Topical Bible: Love to Man: should be Exhibited, in Supporting the Weak

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In the Christian faith, love is a fundamental principle that extends beyond mere affection to encompass actions that uplift and support others, particularly those who are weak or vulnerable. The Bible provides numerous exhortations and examples that illustrate the importance of supporting the weak as an expression of love to man.

The Apostle Paul, in his epistles, frequently emphasizes the duty of believers to support those who are weak. In 1 Thessalonians 5:14 , Paul instructs, "And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone." This passage highlights the multifaceted nature of love, which includes encouragement, assistance, and patience, particularly towards those who are struggling.

Similarly, in Romans 15:1 , Paul writes, "We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves." This verse underscores the responsibility of the strong to support the weak, prioritizing their needs over personal desires. The call to bear with the weaknesses of others is a practical demonstration of love that reflects Christ's own sacrificial love for humanity.

The concept of supporting the weak is also evident in the teachings of Jesus. In Matthew 25:35-40 , Jesus speaks of the final judgment, where acts of kindness towards the "least of these" are equated with service to Him. He states, "For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me." This passage illustrates that love for others is demonstrated through tangible acts of support and care for those in need.

The early church provides a model of communal support and love. In Acts 20:35 , Paul reminds the Ephesian elders of the words of Jesus, saying, "In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" The early Christians practiced this principle by sharing their resources and ensuring that no one among them was in need, as seen in Acts 4:34-35.

Furthermore, the Epistle of James emphasizes the practical aspect of faith expressed through works. James 1:27 states, "Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." Supporting the weak, such as orphans and widows, is presented as an essential component of true religion.

In summary, the biblical mandate to support the weak is a profound expression of love to man. It calls believers to act selflessly, prioritizing the needs of others, and reflecting the love of Christ through practical support and care. This principle is woven throughout Scripture, urging Christians to embody love through their actions towards those who are vulnerable and in need.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Galatians 6:2
Bear you one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Thessalonians 5:14
Now we exhort you, brothers, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

This HomilyWas Delivered in the Old Church of Antioch
... was much benignity to his fellow-servants; now, there was exceeding love shown towards ...
Lest we should say then, as many often do, "No man knoweth anything ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily i this homily was.htm

Christ's Intercessory Prayer.
... But why should unity be the ultimate desire of Christ, the ... good, to utter by word
or deed the love and power that are in us, is the permanent joy of man. ...
/.../xvi christs intercessory prayer.htm

Heaven's Nurse Children
... See, then, how God's boundless love piles mountain upon mountain ... But our Lord knew
what was in man, and, therefore ... all we shall know hereafter, we should be so ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/heavens nurse children.htm

Joshua's Conquest.
... the Babylonian goddess Istar, the goddess of love, worshiped as ... suggested by this
book the following should be considered ... in spite of all the weakness of man. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter viii joshuas conquest.htm

Appendix.
... No man in society should take upon him by ... present government abolished, then those
who love the truth ... councils of the nation, then means should be assiduously ...
//christianbookshelf.org/cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/appendix.htm

The Making of the King James Version; Its
... As some one has said, "You could love him; you could ... said, and to say it so that
the common man could well understand it, and yet so that it should not be ...
/.../mcafee/study of the king james bible/lecture ii the making of.htm

Moody's Stories
... he had not dared to sell it, lest it should lead to ... The closest tie on earth is a
mother's love for her ... a good many things that will separate a man from his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/moodys stories/moodys stories.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1832 to the Beginning ...
... I should soon collect around me a more numerous crowd than any man ... pen, or in his
more private intercourse in society, the love of God and man appeared to ...
/.../chapter 12 from the close.htm

An Exhortation to Theodore after his Fall. Letter I.
... but such as any great and wonderful man might have ... and being still a mere youth,
should have suddenly ... was constrained to fall into foolish love intrigues, and ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/an exhortation to theodore after.htm

The Life of Anne Catherine Emmerich
... intention, and she was afraid lest her friends should forget it ... her dying voice saying:
'Ah, for the love of God ... relates a similar trait of a dying man, who had ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/the life of anne catherine.htm