CARING

CARING

GOD CARES

DOES GOD REALLY CARE?(2 Kings 4:8-37)

"Then Elisha summoned Gehazi. “Call the child’s mother!” he said. And when she came in, Elisha said, “Here, take your son!” (2 Kings 4:36)

GOD CARES FOR HURTING PEOPLE (John 11:17-44)

"Then Jesus wept". (John 11:35)

Elisha’s prayer and method of raising the dead boy show God’s personal care for hurting people. We must express genuine concern for others as we carry God’s message to them. Only then will we faithfully represent our compassionate Father in heaven.

JESUS DEMONSTRATED GOD’S CARE (Luke 14:7-14)

"Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you". (Luke 14:13-14)

John stresses that we have a God who cares. This portrait contrasts with the Greek concept of God that was popular in that day-a God with no emotions and no messy involvement with humans. Here we see many of Jesus’ emotions-compassion, indignation, sorrow, even frustration. When Jesus saw the weeping and wailing, he too wept openly. Perhaps he empathized with their grief, or perhaps he was troubled at their unbelief. In either case, Jesus showed that he cares enough for us to weep with us in our sorrow. He often expressed deep emotion, and we must never be afraid to reveal our true feelings to him. He understands them, for he experienced them. Be honest, and don’t try to hide anything from your Savior. He cares.

JESUS TAUGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF GENUINE CARING.

Jesus taught two lessons in this passage. First, he spoke to the guests, telling them not to seek places of honor. Service is more important in God’s kingdom than status. Second, he told the host not to be exclusive about whom he invites. Caring is demonstrated when we reach out to those who don’t expect our help. Caring focuses on the less fortunate. God opens his kingdom to everyone.

HUMAN CARING

WHAT KIND OF CARING DOES GOD EXPECT FROM HIS PEOPLE? (Romans 1:1-12)

"You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ, dear friends in Rome. God loves you dearly, and he has called you to be his very own people. May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:6-7)

GOD EXPECTS CARING THAT ENCOURAGES (Galatians 4:8-14).

"But even though my sickness was revolting to you, you did not reject me and turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself. (Galatians 4:14)

Paul showed his love for the Roman Christians by expressing God’s love for them and his own thanks and prayers for them. To have an effect on people’s lives, you first need to love them and believe in them. Paul’s passion to teach these people began with his love for them. Thank God for your Christian brothers and sisters, and let them know how deeply you care for them.

GOD EXPECTS US TO CARE FOR THOSE IN NEED (Acts 20:25-38)

"When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them". (Acts 20:36)

Paul’s illness was a sickness that he was enduring while he visited the Galatian churches. The world is often callous to people’s pain and misery. Paul commended the Galatians for not scorning him, even though his condition was a trial to them (he didn’t explain what was wrong with him). Such caring was what Jesus meant when he called us to serve the homeless, hungry, sick, and imprisoned as if they were Jesus himself (Matthew 25:34-40). Do you avoid those in pain or facing difficulty-or are you willing to care for them as if they were Jesus Christ himself?

REAL CARING IS OFTEN RETURNED.

Paul’s relationship with these believers is a beautiful example of Christian fellowship. He had cared for them and loved them, even cried over their needs. They responded with love and care for him and sorrow over his leaving. They prayed together and comforted one another. Like Paul, you can build strong relationships with other Christians by sharing, caring, sorrowing, rejoicing, and praying with them. You will gather others around you only by giving yourself away to them.

GOD’S WORD ON CARING

The seeds of compassion and concern are buried in the human heart, and when need appears or tragedy strikes, those seeds grow to fruition quickly. Anyone with a sense of humanity is ready and willing to help another in dire need. Call it love, concern, compassion, or care-it is our willingness to reach out, provide for others in a time of need, share with them, comfort them, and just be with them. But among Christians there is a heightened sense of caring. The very term “brothers and sisters in Christ” suggests a richer, deeper relationship that transcends blood relationships.

DOES GOD CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO ME?

Psalm 71:6 . . . Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you!

Psalm 31:7 . . . I am overcome with joy because of your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.

God’s love for me began before I was born, continues throughout my life, and extends through eternity.

HOW DOES GOD SHOW HIS CARE FOR ME?

Psalm 78:72 . . . He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands.

Psalm 121:7-8 . . . The Lord keeps you from all evil and preserves your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

Psalm 145:18-20 . . . The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him sincerely. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked.

Matthew 6:30 . . . If God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith!

1 Peter 5:7 . . . Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.

God protects, provides, and preserves us-now and forever.

HOW CAN I SHOW OTHERS I CARE?

 

1 Corinthians 12:25 . . . This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other equally.

Matthew 25:36 . . . I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.

Luke 10:34-35 . . . Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two pieces of silver and told him to take care of the man. ‘If his bill runs higher than that,’ he said, ‘I’ll pay the difference the next time I am here.

As God shows his care for us by protecting, providing, and preserving, so we can show his care to others by doing the same for them.

A CARING HEART WAS MADE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN IN THE FIRST PERSON ON EARTH.

Genesis 2:15 . . . The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it.

God instilled a sense of caring for his Creation in the first person on earth. Caring began in Eden and has been an essential part of humanity ever since. A caring spirit comes from the heart of God.

A SPIRIT OF CARING IS PART OF FAMILY RESPONSIBILITY.

Deuteronomy 1:31 . . . You saw how the Lord your God cared for you again and again here in the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child.

Father and mother love is caring love. As God models parental love, he at the same time models parental care. A loving spirit is at the same time a caring spirit.

A SPIRIT OF CARING CAN APPLY NOT ONLY TO PEOPLE BUT TO THE WORK WE DO FOR GOD AND THE THINGS WE USE IN THAT WORK.

1 Chronicles 9:28 . . . Some . . . were assigned to care for the various utensils used in worship. They checked them in and out to avoid any loss.

John 2:16 . . . Get these things out of here. Don’t turn my Father’s house into a marketplace!

God expects his people to care for his house, the church, and all that is in it. To neglect God’s house is to reveal an uncaring spirit for God himself.

Proverbs 16:3 . . . Commit your work to the Lord, and then your plans will succeed.

Caring about your work brings about excellence and sets an example to others of a job well done.

GOD’S CARE FOR US IS THE MODEL FOR OUR CARE FOR OTHERS.

Ezra 8:23 . . . We fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer.

1 Peter 5:7 . . . Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.

A good exercise would be to make a list of all the ways God cares for you; then try to model this same kind of care toward others.

OUR LOVING CARE MUST REACH BEYOND OUR OWN FAMILY TO ORPHANS AND WIDOWS AND OTHER PEOPLE IN NEED.

James 1:27 . . . Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.

Through God’s plan of salvation he lovingly helped us do what we could not do on our own. Through his plan for provision, he expects us to lovingly do for the needy what they cannot do on their own.

PROMISES FROM GOD:

1 Peter 5:7 . . . Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.

Psalm 23:6 . . . Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life.

Isaiah 46:4 . . . I will be your God throughout your lifetime-until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you.

Psalm 55:22 . . . Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you.

Psalm 91:11 . . . He orders his angels to protect you wherever you go.

Psalm 145:18 . . . The Lord is close to all who call on him.

Romans 8:28 . . . God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.