Helping Others

Jesus’ New Commandment

When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus answered in this way.

Matthew 22:36-40 NASB “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, ” ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 “This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Mark 12:28-31 NASB One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; 30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ 31 “The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Luke 10:25-28 NASB And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” 27 And he answered, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” 28 And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE.”

When Jesus was asked by a lawyer, “And who is my neighbor?”  He responded with this parable: the Good Samaritan.

Luke 10:29-37 NASB But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. 31 “And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 “Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 “But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, 34 and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 “On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands? 37 And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”

Jesus also gave a new commandment in John’s gospel, which Paul, Peter, and John all repeated the commandment in various forms.

Jesus

John 13:34 NASB “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

John 15:12 NASB “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

John 15:17 NASB “This I command you, that you love one another.

Paul

Romans 13:8 NASB Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

1 Thessalonians 4:9 NASB Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

Peter

1 Peter 1:22 NASB Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

John

1 John 3:11 NASB For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;

1 John 3:23 NASB This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

1 John 4:7 NASB Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:11 NASB Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:12 NASB No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.

2 John 1:5 NASB Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.

Finally, Paul makes clear that we are to help others, especially those of the faith, and that we are created for good works.

Galatians 6:6-10 NASB The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Ephesians 2:8-10 NASB For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

While the tithe should always first go to your local church, helping others through various organizations is a good thing to do and is probably easier than you can imagine.

Here are a few suggestions to consider.  These aren’t the only organizations who are doing good work with God and with the people with whom they are partners in ministry but a few that I have been involved with through the years.

Community Development and Child Sponsorship

Bible Engagement and Translation

Clean Water

 

 

 

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