Sharing Is Caring

“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions”

1 John 3:18


As a pastor there’s not much I enjoy more on a Monday morning than hearing from someone who listened to a sermon the day before and left praying asking God to help them put into practice the message. This past Sunday I titled my message “Sharing is Caring” where we focused on the heart of the apostle Paul and his love for his countryman, the nation of Israel. We read Paul wanted nothing more in this life than to see all Jewish people embrace Jesus Christ as God’s promised Messiah. It broke his heart that they for the most part had not and he was willing to give up his own salvation if only God would save the nation of Israel. Paul cared so much that people would go to heaven he was willing to go to hell in their place. Now that is love, that is caring.

Sunday I was sharing from the apostle Paul’s life his understanding that, “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”. The apostle knew to be effective in sharing the gospel with others we too need to ask God to give us a caring heart. I received a couple of notes not long after the sermon was over on Sunday from people who had already began to pray that God would give them a more loving and caring heart for the people God places in their path. Then just this morning I got a note with a picture stating “Sharing is Caring” where the person sending me the photo said they were seeking opportunities to “earn the right to be heard.”

Try it today and see for yourself. Show your care and compassion for others without being asked. Pray then do something for someone who can do nothing for you in return and watch their response. The answer we are hoping for is “why” because “why” earns us the right to share the love of Christ. What a blessing to be able to say like the apostle Paul, “I have prayed to God for you and asked the Lord for the chance to make known to you the riches of His glory.” Yes, we have a motive behind our caring and that motive is sharing the love of God who does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

 If we really care about people then nothing could be more important than their eternal destiny, and if the only way people will learn of God’s plan of salvation is for someone to share it with them, it’s safe to say, “Sharing Is Caring.”

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile”

Romans 1:16

I LOVE YOU!