Spread the Love

Take a moment and ask yourself these questions: what would you do with:

1. Gift of teaching?

2. Gift of intercessory?

3. Gift of healing?

4. 1 million dollars?

I know many would say give back to the society for options 1, 2 and 3 with a little bit of more ease compared to option 4.

Not to condemn you, but let me ask you, would you give more than just a tithe for the case of the million dollars? Do you not know that finances are also a spiritual blessing in which also the concept of "to whom much is given much is expected" applies? 

Luke 12:48b

For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

Picture this: What if in this world each and every person who is able to eat, cloth and live stable would just reach out to one brother or sister (emphasis on one)? What would this world be like?

On to another aspect of spreading the love based on this day and age.

Matthew 24:12

And because lawlessness (others say wickedness) will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

Most of you can attest that in these days the probability of finding a person (be it a friend, neighbour, spouse or even family) who shows genuine love in any way (not necessarily money) is low, right?

Note: And the reverse is also true. That those who receive love may not reciprocate or better yet spread it to the world. This is true not just for the world, but also for the church.

Matthew 6:3

But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing...

This part of the sermon affects most of us Christians, as well as non-Christians. In this day and age, people who make so much money tend to "give back to the society" but on condition that the media recognizes their efforts and publicizes the matter. They call themselves philanthropists.

Am sure this example will apply to most of us. Where someone does a charitable deed (very nice) and he/she goes to the other supposedly friend to tell them of what they did to help you and others go to extremes of reminding you of what they did to help you. I'm sure we can relate to that. We can call these the "Philanthropists of Kenya."

Matthew 6:1-2

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ² Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

The reverse is also true for this statement.

Matthew 6:4

_...that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

I was humbled by what the Equity Holdings CEO (Dr. James Mwangi) said during a JKL interview on TV. He was asked, "are you a rich man?" His answer was: "The Lord God has been very good (kind) to me." He was also asked, "Do you expect thanks from the people you help in ‘wings to fly’ program?" To this, he answered: "We don’t do this for recognition or thanks, but we do this because it is the right thing to do."

We show love regardless of whether we get back or not, regardless of whether the recipient is a friendly or hostile, simply because Jesus Christ loves us.

Matthew 5:43-48

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? ⁴⁸ Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

Summary

1. Give and receive (spread) love cheerfully and not tearfully
2.   Genuine love does not remind someone of good works.
3.   Show love fully and not partially using wisdom from God (James 1:5-8, 3:13) to also avoid manipulation
4.   Love, love and love. Who doesn’t want to be loved?

-- Peter Gikonyo. 

Sunday Morning Exhortation, Teaching Transformation Ministry. 

Brother Peter is a vibrant youth at Teaching Transformation Ministry. We are located along the Thika-Ruai Flyover Junction (at the Thika Rd./ Bypass intersection), Next to Eastgate Restaurant.