This is the last sermon in our series, “Loving others…and letting them know it.” Throughout this series, we have seen the importance of unconditional love, and we have learned practical yet meaningful ways of expressing this love – from a handshake, to a kind word, to time spent together in meaningful fellowship. In our final study of this series, we will look at how what we give to others can be a powerful expression of our love for them.
I read a story recently about an incident in the life of Queen Mary. One day while walking with some children, Queen Mary was caught in a sudden shower. Quickly taking shelter on the porch of a home, she knocked at the door and asked to borrow an umbrella. “I’ll send it back tomorrow,” she said. The queen had deliberately disguised her appearance by putting on a hat that partly covered her face and by wearing some very plain clothes. The homeowner, reluctant to give a stranger her best umbrella, offered her a cast-off she found in the attic. One rib was broken and there were several holes in it. Apologising, she turned it over to the monarch, whom she did not recognise.
The next day she had another visitor—a man with gold braid on his uniform and an envelope in his hand. "The queen sent me with this letter," he said, “and also asked me to thank you personally for the loan of your umbrella.” Stunned, the woman burst into tears. “Oh, what an opportunity I missed that did not give my very best,” she cried.
Friends, each one of us here today has had the same opportunity as the woman in this story. Each one of us, throughout our lives, has had occasion to be of service to another – to give something of ourselves for the benefit of another. And what have we given? Have we given our best, or merely a cast off that we could afford to part with – a weak effort made with an apology? Have we given anything at all? Or does it even matter?
Throughout this sermon series, the bedrock principle that we have emphasised over and over again is that our love is to be just like God’s. Let’s take just a minute, then, this morning, and look again at just what kind of love God has. Turn with me please, to a passage familiar to most of you here this morning: the 3rd chapter of John, verse 16. Read with me please John 3:16….
You know, we read and quote this passage so often that I believe we overlook just what kind of love we’re talking about here. But take a closer look, and we notice something about God’s love for the world: it moved Him to action. Love in God’s economy is more than sentementism, more than words, more than sympathy. God’s love was tangible; it resulted in Him doing something. In fact, a more accurate rendering of the Greek text would be, “This is how God loved the world: He gave…” His love wasn’t a mere feeling, but the key motive for Him giving this great gift to mankind. It resulted in Him giving His one and only Son, so that anyone – no matter what their condition, what their social status, no matter what their background – anyone at all could come to Him and be forever changed.
What’s more, we are told that the action taken on the part of God was not just a last-minute thought, a half-hearted effort made on behalf of a rebellious people. Revelation 13, verse 8 tells us that Jesus is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” The Son of God, in His love for the people of this fallen world, had taken deliberate action to save us, even before we needed to be rescued. He realised what the sacrifice would require, and He made a conscious decision, motivated – indeed, driven – by His deep love for each one of us.
And so, as we contemplate this love of God – this love that manifested itself in the greatest gift we could ever receive, even the gift of His own Son, Jesus Christ – we realise that if we are to love as God loved, it is not enough to smile and nod; not enough to share a word of encouragement or prayer. No, these expressions of love have their time and place; but there comes a time when words and sympathy must give way to action; a time when our hearts must move not only our lips, but our hands as well.
Perhaps the greatest illustration of this to be found in Scripture is in the book of Matthew, chapter 25. Chapters 24 and 25 of Matthew are both centred on the events that will culminate with the return of Jesus to earth to take His children home. In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus tells the disciples a parable of how it will be at the final judgement. So read with me, please, at Matthew 25, starting at verse 31… (read verses 31-46)
As I read this parable, there are 3 major points that stand out to me. The first is that what God is looking for is direct, personal involvement in service. Notice the types of service He commends: providing food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, clothing for the naked, shelter for the homeless. Moreover, He commended those who visited the sick and the imprisoned. Nowhere do I see in this list of commendations making a donation to ADRA, or writing a cheque to a local charity, or throwing some change into a Salvation Army pot at Christmas. Nor do I see Him commending those who merely offered prayer on behalf of the needy. Now I’m not saying don’t make your donations; I’m not saying don’t offer your prayers. What I am saying – what the Word of God makes clear – is that our service must also involve direct contact with those in need.
A letter was once written to a Christian by a homeless person. It read as follows:
Dear Christian,
I was standing outside in the bitter cold the other day. You saw me without a coat, shivering in the cold, and you prayed that God would warm me up. I was hungry, and you reminded me that God provides our daily bread. I was looking for a place to stay, and you prayed that God would help me find a shelter.
I appreciate your prayers, and I appreciate your words of encouragement.
But I am still cold, I am still hungry, and I am still without a place to stay.
Someone I know once made the statement that God is not concerned just with how bruised your knees are from prayer, but also how bruised your feet are from service. The love of God is a love that calls to action – a direct, personal, hands-on experience in meeting the needs of others.
The second point we can glean from the parable is this: love-motivated service isn’t concerned about being recognised for the service rendered. Notice the response of the sheep in verses 38 & 39: When did we do these things? When did we help You? They are literally shocked that they have done anything of value in God’s eyes, and are shocked even moreso that they should be rewarded for it. The last thing on their minds was what was in it for them. Contrast this with those described in Matthew 7:22, who are listing before Jesus all of the great works they have done in His name. His answer to them, in verse 23: “I never knew you. Depart from me, you workers of iniquity.” Friends, let me make this clear: we can do all the right things; keep all the right commandments; do this and do that; serve here and serve there. We can do everything that we are expected to do. But if we are doing it for the recognition, either before men or before God – if we think that doing this or that will guarantee us a place in eternity – then we are going to be sorely disappointed when that day comes. Yes, God does expect His followers to obey; yes, He does expect His followers to serve others; but never –NEVER, EVER, EVER – is our service or our obedience about “earning” something.
In fact, the very term “gift” emphasises this point. The word gift comes from the Greek word charis, which literally means grace. What is grace? The underserved, unmerited gift of God’s favour. Undeserved; unmerited; in other words, something we cannot by any means earn in any way, shape, or form. If it could be earned, it would not be a gift, but a payment. To use a modern phrase, it would be considered an exchange of services, and salvation would be reduced to a cheap vending machine prize. It’s sad, but there are many today who believe that “being a good person” and “helping others” is enough to get you into the kingdom. Even among Christians, there is this mentality that obedience to God’s law is an automatic ticket to glory. Never forget, friends, God knows the heart. The moment you believe that your service or your obedience puts you in good with God, you’re on dangerous ground. The Bible teaches that the only way any of us can be made right with God is through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. And so, in our service, in our obedience, may we never look for what we can get out of it, but for what we can give – no strings attached.
This brings us to our third point: that no good deed goes unrewarded. Now, that may sound like it is in direct contrast with what I just finished saying about not being able to earn anything, but allow me to explain. While our service cannot be offered as a means of gaining God’s favour, that does not mean that our selfless acts of service will go without notice in His sight.
Let me put it another way: you may feel like your gift is too small, your service too insignificant, your efforts too lacking, to make a difference. But eternity will reveal that even the smallest acts of charity, rendered from a heart of love, have made a difference in ways unknown here on earth.
Billy decided that he wanted to be an evangelist when he grew up. He was only 14, but he had such a passion to share the Gospel – to share this love of God that had so touched his life – that even in his home town he decided to reach others for Jesus. And so, one day as he was walking down the street, he noticed a young man standing outside a bar, getting ready to go in. Rushing toward the man, he said to him, “Please, mister, don’t go in there.” “Why not?” the man said in annoyance. “Because, mister, that’s not a place Jesus would want you to go” cried Billy as he grabbed the man by the arm. “Get out of my way” the man shouted, pushing Billy to the ground. Billy got up, disheartened, and made his way home in tears. He was crushed that his first attempt at witnessing failed so miserably. But he determined to keep trying.
Years passed, and Billy went on to become an evangelist. One day, he read an article in the newspaper about a wealthy philanthropist who was opening a community centre in a poor part of town. Determined to meet the man, Billy attended the opening ceremony. Standing near the back, Billy heard the man’s story about why he was opening the community centre.
“It really started about 15 years ago,” stated the man. “I was young, successful in business, and making a name for myself. But inside, I was empty. I began going to bars, and was wasting my money on drinking. But one day, as I was getting ready to go into another bar, a young boy rushed up to me. Grabbing me by the arm, he said, ‘Please mister, Jesus wouldn’t want you to go in there.’
Well, I pushed him to the ground, and went inside. But as I sat down at the bar, his words kept ringing in my head, and I couldn’t take a drink. I left the bar, and decided that if there was something to this Jesus, I would check it out. And so I became a Christian. And I decided that if that young boy could be brought up with the right values and beliefs, then there was a chance that every boy and girl could be brought up right. So that’s why I have dedicated my life to building community centres in our poorer neighbourhoods.”
Friends, let me assure you this one thing: that no effort you make at selfless, loving service will ever go unrewarded. No gift you give, no matter how large or small, how expensive or modest, will ever go unnoticed in the eyes of Almighty God. Every service rendered, every gift offered, is noted as a gift to God Himself. Verse 40 of Matthew chapter 25 says this: “Whatever you have done, even to the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you have done unto me.”
Fear may be stopping you from stepping out. You may feel unqualified. But friends, let me assure you that God may not always call the qualified, but He will always qualify the called. If you feel the call to do something for Almighty God, don’t hesitate. Step out and say, “yes, Lord, I’ll do it”, and let Him take care of the rest. Remember, Jesus assembled a ragtag bunch of uneducated men, some of them the outcasts of society, and called them to be the proclaimers of the Gospel. In every case, we read that when Jesus called them, they dropped everything and followed. And when we read about these men in the book of Acts, we discovered that these unqualified, uneducated, socially unacceptable men turned the world upside-down with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They didn’t need to have several degrees after their names; they didn’t have to be rich. All they had to do was step out and follow, and God took care of the rest – so what’s stopping you?
Maybe you feel that your gift is too small to be of any use. Before you let that stop you from stepping out, let me remind you of how Jesus fed thousands of people one day. On that day, we read in Mark chapter 6, verse 38, as the disciples were fretting and wringing their hands about how to feed so many people, Jesus asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” Now, the way Jesus asked that question is important. He didn’t say, “Do you have enough?” Nor did He say, “Can we get more?” He wasn’t concerned about what they didn’t have. No, He was much more interested in what they did have. You see, they did have five barley loaves and two fishes. And yet those five barley loaves and two fishes, when put in the hands of Jesus, not only fed five thousand men, not to mention the women and children; but we are told in Mark 6, verse 43, that there were 12 full baskets of leftovers gathered up. Friends, stop worrying about the size of the gift you bring to God’s service. God’s not looking for what you don’t have; He’s looking for what you do. And when you put what you do have into the hands of Almighty God, what seems to be the most insignificant gift can go out and change the world.
Would you turn with me to one last passage of Scripture, please: Galatians, chapter 6, verses 9 and 10…. And so, today, friends, we see from the Word of God, that we are called to put our love not just into words, but into action. “Let us not grow weary in serving others” is the call from Scripture, “and let us do good to all.” Not only those who are in the world, “but especially to those who are in the house of God.” Friends, the point is this: if you are a Christian, you are commissioned for service, regardless of location, abilities, or lack thereof. And there is no excuse for a lack of service as far as God is concerned. He’s given you something, and He wants you to use it.
You know, I have met many a Christian who are pew-potatoes. Have you ever heard of a pew-potato? Like a couch-potato, who is content to sit in front of a television, never doing anything, a pew-potato is content to come to church from week to week, sit for a few minutes and listen to a sermon, soak it all up, but never transform what they have learned into action. Friends, our Scripture passage in Matthew 25 tells us that at the end of time, if you’re a pew-potato, you’re going to end up baked.
So, then, what are you going to do?
(Appeal & prayer)
