| Let Your
Light Shine — Lesson 2 BY CARING AND SHARING Introduction A. Text: Gal.
6:2.B. Jesus “went about doing good” (Ac. 10:38) — He was actively concerned
about the sick, the dying, the bereaved, thelonely, the downtrodden, the
despised, the poor, the aged, and the children.C. We cannot be Christ-like
without caring and sharing with those around us.I. CARING AND SHARING ARE
VITAL PARTS OF BEING A CHRISTIANA. There is a positive as well as a negative
side to “pure and undefiled religion” (Jas. 1:27).B. “Benevolence” means
“good will,” but it involves more than sentiment — faith alone will not save
us – Jas. 2:14-17.C. Th e early disciples were oft en strikingly generous in
their caring and sharing – Ac. 2:44,45; 4:32-37. Cf. Eph. 4:28.D. Giving of
ourselves to others is an outgrowth of having given ourselves to the Lord – 2
Cor. 8:5.E. Sharing with others — whether of time, money, talents, or concern
— is a part of being grateful for our own blessings.None of us has anything
that was not given to us by the Lord – 1 Cor. 4:7.F. Our eternal destiny has
much to do with whether we have served the needs of others in His name – Mt.
25:31-46. Cf.Tit. 3:8,14.G. We cannot allow ourselves to “grow weary while
doing good” (Gal. 6:9,10). Cf. 2 Th ess. 3:13.II. REAL INVOLVEMENT WITH
OTHERS IS NOT EASY IN OUR CULTURE A. Our culture tends to promote
self-centeredness rather than selfl essness, which is the prime requirement
for genuinecaring and sharing.B. Modern life also tends to cut us off and
isolate us from those around us.C. Christ-like involvement and service
require a deliberate effort to resist these influences.III. WE NEED TO CARE
FOR THOSE WHOM GOD CARES FORA. We are literally surrounded by hurting,
desperate souls who do not know that anyone cares for them. Cf. Psa. 142:4.B.
At the cross, God was saying, “Th is is how much I care.”C. Do we care for
all those whom God cares for?D. Are we the agents through whom those around
us come to know that God loves them and cares for them?– 7 –IV. OUR ULTIMATE
AIM IS TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH AS MANY AS POSSIBLEA. Th e “social gospel” is
a perversion of the gospel of Christ.1. We are to do more than merely make
this world a better place to live.2. All the other help we can give people
will be of little significance if they end up losing their souls – Mt.
16:26.3. So we should most of all want to share the gospel.B. But personal
evangelism should not be a “hidden agenda” with us.1. Th e problem of being
lost is the most important problem we ought to want to help people with, the
one we oughtto be trying to get a chance to work on regardless of what other
help we may be able to render. Cf. Ac. 3:6.2. However, the temporal help we
give ought not to be contingent on whether our spiritual help is accepted.3.
We ought to be eager to help others in whatever ways they will allow us.C. Th
ere is also this to think about: we oft en have to earn the right to be
heard, and active service to our fellow man canopen doors of opportunity for
the gospel.1. People don’t care how much we know until they know how much we
care.2. “He has the right to teach who has the heart to care” (Abraham
Lincoln).V. NEGLECTING TO HELP IS A SERIOUS ERRORA. Th ere may be many
reasons why we fail to involve ourselves with others:1. Th oughtlessness.2.
Lack of time.3. Inconvenience.4. Fear.B. But whatever the reason, neglect to
serve the needs of others can end up being the same as cruelty – Lk.
10:30-37.C. “I expect to pass this way but once; any good therefore that I
can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellowcreature, let me do it
now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again”
Etienne De Grellet.ConclusionA. We may think we have little to off er others,
little opportunity to help, etc. — but that underestimates what God is ableto
do through us – 2 Cor. 9:8.B. Th e important thing is to do what we can do –
Mk. 14:8,9. Cf. Mk. 12:41-4 |
