HOW DWELLETH THE LOVE OF GOD IN YOU?

I John 3:17  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, HOW dwelleth the love of God in him?

Let us take a few moments and consider the Old Path of helping those in need.  Many good churches today spend multitude millions on soul-winning, bus ministries and other outreach ministries in an effort to evangelize the lost.  Certainly they are RIGHT to do these things as they are all tools that help us fulfill the great commission given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:19-20  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.  This is to be the churches heartbeat!  Sadly, I think we have gotten unbalanced and forgotten that the church is filled with SHEEP that need cared for. 

Have you ever had a brother or sister in Christ share with you that they had a need?  It happens often in our fellowship one with another.  Unfortunately, we feel that we have fulfilled our Christian responsibility by saying "I'll be praying for you".  Well bless your cotton-pickin little heart!  I'm for prayer and I believe that God works miraculously through answered prayer, however, I wonder if we don't make God's job more difficult.  Could it be that YOU were meant to meet the need?  Did you ever consider that perhaps it was YOU that God placed the burden in front of because it was YOU that he intended to bear the burden WITH your brother? 

Galatians 6:2  BEAR YE one another's burdens, and SO FULFIL the law of Christ.

Consider the word Bear.  One dictionary describes to bear as TO SUPPORT OR HOLD UP; TO SUSTAIN.  Noah Webster illustrates for us the idea of bearing a burden with the picture of a great ship being held up by the water.  Consider the weight of that ship and compare it to the weight of the burden that your brother or sister in Christ is carrying.  Praying for your brother in need is wonderful but are you praying needlessly?  Have you considered YOUR part in meeting the need?  Perhaps God led them to you for just that purpose.  Consider the verse we began with and ask yourself if the Love of God dwelleth in you.  Do you just "pray" for those in need or do you actively BEAR their burdens?  Do you MAKE that burden your OWN?  If you truly become burdened about something, you will do all you can to help meet the need. 

I'm afraid that our churches have become so concerned about the lost that we forget about the family.  Galatians 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us DO good unto all men, ESPECIALLY unto them who are of the household of faith.  Are you praying and asking God to meet your brother's need when in reality, YOU are the answer to that prayer? 

I do believe that if we began to follow this old path of caring for one another that we would not have so many Christians feeling the need to depend on our corrupt government for their provisions.  Will you allow God to bless others THROUGH you? 

God Bless you all as you discover the Old Paths!