Titus 3:14 – ‘Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.’ (NASB)
Lately I’ve been finding myself challenged to take the magnifying glass off my own troubles and trials, and take a look around. If you are like me—prone to get caught up with your own life—then chances are you’ve had your own ‘woe is me’ moments; I have had enough conversations with others to know that I am not alone in this.
With our focus on ourselves, we fail to notice the hurt, hardships and needs of those around us. This is a fatal flaw for the Christian who is called to be a light to the world. As the Body of Christ, we are meant to be the hands and feet through which God uses to permeate His love in this cold world.
Matt. 5:14a – ‘“You are the light of the world…’ (NASB)
Some reading this might be quick to get their wallets and chequebooks out, but slow down. I am not calling for dropping more in church offerings or donating more to causes (although those are good things, and feel free to do that if you are so lead). I have noticed (at least within myself, anyway) that we are more willing to give our money and let someone else do the ‘dirty work’ of reaching out to people. As reluctant as I might be about denying myself of my money, I am more comfortable with parting with some money than I am with giving my time, or more yet, my heart. Sure enough, your giving can be used by God for the furthering of His kingdom, but ask yourself if your efforts and good works are more in form than in the spirit of love.
In this day and age, our lives can be so convoluted by our own needs and pursuits that even if we wanted to do something for others, our worlds threaten to shatter and quake if we veer off our schedules. And so then, we settle for passing on our kind intentions in the form of an encouraging word, or a promise of petitioning in prayer. Again, these are good things, to be sure, but I want to challenge us all today to find ways of practical love.
1 John 3:18 – ‘Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.’ (NASB)
Let us not be content with talking a good game but not walking it out. Love is the highest call for us all: first and foremost to love God, and secondly to love others (Matt. 22:34-40; Rom. 13:8-10). With the self-sacrificial love that He set before us, He encompassed the scope of all our humanly relationships: love for our enemies (Rom. 5:8-10; Rom. 12:18-21), love for our friends (John 15:12-13; 1 John 4:7-11), love for our spouses (Eph. 5:25-30), love for our children (Rom. 8:14, v38-39; Heb. 12:6-8),love for everyone (John 3:16; Rom. 13:8)—and in like manner, we ought to strive to emulate this great love.
To clothe the vulnerable, to feed the hungry, to lift up the lowly, to spend time with the lonely—these are some ways we can practically love others, and how much more so our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ (Gal. 6:9-10)! However, we cannot meet the needs that we do not know of, which is why we need to open our hearts and truly connect with others.
A warm word is nourishing to the spirit, but a warm meal nourishes the body. Lifting up burdens in prayer are a blessed means of intercession for the child of God, but if hands meant to be brought low to help a brother or sister are too busy being lifted up in prayer, we inadvertently shift the blessed privilege to another. An aspect of dead faith is being too busy praying and studying and not spending enough time walking out what you study and bearing fruit in whatever capacity God has placed you in.
A note of warning though: ‘Let love be genuine,’ (Rom. 12:9a, ESV). Don’t partake in these things to be seen by others or to be regarded as a ‘good person,’ but rather, ‘Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.’ (Matt. 5:16, NASB, emphasis added)
The opportunities to show love to people will likely look different according to differing situations, but along with lifting them up in prayer and encouraging them in the Lord, let us also seek practical ways to help wherever we can, for in this we bear fruit to the glory of the One who loved us not in word alone, but also in deed and in truth.
Jas. 2:14-17 – ‘What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.’ (NLT)
