Do something!

Sat, 26 Aug 2023

‘Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.’ 1 John 3:18

When a multimillionaire was asked how much money it takes to be happy, he replied, ‘Just a little more.’ Now let’s assume you’re not like that, and you care about others. Why are you not more involved in meeting their needs? ‘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 NKJV). That Scripture could be reduced to two words: Do something! In the parable of the Good Samaritan, two different ministers walked past a dying man on the Jericho road without stopping to help. Why? Wasn’t this a great opportunity to practise what you preach? How did they become so insensitive and uncaring? Did they think, ‘The problem is too big, there is nothing I can do about it?’ Were they so focused on their church’s agenda that they didn’t want to commit the time or the resources necessary to get this man back on his feet? Jesus said: ‘But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him’ (Luke 10:33-34 NKJV). Note the word compassion. The Good Samaritan was willing to get emotionally involved. You must too. Bob Pierce, the founder of World Vision, once prayed, ‘Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God.’ The word for today is – do something!