Let's begin this study in prayer...
James 2:8-13If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself", you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery", also said, "Do not commit murder". If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!
I. REVIEW
In our last study we covered the concern of how through strict
observance of our religious rules and traditions we can in effect
nullify God's commands. In order to refresh our memories, let us read
the example that our Lord Jesus Christ gave us relative to the temple
tax.
Matthew 15:1-9
However, as we also touched upon in our previous study, this evil of
sacrifice overshadowing mercy or love also finds its way into our
works of service. It manifests itself in our attitude towards those
whom our Lord Jesus Christ has called us to help or befriend. And so
let us begin and explore this concern relative to our works of
service/attitude toward others. The first concern is with,
II. OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS REACHING/ASSOCIATING WITH THE LOST
For this instruction let us go to the Gospel according to Matthew and
read about the incident with Jesus and the Pharisees when He (Jesus)
went to eat in Matthew's house.
Matthew 9:10-13
QUESTION: What is the issue? Why the rebuke?
Well, the Pharisees did not want to associate with the lost and felt
that those who did were not righteous or holy in God's eyes. However,
what we find is that,
A. GOD SO LOVES US THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON
John 3:16-17
Or perhaps put another way, "Christ died for us while we were
still sinners!"
Romans 5:8
Jesus also taught us how much He cares about the lost in,
B. THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP
Luke 15:1-7
Notice vs 4(b)
Finally, Jesus teaches us to,
C. LOVE THOSE WHO HATE US
Matthew 5:43-48
QUESTION: What is the point? What is the message?
Our outreach to the lost should not be considered as a sacrifice
of our time and resources but rather a labor of love towards
those whom God cares about.
(or)
Perhaps put another way, rather than constantly wanting to
surround ourselves with Christians we should rejoice at the
opportunities that God gives us to be lights to the unsaved
world. To see this consider,
Matthew 5:14-16
However, when we do associate with the lost, we must be careful
to,
D. NOT PARTICIPATE IN EVIL DEEDS
In order to see this, let us reread a passage that we covered in
part A of this study. Namely,
Galatians 5:13
and,
E. NOT BECOME UNEQUALLY YOKED
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
The next topic concerns itself with,
III. OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE NEEDY
The issue here is that in our charitable works towards others, do we
do it from a willing heart or do we view it as a sacrifice? Remember,
the Holy Spirit tells us
A. BE A CHEERFUL GIVER
To see this let us read,
2 Corinthians 9:7
In fact, the Bible teaches us that all our works of service are
to be born out of love. For we find that,
B. WITHOUT LOVE WE GAIN NOTHING
To see this, let us read,
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Finally, what is,
IV. OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD HELPING OTHERS VS RELIGIOUS GATHERINGS
In order for us to better understand this issue, let us read about
one of the times Jesus healed on the Sabbath.
Luke 13:10-16
QUESTION: What is the point? What is the message here to us?
Are we in the mode of having to attend/perform various religious
functions/activities that we tell those who come to us in need to come
back at another time?
(or)
In other words do we view helping others as sacrifices that take us
away from attending/performing various church/religious activities?
True, we are not to give up gathering together, as it is told to us in,
Hebrews 10:24-25
Notice vs 24 the purpose of getting together;
"encouraging one another toward love & good
deeds"
And so let us remember the following instruction from,
Proverbs 3:27-28
QUESTION: So what is the point of this whole study? How can it be
summarized?
Well, let us consider the following,
V. SUMMARY
Actually, the Holy Spirit provides us a beautiful summary of this
whole study in,
1 Corinthians 13:1-8(a)
Now with this in mind, let us close with the following prayer. As we
do, let each one of us offer it up in our hearts for someone we know.
Ephesians 3:14-21
Let's end this study in prayer...
Psalm 51:1-12Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are proved right when You speak and justified when You judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely You desire truth in the inner parts; You teach me wisdom in the innermost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Read the book by John Sweet, Jr.
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