1 John 3: 17
But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?
While this verse is a condemnation of some people’s actions, its converse is a celebration of the love that has been shed abroad in your heart (Romans 5: 5). The apostle John was always talking about love. Here he’s saying, how can we be flush with the love of God and yet not be charitable to our brothers and sisters. The answer, of course, is that we cannot. When the love of God is in you, you begin to have compassion. That compassion motivates charity and giving.
John wants us to give, but it is not for giving’s sake. He expects the love that God has poured into us to rouse us to acts of kindness. When we experience God’s love, we don’t have to motivate ourselves to give. We do not begrudge the necessity of giving. And we most certainly do not give in satisfaction of “Christian works.” Love just compels us. We give because we want to and because it warms our hearts. It celebrates who we are in Christ. Because He first loved, because He first gave, we become full of his love. Then his overflowing love just wants to do for others.
I send this word to you today in celebration of you and the love that has been shed abroad in your hearts. I know many of you never pass a Salvation Army kettle without dropping something in. You have been giving to friends, neighbors, ministries and charities. You have increased your gifts this year although your income has not increased. You are not giving because you must. You give because you want to. I want to say, “Thank you” to you all. You are blessing the heart of God. When you do something even for the least in His kingdom, you do it for Him. When you feed the hungry, clothe the poor, you feed and clothe Him.
I hear plenty of stories of how tough it is for many folks this year. Your nickels and quarters do much more good than you know as God is able to multiply your gifts. May God richly bless you and may you experience the very best of God in all things.