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The Love and Care for Brethren
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?
1 John 3.16-17
In Genesis 4.9, God asked Cain, “Where’s your brother?” And if his cold hearted attitude wasn't evident by the murder he had committed, it sure enough was by his response of “Am I my brother's keeper?” demonstrating the ultimate in apathy of “I don't know” and “I don't care.” There are three components to the works of the church: evangelism, edification and benevolence. And if we're not careful, we'll do what many do with the Godhead: place it in the hierarchy of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And we know that's not the case. We know they're intertwined. They're inseparable. They're equal. You can't have one without the other. And the same stands true with the works of the church. Yes, the primary function that we know is to assemble on the first day of the week not to forsake the assembling of saints (Heb 10.25). Partake in the Lord's Supper (Acts 20.7). And to perform the acts of worship that God has required for us to do. But in Revelation 2, God says this about the church at Ephesus. He says:
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Revelation 2.4-5
In Matthew 5, Jesus says,
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5.23-24
In Matthew 9.13, Jesus (quoting Hosea 6.6) says, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” He's not saying that worship isn't extremely important. He says it is extremely important, but don't let all these other things that are extremely important be undone. Edification is essential to the church, to comfort one another (1 Thess 4.18), to strengthen the weaker (Romans 15.1), to be patient with one another (1 Thess 5.14), to nourish the babes in Christ (1 Peter 2.2-3). It's essential. And we're so fortunate as we look to each other and realize how much we need each other.
Years ago, I got to hear brother Carl McMurray in a gospel meeting, and he said something in that meeting that was extremely profound to me. He said sometimes we need God in the flesh. And what he meant by that was to “be imitators of God” (Eph 5.1), to be Christ-like. In Genesis 1.26 we see that God made us in His image. To be representatives of His authority on this earth. To make godly decisions on His behalf. And we know how fortunate we are to have a Savior and a Judge that can sympathize with us.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
John 1.1, 4a
He was tempted in all points as us (Heb 4.15) yet without sin. And then we get to see the humanity of Jesus. He knew the trials and tribulations that we would face. In James 1, He knew that we needed to lean upon each other. He knew that we were made as social beings (Gen 2.18).
And we're not just a spiritual family. We are a physical family also. And I've seen through the years those brethren that are facing depression, anxieties, stresses, and worries. Guilt-ridden because of the sinful lifestyle that they're living. And they seek outside secular counseling many times without a godly approach. I'm not saying there's not a place for that. But let me let me qualify that by contending that in the Lord's church we have the most competent and knowledgeable life counselors with a godly perspective that's in the world. We have diversity in numbers meaning that if you're going through it somebody here has already been there and done that. And they can give you the godly wisdom necessary to help you get through that situation. How fortunate we are to realize that we are here together. We have to realize that that we're here for a few short decades. And we need to take that opportunity to definitely care for each other. And to remember that we need to lean upon each other. Realize that when we look out and we see the brethren, that we have to take the responsibility to look out for each other. We're all striving for the same thing. Everybody here has the exact same goal. To live eternally in heaven with God. And realize that what God has required is not a suggestion or recommendation that God has made. It's a command.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13.34-35
The world sees us as peculiar. Uncanny. Strange. Bizarre. Weird. But God has placed us with the responsibility to realize that we have to take the time for each other. It's a requirement that we have. It's not easy. But it's important that we're nurturing each other. It's not easy for me. To admit that that I'm embarrassed of my lack of resiliency or self-reliance. To know that at that point that I reveal to you my shortcomings, now the balls in our court. We have to realize that at that point, we have to help these people.
This is the living sacrifice that God is talking about. God commands us to strengthen, to grow, to outreach and to rescue the perishing.
