Act On It!

1 John 3:^17-18 “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” (emphasis added).

It is truly amazing how detailed God’s Word is and how precise it is for practical daily Christian living. Yesterday, God said to us in 1Jn.3:¹⁶ “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (emphasis added).  God says lay down your life, but He probably knew that a lot of us would not be able to fully grasp what He was talking about. So, in the very next verse, He spells it out for us so that we can understand what He requires of us. “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?” Before you start thinking of going to the cross, let the money in your pocket speak of your love.

Before you start thinking of the ultimate death for the brethren, which I do not think God will require of anybody, God is saying “What about your life that is in your pocket?” Do you know that your money is a representation of your life? You give your life in exchange for your money – that is what happens when you go to work. You exchange eight hours a day for thirty days of your life and you get a credit alert from your bank. And if it is business, it is still the twenty-four hours that you are exchanging your life for, that you are getting value for.

Your money is really your life, and this is why giving is so important to God. When you give to God or when you give at all at God’s instruction, you are actually giving your life. You see a brother in need – you have money, but he is struggling, but instead of giving, you say, ‘God bless you, let the doors be open, receive the breakthrough!’ God says, ‘We have heard your prayer, it is time for action, give the person some money.’ If you cannot do that, God is saying how can the love of God be in your heart?

For some reason, you have noticed someone comes to church wearing the same shirt every time and you know it is not a uniform. The shirt has faded from excessive washing and wearing. Meanwhile, you are struggling to fit your clothes into multiple wardrobes. God is saying, take fifteen of those shirts, after all, you can only wear one at a time, and give it to your brother who is obviously in need. Do I get an Amen? 1 John 3:¹⁸ “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” (emphasis added).

Prayer: Father, because You have richly blessed me, I choose this day to be a blessing to God’s people. Open my eyes to the needs of the people around me, in Jesus Name. Amen!