Love seeks and finds ways to help. Love, by its very nature, gives generously. “God so loved the world that He gave…” (John 3:16). Love gives in every way: it gives time and attention,14 it gives compliments,15 respect16 and good manners,17 it gives energy18 and prayers,19 it gives material things20 and hospitality.21 Jesus and all the prophets emphasized justice22 and helping the poor.23 Jesus said to a rich ruler, “Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor” (Luke 18:22). But Jesus similarly said to His poorer disciples, “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy” (Luke 12:33). Whether you have much or little, you can and should be generous. Paul gave this example to the Corinthians:
We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord… (2 Corinthians 8:1-3).
For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have (2 Corinthians 8:12).
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:7-8). M
14. Attention: Luke 5:27; 7:12-13,36-50; 13:10-16; 15:4; 18:40; 23:43; John 3:1-21; 4:7-43; 1 Corinthians 16:7; 2 Corinthians 11:27; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8
15. Compliments: Luke 7:9; John 1:47; 1 Corinthians 16:15-18; Romans 16:3-4,7,12; Philippians 2:22,25; 1 Thessalonians 1:3-9; 3 John 1:1-6; Revelation 2:1-3,12-13, etc.
16. Respect: see The Loving Family (Part 1), segment The Loving Father Through His Children, Note 3.
17. Good manners: Matthew 10:12; Luke 17:16; John 1:4-15; 1 Corinthians 11:33; 12:24; 13:5; 14:30; Romans 16:2; Philippians 2:29
18. Energy: Mark 6:30-31 with John 21:25; Colossians 1:29; 2:1; 4:12-13; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 16:16; 2 Corinthians 11:27; Philippians 1:22,25; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 3:8; 1 Timothy 4:10 cf. Genesis 29:20
19. Prayers: Matthew 5:44; Luke 22:32; John 17:9,20; Acts 6:4,6; 28:8; Romans 10:1; 2 Corinthians 1:11; 9:14; 13:7,9; Philippians 1:4-9; Ephesians 1:15-18; Colossians 1:3-12; 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; 1 Timothy 2:1; 2 Timothy 1:2-3; 3 John 1:2
20. Material gifts: Matthew 10:42; 25:35-36; Luke 7:38-47; 8:3; 10:23-35; 11:13; 21:1-4; John 2:10; Acts 2:45; 4:34-35; Romans 12:13; 1 Corinthians 12:15; James 2:15-16; 1 John 3:17; 3 John 1:5-7
21. Research Subject – Hospitality: Romans 12:13; 16:23; 1 Timothy 3:2; 5:10; Titus 1:8; 1 Peter 4:9; Hebrews 13:2; 3 John 1:8 cf. Acts 10:6; 16:15; 21:8; 28:7; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Philemon 1:7,20-22; Genesis 18:1-8; 2 Kings 4:10
22. Research Subject – God’s concern for justice: Exodus 23:2,6,8; Leviticus 19:13,15,36; Numbers 16:15; Deuteronomy 16:19-20; 24:17; 25:15; 27:19; 1 Samuel 8:3; 12:4; 2 Samuel 8:15; 1 Kings 3:11-12; 10:9; Ezra 7:25; Job 29:12; Psalm 11:7; 33:5; 45:6; 72:1f; 97:2; 99:4; 106:3; 112:5; 119:121; 140:12; Proverbs 1:3; 2:9; 8:20; 11:1; 16:10; 17:23; 18:5; 19:28; 21:15; 28:5; 29:7,14; 31:9; Ecclesiastes 5:8; Isaiah 1:17; 5:7, 23; 9:7; 10:2; 11:4; 16:5; 29:21; 33:5,15-16; 42:1; 59:4-15; 61:8; Jeremiah 7:5; 21:12; 22:15; 23:5; Lamentations 3:36; Ezekiel 18:8-9; 22:29; 45:9; Hosea 12:6-7; Amos 2:7; 5:12,15,24; Micah 2:2; 3:8-9; 6:8; Habakkuk 1:4; Zechariah 7:9; Malachi 3:5; Matthew 12:18,20; 23:23; Luke 11:42; 18:8; 23:50-51; Acts 8:33; 2 Corinthians 7:11; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:10; Hebrews 11:33; James 5:3-6; Revelation 19:11
23. Research Subject – God’s concern for the poor: Exodus 23:6,11; Leviticus 23:22; 25:39; 27:8; Deuteronomy 15:4-15; 24:12-15; Ruth 2:9; 1 Samuel 2:5-8; 18:23; 2 Samuel 12:1-5; Esther 9:22; Job 29:12-16; 30:25; 31:13-22; 34:19,28; Psalm 14:6; 22:26; 34:6; 35:10; 37:14-16;68:10; 69:32-33; 74:21-22; 82:3;112:9; 113:7; 132:15; 140:12; Proverbs 14:20-21,31; 17:5; 19:17; 21:13; 22:2,9,16,22; 28:19,22; 29:7,13-14; 30:8-9, 31:9,20; Isaiah 3:14-15; 10:1-3; 11:4; 14:30; 25:4; 26:5-7; 58:6-12; 61:1; Jeremiah 5:28; 22:16; Ezekiel 16:49; 18:12-13; 22:29-31; Amos 4:1-12; 5:11-15; 8:4-7; Zechariah 7:10; Matthew 11:5; 19:21; 26:9-11; Mark 10:21; 12:42-44; Luke 6:20; 7:22; 11:41; 12:33; 14:13, 21; 16:25; 18:22; 19:8; John 13:29; Acts 2:45; 4:34-35; 9:36; 10:4,31; 24:17; Romans 15:26; 1 Corinthians 13:3, 12; 2 Corinthians 6:10; 8:2,9; 9:9; Galatians 2:10; James 2:1-9; Revelation 2:9