The Bible says we are to “care for one another.” In 1 Corinthians 12:25 it says that ,”the members may have the same CARE for one another.” The background here is that each member is to be cared for… each member is important. The psalmist asks in Psalm 8 verse 4. “What is man that you take thought of him and the son of man that you care for him?” God cares for us. For those who have put their trust in His son… He wants us to care for one another. To identify with them, empathize with them. See needs and seek to help from aheart of compassion. Peter tells us to “cast our cares upon Him, because He CARES for us.” His desire is that we care for one another. We are to care enough to comfort one another. First Thessalonians 4:16-18 speaks of the return of the Lord. It says that “we will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and we will forever be with the Lord… therefore comfort one another with these words.” We are to care enough to comfort one another. We are to care enough to show compassion.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SORROW AND COMPASSION;There is a story told about a man in England back in the times when horses were the main means of transportation. This man was riding on his horse when the horse stumbled and broke a leg and they had to put the horse down. People gathered and looked on and were so sorry because they knew this had been the man’s only transportation. Eventually one man who was standing in the crowd took off his cap, put his hand in his pocket, put some money in his cap and began to pass around the cap. You see, there is a difference between sorrow and showing compassion.
Sorrow can move your emotions but compassion will move your will and cause you to take action. True compassion is taking the other persons need as your own… and this is what this man did.
Jesus said in Matthew 9:13… “Go and learn what this means, I desire COMPASSION.” In Matthew 6:13 we read that Jesus felt COMPASSION for people. In Matthew 14:14, He felt COMPASSION for them and healed them. In 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Paul says: “We proved to be gentle among you as a nursing mother tenderly CARES for her own children.”
To care for others is to share, not only the gospel, but your life and being well pleased in doing so with affection and tenderness.
In Matthew 25 when they said: “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not care for you” Jesus said: “to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”
- “Let each of us look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”- Phil 2:4
- “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”- Galatians 6:2
- “Love one another with brotherly affection.Out do one another in showing honor.”- Rom 12:10
- “So then as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”- Gal 6:10
- “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”- Ephesians 4:32
- “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.”- Col 3:12
- “Therefore ENCOURAGE one another and BUILD EACH OTHER UP, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:1
- “A new commandment I give to you, that you 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
God gives each member spiritual gifts to be used to express care to one another, and in doing so we build one anther up and ultimately glorify Him.
Today,
- show your care for one another,
- comfort one another, and
- be compassionate to one another and in doing so you express care to the Lord Himself.
Caring for one another is to DELIBERATELY look to others, to look out for them, and meet their needs as you have capacity to.
Caring for one another is a CHOICE.
Today, LOOK and SEE who you can extend CARE TO.
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.”As you do to the least of these My brothers, you do Unto Me.”- The Lord Jesus. -Matthew 25:40