"If you think that simply the act of providing is what you are troubled with, it is not. The issue is love.""
[This message is part of a series through the book of 1 John, entitled "Salvific Assurance Through Testimony," preached by Pastor Senter].
We just finished discussing brotherly love and giving up ones own desires in order to show our love toward one another. We also talked about the opposite of that, which is hate–and that hate eventually results in murder in one form or another. As we looked at these passages I pray we understood that murder, slander, hurt, pain, and other hateful things can take many forms. One such form is found here, which is a correlation to James 2:15-16. James makes a very common-sensical point in that passage : if you know someone needs warmth and sustenance, yet you simply say, “Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled”– you do them no good. Here, in this passage, John is taking this concept to a new level.
Please look at 1 John 3:17. In our last post, we finished with explaining that the only way we can experience fellowship here on earth is brother to brother. Now, we will see how we can display this fellowship to others.
I must put out a word of caution here. This message, if we only look at the surface of it, may sound a little Communist in nature: to give of ourselves unconditionally to those who believe. Well, that is not all there is in scripture to operate on; therefore, we should, in an effort to fully understand what is taking place here, understand what it is we are discussing. We are talking about brotherly love versus hate. We are talking about how we treat one another, versus how the world sees people and wants to treat them. We are talking about a situation in the first century where great depravity was rampant and attempting to correlate that, as God would have it in our spirit, to our situation today. We are applying these lessons, therefore, in a current-day atmosphere, and in a current-day situation, in order to maintain a proper perspective while applying scripture in our lives. That, my beloved, is what we endeavor to do: to implement God’s word in our lives, in all facets of our lives, in all parts of our lives, in our hearts and minds, so that we might not sin against Him.
I have a friend, a very dear friend, who has a specific financial plan for his family, and himself. It helps that his wife is a mathematics whiz; in fact, she is completing her doctorate at Clemson right now. My friend’s philosophy is, the more we give, the more He will give to us. To date, I have to say his philosophy has worked. They, together, make about $30,000 a year. Now, for two young people newly-wed and just beginning, that does not seem unusual. However, they have paid off a home they owned, sold it, and bought another. They are able to give freely at their church and in the ministry. They give regularly, and they help others monetarily. They help with their time, with their finances, with their love, with their food, with all they own–they dedicate what they have to the Lord God. The reason they have such an outlook then is because when they give, they receive in abundance. Today we will be discussing “If you have, give or be condemned by your spirit,” because our tendency is “with wealth, man tightens his financial grip, but you must let it go.”
I. True hate (verse 17)
First, since outline titles can be deceiving, we should qualify this one a little. By true hate we mean in this context alone. In other words, if you have and specifically choose not to give to those with real needs, you are hating them. Whoever has everyday resources that others require and does not share them when able, that person cannot say, “I love God.”
We were recently in Cheyenne taking Sean there for a test for the City Police. We had just pulled into Wendy’s and gotten our meal for our trip back. When we were pulling out, there was a man and a woman on the corner begging for food or anything they could get. They didn’t have anything… we could tell that. I was just getting ready to bite into my Wendy’s Double with everything on it, and I really did not want to give it up. As we pulled up, my mind was racing–then we remembered, Sean had brought a number of MRE’s from his drill weekend. God saved me from my wicked thoughts and provided food for the two of them. We gave them all we had for MRE’s and I got my Wendy’s double, with cheese. Honestly, what went through my mind was bad; but I also felt at that moment convicted that we needed to give them something. I do not know if it was Chris or I who mentioned that we needed to provide them with something; but God made Sean bring along those MRE’s for some reason.
It is not easy to do the right thing, especially when your mouth is watering already. If we have it, we should be willing to give it. We could go back and get another meal, that was no problem. They did not have the means to do so. We were obligated to give to them.
This passage does not just apply to the wealthy–that is why we were convicted.
A. Anyone – Whoever (verse 17a)
Time for a “Tim’s translation” for this one. I will attempt to present something a little more literal and elemental: “But whoever may have the everyday things of existence, and observes a brother having need, and may close his heart (inner most feelings and being) from him, how can the love of God exist in him?” Ladies and gentlemen, how can you have the love of God in you, any one of you, if you have no compassion for those who are in need? This compassion can be shown in the simplest form, if you have normal daily resources that people need, give. I see no indication here that this is a giving over what YOU need. In fact, it ties directly in with the previous discussion about love and hate. This scripture is teaching that we should turn away from your own desires to be secure, to be self-assured, to be comfortable, and to have abundance beyond normal everyday needs. These are desires. We are to turn from these when asked and provide for the needs of others.
We should give what we can–not everything we have; but what we can.
This clearly teaches everyone can give, but everyone that can give does not.
B. A deliberate act of heartlessness (verse 17b)
The last part of this verse is now the focus. There are two subjunctive verbs in this sentence. Both indicate potential. They are represented by the word “may” in front of them. What does the scripture say then: we may have the everyday needs, and we may close our hearts. One, having every day needs, indicates you may not have those things for another, but if you do, give it. The second is the condemning act. If you do have it, but instead choose to close your heart (you may close your heart) to the need, you are heartless. The question is valid. If God is love, His love is perfect, and He provides for the needs of even the lowliest of His creation (worms in the ground for instance). How can you, therefore, having only Him to thank for everything you receive, refuse to provide another person their needs when you are capable? The love of God, that provides for all His creation’s needs, cannot abide in you.
If you have what a brother needs, you should be willing to part with it. Our trust should be in God to provide, not in ourselves to hoard what we have in order to satisfy a personal want, or desire.
God takes this a little further. If you think that simply the act of providing is what you are troubled with, it is not. The issue is love.”
II. True love (verses 18-19).
Once again, in typical Johannine style, we find we are moving from admonishment to encouragement. John sets down his quill, so to speak, and gathers us up to him and again says, “little children”–that endearing attention-grabber that indicates he is inviting us to listen to a very instructive and loving thought. I used to read the words after this with a connotation of admonishment. However, the words are encouragingly written. They are not accusatory at all. It is not in the tone, “You little children listen to wisdom now, before you fall into sin!” A loving, caring tone is being used to convey these next words. We should hear them soft-spoken, mellow in presentation, and with a deep, caring, and understanding tone that almost pleads for our enlightenment.
When we see an endearing call to attention in scripture, it is from God, and in our attentiveness to His call, we should understand His love for us.
We realize that it is not what we say that matters. We used to lean upon a man’s word, his honesty and character meant something. Today, however, we realize that words can convey empty platitudes.
A. Talk is cheap (verse 18)
We have heard the phrase, “talk is cheap” before. We could also say it is what you do, not what you say, that defines you. This is what John is saying. You do not “do” in order to get something; but the true Christian “does” because he already has something. There is no difference here. We love not just by saying we love, but by being there, by providing, by doing, by giving the truth, and by standing for the truth when it may hurt you, but benefit others. Ladies and gentlemen, it is in your heart to do, or it is not. There is no middle ground here. Either your heart is bent toward doing, or it is focused upon yourself. Either you follow through with what you say– loving in deed–or, you do not give a second thought to what you say. You just try to comfort or appease. This loves in word. There is no veracity or strength in the latter. There is honor, integrity, and character in the former. Which one are you? Do you speak fluffy words to tickle ears, and promise things you cannot provide? Do you realize that in this, you actually show that you have no thought or intention of fulfilling these promises? On the other hand, do you see things that need to be done, commit to doing them, and then follow through regularly? Do you, also, when asked whether or not you can commit tell the truth– that it may not be possible? Do you tell people what they want to hear and try to love them that way? Alternatively, do you tell people lovingly what they need to hear in order to help them? Which one best describes you?
This form of love is demonstrated in doing what you say. We have many in this world who say much, but do little. Unfortunately, the lost of this world also listen to them. This scripture teaches you need to do what you say, follow through. It also indicates truth is a large portion of that, so that you must tell the truth–even if it is unpleasant.
It is in this truth that we find and should rest our assurance.
B. Truth is love (verse 19)
The truth of the matter is that a 104-pound woman, regardless of how buff she is, cannot carry a 220-pound man on her back to get him out of a battle zone. This truth conveys love in that both will be spared their lives to fight another day. It is not a popular thought in pop culture; but the fact remains that there are limits to our abilities, regardless of our attitude. This is truth in love, and truth is what we are discussing here. We could look at this verse and translate it this way, “In this we will recognize that we are of the truth, and it will reassure our hearts before Him.” This refers back to verse 18. Therefore, when we perform our deeds to make effectual our love for others, then our hearts are reassured that we know the truth. This truth, therefore, is the ability to remove ourselves from our desires and give up those that would impact others negatively. Put your desires on the line for others, give up your feelings about things and give them to others for the love of God. This giving of love selflessly, as we discussed, gives us a reassurance that we know the truth of God. Once again, it is our testimony in action that gives us reassurance of salvation. There is no better way to know that you are saved than when you know that, resting in God’s care and love, you want nothing, regardless of what you already have, or that which you lack.
Do you, then, give selflessly and therefore seek the assurance of your heart with God? Do you give selflessly and have the assurance that the truth is in you? How often have we either thought, or come right out and said to someone “Prove it”? Another favorite phrase is, “Put your money where your mouth is.” Well, do you? Do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ? Prove it. According to this scripture, you should prove it always. This action could be just a hug when needed, or filling a monetary need where warranted, or a much-needed meal. It could be anything– even a simple card to express your love for them; but you need to do it.
Another aspect of this is the truth that we are encouraged to have in the Holy Spirit. When we do not do the right thing, the Spirit who lives in us is greater than we are.
III. True conviction (verse 20)
Here is where the “rubber meets the road”, so to speak. Here, in this short verse in scripture, we have the conscience so well presented. There is an interesting word in this verse. The word “kataginosko” is here translated “condemn.” You should recognize part of this word because we have talked about it a great deal. The first part of the word is “kata” which simply means “from” or “out of.” The second part is our word “ginosko” which as you know, means to know, and other forms of the word such as knowing, and knowledge. Literally, this is a condemnation from what we know; from what is in us, of which we are already aware. This second part, then, is not for the unbeliever. We didn’t just talk about the believer’s heart being one that gives freely and then we now move to the unbeliever who does not know how to give. This verse is not for the dead of heart; it is for believers. It tells you if you do not feel this, your heart is therefore dead. You may think you are a believer; however, if your heart does not condemn you for not giving when you know you should, it is dead.
Do you feel a pang of guilt when you could have given something to someone, and you did not? Is it easy for you to blow it off? Do you somewhat anguish concerning the event?
The fact is that, as a believer, you should feel these pressures in your heart.
A. Heartlessness pains a Christian (verse 20a)
I know a dear sweet saint here who left the church in the hurry one day. She was downtown, headed home, and realized that there was a pile of dishes that had not been done at the church before she left. She turned around, came all the way back here, only to find that they had been done. The Holy Spirit had pricked her heart, and she responded. This, ladies and gentlemen, is an assurance of salvation. When we do something that is thoughtless, we truly should reconcile ourselves to our depravity, or iniquity, and our ineptitudes. We are wretched people at times and only think of ourselves quite often. I do not know about you, but I am real good at it. However, the true Christian heart is broken when we exercise this level of thoughtlessness. It may not be a serious thing–not helping with the dishes can hardly be considered a cardinal sin. Nevertheless, a heart pricked for service is a serious issue and in no circumstance can it be ignored. One should never pass up an opportunity to deal with another in love because your heart is compelling you to do so.
Have you ever flippantly disregarded what your heart is telling you to do? Have you ever just dismissed your heart-felt desires to love someone, rationalizing that they will be taken care of some other way–that you do not need to get involved? This is a condemnation that needs to be rectified.
There are other things that take place in the Christian that are equally as important.
B. Hearts bow to God (verse 20b)
There are thousands of people in this world who try to pull on heartstrings in order to get you to do something. Look at the poor pitiful children all over Africa. For a dollar a day, you can feed and clothe this little girl. The truth is, if you can afford to do something like that, and you can verify that your funding is doing what is advertised, I am all for supporting a child in some foreign land – through a mission organization where the Gospel is paramount. These emotional appeals only last as long as you can keep the emotional high going. Once someone intellectualizes the situation, you find there are multitudes of things that need to be provided to an individual, not the least of which is an introduction to our Savior for eternal life. Sustenance for this life is not the only need at hand. Giving to organizations that feed the body can be good, giving to organizations that feed the soul, feed the body, and provide education for self-sustaining life – that is giving in love.
The Christian heart is a heart given over to God. God, therefore, is paramount in the Christian heart. For this reason, and because God is all-powerful, man will never succeed over the Holy Spirit, or to suppress His activity. When we give out of emotion and not out of thoughtful Christian love, we are condemned in our hearts for it. Equally, when we withhold giving and over-rationalize our way out of giving to someone or something, we are condemned. This is a process by which we are judged here on earth for our sinful and rather self-centered behavior. If we give out of emotion, it is only so that we will feel good doing it. If we rationalize our way out of giving something, it is because we wanted to find a way to keep what we have and not share it.
In 1 Corinthians 4:3 and 4 records Paul’s testimony to the Corinthians concerning his conscience– where he plainly says he does not care what man says about him, it is God to Whom he reports and is responsible for his conscience. Since his conscience is clear on the matter, he is not concerned with what man might accuse him of failing in doing.
In your giving, you should always consider what God would have you do.
In proper response, in proper giving, in proper truth, and in proper love for one another there is confidence before God for what we do.
IV. True Confidence (verse 21)
Whether it is giving to another for their needs, or not giving to some organization because they do not serve God but Satan–we know right from wrong. Our first word here is a form of agape love – beloved. It indicates loved ones, ones whom we love and adore. Ones whom we should have the deepest affection for, brothers and sisters in Christ. The question is put forth then, if your heart does not condemn you for what you do, in that, and that alone, there is confidence that we can have. This is not just a simple feeling that you have done something right– that you have done something worthy of your salvation and the God that has spurred you to action. This is far greater than that.
The word you see here translated “confidence” has a strong connotation, which indicates boldness evident in a publicly-known manner. Our testimonial strength, therefore, is seen in this activity – publicly. When you act properly, and you have done what you know is right in the Lord, and you have given love in this selfless fashion, there is no cause for you to communicate it to anyone. There are two things that this testimony gives others. First – they recognize your standing with the Lord. They know you are saved, they know you know Him, they know that He is with you and you serve Him. What you have done is recognized by them as a selfless act that is only done because of God’s love for you. Second – it condemns others in it’s activity. This is why you should not marvel that others hate you. It will spur their jealous hearts to either want to be like you, or want to hate you even more because of your testimony. You may be labeled as sanctimonious.
Lies create an emptiness that results in skepticism, distrust, uncertainty, and doubt. If you base your life in truth, you will always be in a place where you know a baseline. There is always something to fall back to and begin again. If, on the other hand, you base your life in lies or deception or rationalization that results from emotional responses to issues instead of seeking God’s word and those who know it– you will always be skeptical, you will always distrust, you will always be uncertain, you will always doubt.
The truth – Jesus Christ, the Son of God– came to this earth, and lived with us for a little over 30 years. He came here to save man from his sins. He came here and subjected Himself, as God, to the whims of man. He came here and gave Himself over to Satan’s minions for them to beat Him to a pulp. Then Jesus subjected Himself to crucifixion where, just before His death, He took upon Himself all the sins of the world. The truth: when He died He was buried in a tomb given to Him. The truth: three days after He was buried, He arose from the dead and defeated death and hell for us all. This is the truth, rest in the confidence of it.
Truth is confidence. Lies are described in scripture as shifting sand. Do you believe in the truth, or the shifting sand of man’s reason, which is always changing? The truth will give you a heart for the Lord and a conscience as a guide. Lies are always changing and deceitful. Lies harden the heart and create a self-centered, self-directed, and self-living life.
In this post, we talked about true hate. That hate results from a believer or unbeliever that knows a need is present, but refuses and actually thinks of a way to get out of fulfilling it. We are required to fulfill such needs and this act of not doing so is a deliberate, heartless act. We talked about true love and that “talk is cheap”, concerning love. The truth is that speaking the truth to people, whether they want to hear it or not, is a loving thing and should be done lovingly. We talked about conviction and that truth in conviction is important. Being convicted in something and not following through pains the heart of a Christian. This is being heartless, and it is the mark of an unbelieving heart. We talked about this pained heart and that if it is being pricked, then it is being pricked because there is a believer that is attached to it. Believers should be convicted in their wrong-doing, and expect to be so. Finally, we talked about confidence and the confidence we can have in the truth that we live in, for, and through. The truth we live in is the salvation provided by Jesus Christ the Righteous.
One last thing we need to cover here folks. This is an argument from silence; but it is inherent in this passage. The fact is, if you are not condemned, if your heart is not pricked, if you feel no remorse for evil that you do, you cannot be one of God’s children. We just finished studying a section where John compared the hatred we have for others with a murdering heart. We just studied that a murder cannot have the love of God in him. If you hurt others, if you are cruel to others, if you refuse others the basic necessities in their life (food, clothing, affection, attention, even leadership and guidance to get their lives right) and feel no remorse, no pang of guilt, if no feeling crosses your heart for the individuals, you cannot have the Lord in you because you are hating them. If you are one of those who would roll up on a beggar and tell them to their face to “get a job,” then I contend that if you feel nothing for that individual, you are heartless. There is a better response, and it may be true that they do need to get a job; however, speaking the truth in love is not spitting those words at them and expecting them to change at your command. They need your assistance to get this job or to simply be fed. You should, if you can, help them in an appropriate way–in whatever way you may be able to do so. They need help, and if you can help them, you should. Everyone needs Christ, if you should–help them find Him. This is one paramount need for all mankind.
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