Volume
10, Issue 7
Principles Upon Which We Help
One Another
By Bob
W. Lovelace
I. Because They Have Been Recommended As Worthy:
A.
This WasTrue Of Phoebe, Rom. 16:1-2. Paul said, “I
commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at
Cenchrea: [2] That ye receive her in the Lord, as
becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of
you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.”
1. The words in Paul’s admonition
are important. “Receive” means to “wait expectantly for.” The word “becometh”
suggest “as is appropriate” for Christians. And the word “assist” means “to
stand beside, to be at hand (or ready), aid :- (Strong’s Help).
2. Question: What would
"for" suggest? It suggests that such help is justly deserved. The
rules could change should she prove herself unworthy!
3. Additionally, notice the
gratitude in Paul's own life as expressed for her, and
in verse 3 for Priscilla and Aquilla. He's speaking of those worthy in Christ.
II. Because I View The Body And All With Proper Concern:
A. We
Help Others Out of Concern And For Scriptural Reasons. Consider
Paul’s statement, “And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women
which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my
fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life” (Phil. 4:3).
1. Here’s a plea for another’s
“spiritual” concern and help. Moreover Paul's concern was the Lord's, for these
two Christians were not
treating each other as they should, it appears.
B.
Each Member Serves Christ And Sets The Proper Example
For Others:
1. We serve one another (Gal. 5:
13).
2. “Be thou an example,” Paul said
(I Tim. 4:12).
3. Phil. 1:27 says, “Only let your
conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and
see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in
one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” Every Christian should possess this purpose
for such “striving” means ~
“to wrestle in company with, i.e. (figurative) to seek jointly :-
labour with, strive together for” (Strong’s Help, sunathleo, 4866).
a. When it involves fellow members
and is "for” the faith of the gospel then it is to be joined with what the
Word says as regards edification, instruction, and the strength of admonition when needed. This
must be done without partiality!
C.
Improper Motives Would Be:
1. To serve self and not Christ.
Referring to some Paul said, “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus
Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the
hearts of the simple” (Rom. 16:18). In His sermon on
the Mount Christ pointed out how one can give to be seen of men (Matt. 6:1-4).
This improper motive was applied to prayer and others things as well.
2. Helping another or others simply
to cause division or bring hardship upon someone connected to them,
thus acting
from hatred or jealously, envy or spite.
3. Seeking to win over through
politics. Here one acts without “true” spiritual concern, and I might add via
carnal methods! To the contrary such passages as Rom. 16:1-2, Phil. 4:3, Gal.
5:13, Phil. 1:27, etc. would indicate a total lack of selfishness, wrong motives,
political advantage, to cause division, or to cause a hardship on someone else.
4. Gossip, to have an open line for
carnal knowledge.
D. An
Improper Gift Would Be:
1. One that
is given to foster any vice. Be careful with the kind of gifts (movies, songs,
etc.) that you give! Paul said, “And have no
fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
2. To such a degree that it keeps
one from developing in responsibility, hinders growth. “The horseleach hath two
daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things
that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It
is enough:” (Prov. 30:15).
E.
What Would Be Some Improper Attitudes Towards Those Who Do Give?
1. To murmur against the one giving
as in Mark 14:1-5. Mark records, “For it might have been sold for more than
three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against
her.”
a. Here the disciples manifested
covetousness!
III. Because My Intention Is To Give What Is Good:
A. “As we have therefore
opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the
household of faith” (Gal. 6:10).
B. In I Tim. 2:10 we see women
“professing godliness with good works. “
1. Example: “Now there was at Joppa
a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas:
this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did” (Acts 9:36). “Full” ~ abundant in good works; here "good" (benefit),
almsdeeds (compassionateness, to the poor).
IV. For The Joy Thereof:
A. “He coveteth greedily all the day
long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not” (Proverbs 21:26).
B. Speaking of the righteous the
Psalmist says: “He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed””
(Psalm 37:26).
C. To
Philippi Paul said concerning Epaphriditus, “Receive him therefore in the Lord
with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:” (Philip. 2:29).
1. Two important things expressed
here: (1) Delight, (2) Value or Esteem ~ Strong’s Help entimos, Greek 1784, ; valued
(figurative) :- dear, more honourable, precious, in reputation.
D. Paul quoted our Lord in setting
forth his own example and said,
“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support
the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more
blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
V. Because They Ask:
A. Hear
Jesus, “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give
him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish
give him a serpent?” (Lk. 11:11-13).
1. The son in Jesus’ example asked
his father for bread and fish —necessary items. This too is out of concern and
for a worthwhile reason.
2. When a brother or sister asks you
for what you have at one time or another asked God for how do you respond?
3. Because something important and
of benefit might be left unfinished (Lk. 14:28).
a. Today our children get involved
in "special training" and need such and such just to "keep"
going to the end of their goal. They do what they can do in working, and that often late nights when no one else will. And several
will do what they can to help as well.
b. Must take care that their
“towers” are not like Bable, i.e. not good and against God's will!
VI. Because I Have Been Given To In My Need:
A. This stems from compassion. In
the parable Jesus said, “Then the lord of that servant was moved with
compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt” (Matt. 18:27). Later to
the one who had been loosed but was himself unwilling to do so for other God
said, “Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even
as I had pity on thee?” (Matt. 18:33).
1. When I give I need to be short on
the "I" did this, etc., and more in remembrance of when others
assisted me.
2. Jesus said:
“Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy
goods ask them not again. [31] And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. [32] For if ye love them which
love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love
those that love them. [33] And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what
thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. [34]
And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what
thank have ye?
for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much
again. [35] But love ye your enemies, and do good, and
lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be
the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the
evil. [36] Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful” (Luke
6:30-36).
3. Paul instructs:
“Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and
knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in
this grace also. [8] I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the
forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. Next
page
[9] For ye know the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor,
that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Cor. 8:7-9).
Question:
Is there a reward for such worthy giving? I'll end with
this,
“ As it is
written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness
remaineth for ever” (2 Cor. 8:7-9).
Note: This
command is good help for those not saved: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent,
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).