His Brother

An Open Heart

(1 John 3:17, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, October 30, 2016)

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?

The World's Goods

We have “the world's goods.” Paul writes about having “food and clothing” in 1 Timothy 6:6-10. Do we have food and clothing? What a blessing! Do what John the Baptist instructed people who came to him: “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” (Luke 3:11)

Seeing a Brother in Need

If we have food and clothing then we should not only be content, we should also have our eyes open to see “a brother in need.” This was a hallmark of the early church. They made sure that people were fed and clothed (Acts 2:42-47), and they had “glad and generous hearts” according to Luke. When care for the poor was neglected among the worshiping assemblies of early Christians, it was a scandal. (Acts 6, 1 Corinthians 11) This goes beyond “the poor” as a category. John writes about seeing a particular “brother.” This starts among our family relations (1 Timothy 5:8), but it goes beyond our family of origin, to talk about another family circle: our family of destiny (Mark 3:35). Before we can give food or clothing to someone, we have to see that person as more than just a part of a nameless impersonal category. (Mark 14:7)

A Closed Heart Against a Brother

When we see a brother in need, even an elder brother like Jesus (Luke 8:1-3), we need not only open eyes, but also an open heart. Otherwise the Lazarus at the gate is just part of the scenery. (Luke 16:20-21)

How does God's love abide in him?

Each person has been created by God and is an image-bearer of the Almighty. When God came in person, he was objectified, despised, and “mocked” by some in His moment of greatest love (Luke 18:32, 22:63, 23:11, 23:36).

To love more fully we need to know love more fully. Jesus saw us wounded and bloody (even dead) by the side of the road, and he came for us (Luke 10:30-37). He gives us a new life.

Is there a limit to our ability to care for a poor brother? We certainly have limits. We may reach emotional limits long before we reach the end of our food and clothing. Some of our exhaustion may be religious amnesia. We forget that Jesus is really feeding the brother or sister. He is only using our hands. Jesus is giving through our poverty. (Matthew 25:35) Could He be the giver?

Old Testament Reading—Esther 9 – Judgment Upon the Persecutors

Gospel Reading—Matthew 5:7 – Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.