“Care For One Another”

 

Introduction.  The lifestyle which Christ teaches to those who would follow Him is one of “doing good.” 

·         Acts 10:38 tells us that Jesus “went about doing good and healing those who were oppressed by the devil.” We are taught…

·         “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

This good-doing may be spiritual in nature.  What better good can a person do than to follow the will of God?  Or, it can concern material things.  We do good when we handle the people and things in this material world in a way that is pleasing to God.  Part of this concerns how we respond to the needs of others.  (I John 3:16-18).  Note: Here we see that an evidence that the love of God abides in us is our own willingness to see the needs of others and act upon them. 

This is characterized by the attitude Jesus taught in the Sermon of the Mount: “Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away” (Matthew 5:42).  Years after this, Peter, James, and John urged Paul to “remember the poor” which he says was “the very thing which [he was] eager to do” (Galatians 2:9-10).  In Christ, we are never “an island unto ourselves”—rather our faith in Christ means that we have care for those who are in Christ (I Corinthians 12:20-26). Note: Here we see that whether we face suffering or honor we are to “care for one another” (vs. 25).

            This morning I’d like for us to talk a little bit about this, to come to see what the Bible teaches about this “care for one another.”

 

I.       The Early Church Cared For One Another.

1. They Sold Their Possessions—and Helped Each Other (Acts 4:32-37).
2. They Helped in Times of Famine (Acts 11:27-30).
3. They Supported Widows (Acts 6; I Timothy 5:3-15).
4. Restrictions on the Church.  It is clear that the church participated in helping its members that were in need.  But it is also clear that there were restrictions that were placed on this.  Here we note qualifications for the widows. This meant…

1.      If one had family to help the church was not to “burdened” (I Timothy 5:16).

2.      If one was unwilling to work—they were not to receive help (II Thess. 3:6-15).  In fact this is considered walking “disorderly” > leading to withdrawal.

3.      Collective help was “for the saints” (I Cor. 16:1-2).  There is no example of the church extending benevolent care for non-Christians.  Certainly, individuals were to care for those in need outside of the church.  The church was never intended to try and solve the social problems of the world—its focus is spiritual in nature.

 

II.     What is Necessary To “Care For One Another”?

1. Interest in One Another.  If we don’t care about each other we won’t take the time to notice or try to find out when someone is in need (Philippians 2:4).

1.      If we don’t care about each other, it won’t move us to action when we do find out about each other’s needs (Romans 12:10).

B.     Willingness to Share With One Another.

1.      Possessions.  (Ephesians 4:28; I Timothy 6:17-19). Our things are not ours.  They are on loan to us.  One day we will throw them away or pass them along to others.  We must use these things to God’s glory.  Part of the way we do that is by sharing.  We must open our homes to each other.  We must offer hospitality to each other.  We must look for those times when someone is having a rough time.  Drop them a note with some extra spending money in it.  Don’t imagine that the only type of care has to be collective.

2.      Our Needs. Not only do we need to share our things with others but we also need to be humble enough to share needs that we have with one another.  How else can our brethren have opportunities to do what God wants them to do? (I Corinthians 12:25-26)

C.    Willingness to Let Others Help (II Corinthians 1:3-5).  This text may deal with troubles and tribulations having to do with persecution—but the principle remains the same.  God puts us in a position to care for one another as the way by which He can grant “comfort” to each other.  We can’t accomplish that if we don’t let others do what God would have them to.

 

Conclusion.  To follow Christ in the path that He has laid before us in Scripture we must do all that He commands us.  Let’s be diligent to follow Jesus in the ways that He has taught us to care for one another—and let us be willing to let others have the opportunity to do what God in Christ commands them to, by accepting help when it is offered.