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).