Pastorgraphs: “Brothers in Need”

E-Vangel Newsletter

January 6, 2014

[Pastorgraphs now online at ChristSD.com]

Pastorgraphs: “Brothers in Need”

“But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:17-18)

CBS Sunday Morning reported yesterday that it was 100 years (to the day) since a great milestone in American labor occurred. It was January 5, 1914 when Henry Ford shocked both Wall Street and Main Street by offering his employees a whopping wage of $5.00 a DAY! Up to then, the average laborer made about $2.75 a day. So Ford virtually doubled the wages of the average worker.

Instead of destroying the American economy, as some predicted, Ford (more than any other single person) helped create the great American middle class – just in time for America’s emergence as a world leader. To the surprise of many, within two years Ford's profits had doubled, just like the wages he paid his workers!

A century later, we are still debating minimum wage, unemployment benefits and affordable health care for the poor. These are important indicators of how we view and treat our “brothers in need”.

Considering the consequences expressed in 1 John 3:17, we should take care how we act (and think) when we see our brothers in need.

Seven Guideposts When We See Our Brothers in Need

1.          Love is voluntary. Love is a choice we make. Attitude is everything. We “tell on” ourselves by our choices and actions. This is especially true in our attitude and actions toward the poor. Are they “lazy bums” or our brothers and sisters? There, but by the grace of God, go you and I.

2.          Love is sacrificial. Use the God Standards: God is love. God so loved the world that he gave His only Son. In his first epistle, John sets the stage by saying no greater love can be found than laying down one’s life for another. That is what God did for us. It seems John is saying by comparison, giving a helping hand to “brothers in need” is asking very little.

3.          Love is intentional. It is easy to look the other way, or worse, look right through the beggar at the street corner. But snubbing, avoiding and indifference are not options, according to 1 John 3:17. Jesus embraced the downcast and outcast. So should we.

4.          Love is consequential. There are consequences to how we love (or withhold love). We, not the poor, are on trial. In Matthew 25 and 1 John 3, we learn God is “taking note” of how we return His love in how we treat others, “even the least of these”. God may be disguised within the poor. We may be “entertaining angels unaware”.

5.          Love is costly. Whether we are rich or poor, loving care always costs us something. True love is self-giving, whether the one receiving love are worthy or not. Like God’s love, we can always give strength to weakness.

6.          Love is demanding. Words are cheap. Deeds are essential. It is easy to talk about helping the poor. But ministering costs much more than words.

7.          Love is liberating. Notice John said, “in deed AND TRUTH”. This caring love is always accompanied by truth. Love does not have to hide its actions. Love is genuine. And only genuine love, like the love of God, can break the chains that bind us. That kind of love is life-giving.

In 2013, the rich “got richer” and the poor “got poorer”. (Is anyone surprised?) The last election was all about percentages; remember the 47%, the 1% and 99%. We now see our brothers-in-need as percentages. How sad we do not see them as brothers. A few, like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are giving away their fortunes to help brothers in need. But far too many are hoarding, ignoring and withholding.

The churches and charities at Christ Ministry Center are striving to abide in the love of God, in both word and deeds; whether it is helping street orphans in Far East Russia or the street people on El Cajon Boulevard. May God’s love abide in us all!

Devotedly yours, Bill Jenkins

From the Quote Garden:

“This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves.”

~ 1 John 3:15-16 ~

Christ United Methodist Ministry Center

“Christ in the Heart of San Diego”

3295 Meade Avenue - San Diego, CA 92116 - (619) 284-9205

www.ChristSD.com