SINCERE LOVE FOR BELIEVERS
“As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” Galatians 6:10.
Doing good is one of the virtues of a follower of Christ Jesus, who himself, the Bible says “…went about doing good…” Acts 10:38. So his followers are expected to do good unto all men, but especially to fellow believers whom they have a common goal with (by this I mean journeying to the same destination -Heaven). As a follower ( disciple) of Jesus, one has no choice but to love, show concern, be ready to sacrifice for a fellow disciple.
I do not always like to use myself as an example when preaching on a message like this because of how some people will interprete it. But permit me to do so just to illustrate what I am talking about here.
I once met a Christian sister who was passing through a tough time. After a discussion with her, and she narrated somethings to me, I was so moved by her plight that I had to forgo my dinner for her, and rather spent the night without food interceding for her. Afterwards began ministering to her needs, praying, giving, and encouraging her in anyway possible.
In another case, a fellow minister friend who was not doing well financially had an idea to start a poultry farming, and approached me for an assistance to start the business, though as a loan. I picked interest and obliged him with a good percentage of the amount he needed for the business, even when I also was in need. As a matter of fact, the money was what I was trying to save for something. But I had to assist him to encourage him, even though at the end of the day, I did not get back the money. The business was trying to stabilize when “bird flu” epidemic struck, and all the birds died. I could not force him to repay. I let go.
In yet another incidence, about two years after that experience, a fellow minister narrated to me how he needed to pay for for an accommodation. The land lady had given him an ultimatum of five days to pay from the day he told me or lose it to another prospective tenant. According to him, he had made some deposit for the accommodation. So he begged that I should help him with the balance to complete it with a promise to pay back some time latter. Interestingly, I also was saving money to pay for my own accommodation, but I had to lend him 80% of that money to help him solve the problem.
The reason we are to do good to especially those who are fellow believers is that it is a commandment. Look at John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. What will be the effect? verse 35 tells us “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples. if ye love one another”.
Sometimes, in fact most times, it may not be convenient for us to do this. But if we are to obey our master, if we are to demonstrate that we are indeed his disciples, then we have no option but to do it. We can by the help of the Holy Spirit.
Revd A. U. Akpan is the president of Faith Activation Global Ministries, Lagos, Nigeria. Reverend is a lover of the word of God and is in partnership with MOW.