Growing cold?
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
Luke 10:29
Today it seems most of us are still unaware of who our neighbor is. With the advent of technology, even our immediate grandparents have suddenly become our distant cousins. In fact, a person’s friends are now those with whom they connect online, do business with, or schoolmates. Electronic devices have in some way kept us in touch with friends and relatives who are physically far away, yet they have drastically driven us very far away emotionally from the very people with whom we share a roof everyday.
When it comes to giving, it has now become a matter of ‘SEEDING’: giving something to GOD in the hope of getting something bigger from HIM. Church offerings have become some kind of magical investment. People are now helping the poor not for the poor’s sake but for the sake of the givers themselves. Giving not out of compassion for the poor but out of expectation of a greater return. Yet the WORD of GOD is very clear on this matter:
3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
1 Corinthians 13
This verse shows us that without love, we can never enjoy the blessed fellowship with GOD, because GOD is love (1 John 4:8). Love does not get affected by changes that take place around the world. It does not ignore the cry of the destitute. JESUS said our light should shine forth before men so that they may see our good works and glorify our FATHER WHO is in heaven. This means our light should reveal GOD’S character in us. The world cannot see GOD, but through all HIS creation and HIS control over everything, the world can see GOD’s greatness. The sun, moon and stars do not change the pattern which GOD ordered them from the beginning to follow. Seasons come and go without ever making a discord. Nature still maintains the ordinance given unto it by GOD. All these are clear signs of GOD’S immense power.
When JESUS came, HE chose us and made us into the new creation (1 Peter 2:9; 2 Corinthians 5:17). If the world can see the greatness of GOD’S power through HIS old creation, then the world should witness the greatness of GOD’S Love through HIS new creation, which is us (Colossians 1:27). Everything that we do should reveal GOD’S character, HIS Love and Faithfulness. If GOD in HIS great Love offered HIS ONLY SON to the sinful world, with the sole purpose of saving the world, without ever expecting anything in return (Romans 5:6-8), the we also should do acts of kindness especially to those who can never repay us (Luke 14:12-15).
Is our self-centredness now getting the better of us, so much that even in the face of sacrifice our ultimate goal is to be recognised by others, or to gain something better in this world? Are we doing GOD’S Work faithfully or we’re just taking risks with the hope of some material gain? (Romans 12:9). The world today is using everything within its reach to turn our attention from our purpose of pleasing GOD. But we should never allow our love to grow cold. We should fight till the end. As faithful soldiers of CHRIST, we should abandon every distraction, and set all our affections on HIM. That’s the only way to exercise true love.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Romans 12:9
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