1 John 3:17-21 But whoever has this world's good, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him… I. WHO ARE THEY THAT ARE OBLIGED TO WORKS OF CHARITY? All are obliged to do something towards supplying the wants of others whom God hath blessed with greater abundance than is sufficient for the supply of their own. It is not the value of the gift which God regards, but the honest purpose of the giver. II. WHO ARE THEY TOWARDS WHOM WORKS OF CHARITY OUGHT TO BE EXERCISED? By the "needy" you are not to understand absolutely every needy man, but everyone who being in need is not able by honest means to provide for himself. Those are before all others the objects of charity, who want food and raiment sufficient for the sustenance of their bodies. The reason of this is that life is the foundation of all other blessings in this world. We are bound, according to our abilities, not only to preserve the life of others, but to secure their happiness too. And in this work sickness and pain are principally to be regarded. When life, health, and liberty are secure, the law of charity grows to be more undermined, yet I think we should not say that it entirely ceases. For the having what is barely necessary for the purposes of life is but the first and lowest degree of happiness. III. WHENCE THE VALUE OF CHARITY ARISES, or what it is that makes the outward act of giving to become acceptable to God. That which the apostle condemns here is the shutting up our bowels against the cries of the needy. God can feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, and deliver the prisoner from captivity without drawing anything from our stores. But as He has otherwise ordered things, He hath given us affections suitable to the conditions in which He hath placed us, and made us by nature humane and merciful. When the heart is open, it is impossible that the hands can be shut. There is a pleasure in giving, which a truly compassionate mind is no more able to resist than it can forbear to commiserate. IV. THE WANT OF A CHARITABLE AND BENEVOLENT DISPOSITION IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE LOVE OF GOD. (H. Stebbing, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? |
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