Care

 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
1 John 3:17 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.3.17.ESV

John concurs with James in his letter. It's not enough to say to someone in need, 'Go, I wish you well, keep warm and well fed'. We have to actually do something to help them.

If we're able to help someone in need and don't, we betray the fact that God's love doesn't abide in us. If we don't help someone in need when we could, we don't just not love them, we actively hate them. This shouldn't be amongst the family of God.

There were no needy people in the early church in Jerusalem. Quickly though, certain widows were overlooked in the distribution of food. So the church office of deacons was established.

Just because the church has deacons to serve the needy amongst us, doesn't mean to say the rest of us can wash our hands of those in need. We all have a responsibility to care for one another. We're to be especially mindful of our brethren in the faith, but others too.

'Sovereign Father, may we look out for those in need, and so be truly defined by love. In Christ's name, amen'

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