“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” (1 John 3:17, ESV)
“Leo Tolstoy, the great Russian writer, tells of the time he was walking down the street and passed a beggar. Tolstoy reached into his pocket to give the beggar some money, but his pocket was empty. Tolstoy turned to the man and said, “I’m sorry, my brother, but I have nothing to give.”
The beggar brightened and said, “You have given me more than I asked for—you have called me brother.”
To the loved, a word of affection is a morsel, but to the love-starved, a word of affection can be a feast.” (Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment, p. 58)
In the story above, a beggar was in need. What Tolstoy didn’t realize was that the beggar didn’t just need money. He needed the respect of being called a brother. There are people with many seen and unseen needs in your life. You may think a person needs money, when in fact the person needs a shoulder to cry on. A friend may talk as if she needs a personal loan when what she really needs is someone to listen and care. That person who snapped at you at church last month may not need a “talking to.” She may need some grace. Your daughter may not just need a ride to a birthday party, she may need a few minutes beforehand to talk about her anxiety at attending the event. Don’t assume you know what a person needs. Don’t assume you can’t help. Don’t hold back from helping when God wills you to do it. You never know how much perfectly-timed help can change a life.
In the scripture I’ve chosen for this day, John speaks about helping others. In this first letter of John, we are taught that when "anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart” and won’t help, there is a problem (1 John 3:17). In fact, the scripture ends by asking if “God’s love” even lives in that person who withheld his or her help. It describes a person who will not help as one who has “closed his heart” against another. I think it is important to realize in your life when your heart is closed to another. This “closed heart” will make it harder to love, to help, to give grace or forgiveness.
In the book of Exodus, Pharaoh purposefully forced the Israelites to suffer hardship as slaves in Egypt. When he could have eased their workload, he instead increased it (Exodus 5:18-19). When urged by Moses to let the slaves go, Pharaoh instead fought harder to keep them. When Moses tried to show God’s command of the situation, Pharaoh used his leaders to stymie his efforts (Exodus 7:8-13). In the end, God responded to Pharaoh’s “heart which was hardened”. God sent the plagues upon Egypt.
Has your heart ever been hardened against someone? Has God ever wanted you to help another, but you closed off your heart against that person instead? Giving, sharing, helping can be difficult at times. Also, you may not know what is really needed in some situations. Not everyone needs money or a handout in response to their needy situation. You might find one gift works better than another. However, if your heart is closed off against needy people, it will be difficult to help anyone. And, according to this verse, God will not be happy with your lack of love.
After working for years at a food pantry, the director complained to one volunteer that those who came for food were often lacking good manners. The director went on to complain that the needy didn’t often say “Thank you”, were poor at budgeting, and lacked personal hygiene. The volunteer listened intently as the director prated on about the ills of helping those who came for the food. After five minutes of ranting, the volunteer said quietly, “Why don’t you just close the food pantry, since all these people who come looking for help are just taking advantage?”
The director was shocked at the question. Thinking back, he realized how his rant sounded to the volunteer and made an apology for his words. The volunteer responded, “I know you must get tired of all the needs but remember that we all need you very much to love helping others.”
The director responded, “Thanks for the reminder. I do really love helping those in need.”
This verse serves as a reminder (just like that volunteer) that you need to keep your heart open to helping others. Don’t let overwhelming need or your love of money close you off from those who could use your help. Not only does it show a lack of love, but it shows disrespect to God. Find ways to help where you can. You can’t fix every problem, but your help may be more crucial than you realize.
The beggar brightened and said, “You have given me more than I asked for—you have called me brother.”
To the loved, a word of affection is a morsel, but to the love-starved, a word of affection can be a feast.” (Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment, p. 58)
In the story above, a beggar was in need. What Tolstoy didn’t realize was that the beggar didn’t just need money. He needed the respect of being called a brother. There are people with many seen and unseen needs in your life. You may think a person needs money, when in fact the person needs a shoulder to cry on. A friend may talk as if she needs a personal loan when what she really needs is someone to listen and care. That person who snapped at you at church last month may not need a “talking to.” She may need some grace. Your daughter may not just need a ride to a birthday party, she may need a few minutes beforehand to talk about her anxiety at attending the event. Don’t assume you know what a person needs. Don’t assume you can’t help. Don’t hold back from helping when God wills you to do it. You never know how much perfectly-timed help can change a life.
In the scripture I’ve chosen for this day, John speaks about helping others. In this first letter of John, we are taught that when "anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart” and won’t help, there is a problem (1 John 3:17). In fact, the scripture ends by asking if “God’s love” even lives in that person who withheld his or her help. It describes a person who will not help as one who has “closed his heart” against another. I think it is important to realize in your life when your heart is closed to another. This “closed heart” will make it harder to love, to help, to give grace or forgiveness.
In the book of Exodus, Pharaoh purposefully forced the Israelites to suffer hardship as slaves in Egypt. When he could have eased their workload, he instead increased it (Exodus 5:18-19). When urged by Moses to let the slaves go, Pharaoh instead fought harder to keep them. When Moses tried to show God’s command of the situation, Pharaoh used his leaders to stymie his efforts (Exodus 7:8-13). In the end, God responded to Pharaoh’s “heart which was hardened”. God sent the plagues upon Egypt.
Has your heart ever been hardened against someone? Has God ever wanted you to help another, but you closed off your heart against that person instead? Giving, sharing, helping can be difficult at times. Also, you may not know what is really needed in some situations. Not everyone needs money or a handout in response to their needy situation. You might find one gift works better than another. However, if your heart is closed off against needy people, it will be difficult to help anyone. And, according to this verse, God will not be happy with your lack of love.
After working for years at a food pantry, the director complained to one volunteer that those who came for food were often lacking good manners. The director went on to complain that the needy didn’t often say “Thank you”, were poor at budgeting, and lacked personal hygiene. The volunteer listened intently as the director prated on about the ills of helping those who came for the food. After five minutes of ranting, the volunteer said quietly, “Why don’t you just close the food pantry, since all these people who come looking for help are just taking advantage?”
The director was shocked at the question. Thinking back, he realized how his rant sounded to the volunteer and made an apology for his words. The volunteer responded, “I know you must get tired of all the needs but remember that we all need you very much to love helping others.”
The director responded, “Thanks for the reminder. I do really love helping those in need.”
This verse serves as a reminder (just like that volunteer) that you need to keep your heart open to helping others. Don’t let overwhelming need or your love of money close you off from those who could use your help. Not only does it show a lack of love, but it shows disrespect to God. Find ways to help where you can. You can’t fix every problem, but your help may be more crucial than you realize.