every person in the world depends on something or someone. Let’s face it; we depend on our cars to get us to work and about, our payroll checks when they come due, our health to keep us moving each day, and various other things that effect our minutes, hours, weeks, and years throughout our lifetime. We depend on things unconsciously sometimes until it breaks down and we are faced with what to do next. Sometimes they are minor inconveniences such as the flu, or a flat tire. They don’t change our life in the long run but cause interferences in the act of daily life. They do however become life changing when we receive a notification of a life altering illness, the loss of a job, or loss of a close loved one. Our problem here becomes perspective, and many times we have life out of heavenly perspective.

The problem here is the fact is what or who we love can have some very big implications for us in the future. Can we depend on them always? You see your car and your clothes won’t last forever. In fact neither will your job, or your health; but Jesus will. Your eternity has been already secured if you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. You can depend on it. So why not love Someone who has the ability to never let you down and forget about trying to feed our affections here on earth. Remember, this is a battle in the realm of light and darkness. Your allegiance cannot be divided.

What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love

“…the love God is toward His Spirit-born children. ‘Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life’ (Rom. 5:9-10); ‘Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it’ (Eph. 5:25). He loves His own even though they are wandering away, as is revealed in the return of the ‘prodigal son.’ ‘If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love perfected in us.’ (1 John 4:12). By this divine compassion the Christian proves his reality before the world: ‘A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, of ye have love one to another.’ (John 13:34-35). He That is Spiritual, L. S. Chafer.

After reading this section from Chafer’s book, I can’t help but be moved by the parting paragraphs about the love we are supposed to show to the world. Jesus told us that when His love dwells in us it shows our genuine conversion when it is perfected in us. This comes through loving those around us.

I have said in the past few years what I have dreamed of about in this world. I used to be a fairly self-centered person who didn’t care about the needs of others around me. I was self-centered. However, as I continue to read the Scriptures and see the love and grace of God abound in my life, I couldn’t help but think of those who aren’t blessed with all I have been given in this world. In my former days, I attributed my “things” which I accumulated over the years due to hard work and doing what it took to get those things. Don’t get me wrong, there is still something to be said for this area as well, but let’s face it, some do not have the “things” we do. As I have encountered the Scriptures in my personal growth, I often think how much better the world would be off if we were able to bless others with things we have been given by the Lord. I think of how our country would be so much better off if people were not so self-centered (as I have been over the years). I think of how the country would never need public assistance programs for the communities if the church began to act upon the principles mentioned above. Think of the families who would never be hungry or do without if someone with a generous heart was around and willing to bless them. I think of how companies like, eBay, Craigslist, and others would probably go out of business.

There is a secret which I never learned until I had to get beyond myself. When we give, we unlock a portion of ourselves which God created into us from creation. It is the power to bless others. When we give it unlocks an unspeakable joy. This is a joy which no tangible thing can compare. It is what we were created to do; and when we do it unlocks a joy and a peace which can only come from God. Then again, I think of God who redeemed us, and made us His children. He (Our Father) was generous enough to us to send His Son to this earth to give us an unspeakable gift; our salvation and adoption! Think of how joyous the Father after He sent His Son to redeem all those who never could be with Him (because of their sin) or wandered away from Himself (like the prodigal) over the years. What a Generous Heart He Has!

Today, consider doing something nice and generous from your heart for your fellow man. You will unlock an unspeakable joy when you do so. And by the way, it feels good to be obedient to God and it is infectious!