1 John 3:17

"But whoso hath this worlds good, and seeth his brother
have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion
from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"

What a question. Here we have the apostle John, over time referred to as the apostle of love, asking a very basic question on need. John poses the question that, if a person is in need and we ignore them, how can the love of God be in us. It's a good question. How does one answer it? Well for starters lets decide what need is. In my experience need can be, money to pay bills, food to eat, a person to talk to, work to be done due to lack of funds. Need can fall into so many categories but the real question is it truly a need. I need a Ferrari. Probably not. I need to win the lottery. Probably not. I need more houses and property. Not really. Do you see what I am getting at? If we really look at it sensibly, needs are basic. Food, water, shelter, you know the basics. After that, it's all really just stuff to congest your life and draw you away from God. It really is true. The number one need in a persons life is Christ. Now am I saying we need to live at a poverty level and have nothing extra? Of course not. What am saying is what John is asking. What are we doing with what we have? That's the real question. Next John says something interesting. Shutteth up his bowels of compassion. What on earth does that mean. I love the king James and old English terms it uses. It gets you digging and gets the point across a bit better at times. What John is saying is that you have shut down your affection or compassion for someones needs. Bowels actually translates to inward affection. It's that part of you that has emotion attached to it as well. Example: You see a guy who desperately needs water. You know he needs it and you have some that you could share. Instead, you drink it all and forget about the guy dying around the corner. Simpler: You see a old woman stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire looking desperate for help. You drive right by and crank the tunes drowning her out of the mind scape. Your friend asks you to help him move but you say no, I don't have the time but you do, you just don't want to be bothered. I could go on and on. The scary thing is, we are all guilty of it. We have become a society that is more concerned with ourselves than anyone else. 2 Timothy 3 talks about this happening in the end times. Do we all tithe like the bible teaches? 10% then what ever else the Lord lays on your heart. Do we offer our time for people in need? Do the church leaders really seek the Lord to see what He would have them do with the offerings? It's endless!!! It comes down to this. God wants to provide for our needs. See Matthew 6:33. We need to seek Him first like Matthews gospel says then our needs will be met. Then we can meet the needs of others. The last part of the verse is simple. The love of God will dwell in us when we are more Christ like in our hearts. I know some saved people who are as cold as a dead fish. I don't understand it. When we come to a realization of who God is and what He has done, how can the love of God not be overflowing in us? So maybe this will help you, me, take an inventory of our lives and see what are priorities really are. I know I have some work to do, how about you? Bob.