HELPS FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
BUILDING TO LAST (BIBLE STUDY) GUIDELINES
THEME: TOWARDS THE HARVEST OF SOULS INTO GOD’S KINGDOM
TOPIC: WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR?
BIBLE REFERENCES: Luke 10:29,36-37; 1 John 3:10-18
INTRODUCTION
We are continuing with our previous study on winning souls with compassion, a question was asked in the parable of the good samaritan (Who is your neighbour?) and an instruction was also given (Go and do likewise). These will be the basis for our study in this module.
Psalm chapter 15 verses 1 to 2 spelt out the basic requirement for being a carrier of God’s presence and effectiveness in doing good works, walking uprightly and doing the work of righteousness. 1 John 3:10 went further to tell us what qualifies a work to be counted as the work of righteousness. Every love-motivated action from a true and pure heart is qualified to be a work of righteousness. God wants us to live in love. The commandments are summarised into two viz: (a) Love for God and (b) Love for our neighbours. (Mark 12:30-31)
UNDERSTANDING THE NEED TO WALK IN LOVE WITH YOUR NEIGHBOURS
- Walking in love makes you a bonafide child of God with a precious seed from God. 1 John 3:9-11
- Walking in love is the basis for working the work of righteousness. (Abel as a case study.) 1 John 3:12 Cain was rejected because his works were evil. Hatred, jealousy, envyings and the like are the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21) the presence of such in the life of a man chokes the seed of love in the heart and thereby makes their works evil.
- Walking in love, makes us pass from death to life. 1 John 3:14-15 He that loves not his brother abides in death. He that hates his brethren is a murderer and such does not have eternal life in them.
- Walking in love opens our bowels of compassion to reach out to others in truth and deed. 1 John 3:16-18
AREAS OF SHOWING LOVE IN TRUTH AND INDEED (Matt. 25:30-46, Job 29:12-17)
- Feeding the hungry and giving water to the thirsty. (Matt. 25:35)
- Clothing the naked and providing shelter for the homeless. (Matt. 25:36)
- Being hospitable to strangers. (Heb. 13:1-2)
- Looking after widows and widowers. (Job 29:13, 1 Timo. 5:16)
- Looking after those in prison and the sick in the hospital. (Matt. 25:36-40)
- Looking after the orphans and those who have none to help them. (Jam. 1:27, Job 29:12)
- Comforting those in difficult situations. (2 Cor. 1:3-4)
In conclusion, we are charged to be a blessing to those in need around us. If you are notified about a pressing need, then you are capable of meeting it. God will not ask you to give what you don’t have. Jesus expects us to be proactive in helping those in need around us as this is the only way to prove the sincerity of our love for them. (2 Cor. 8:8) God proved His love to the world by sending His only begotten son (Jesus Christ) to die for our sins, we ought to do likewise. Through our good works, we prove the sincerity of our love for the brethren.
God bless you greatly!
