JULY 25, 2025
Topic: “INTIMACY IN GIVING (Part 3): MEETING ONE ANOTHER’S NEED“
Text: Matthew 25:31-40
Memory Verse: “James 2:15-16 – “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?”
The Christian faith is based on love and emphasizes giving in love to meet others’ needs (John 3:16). James says there is no profit in failing to help a brother in need (James 2:15-16). Meeting other people’s needs without love is also unprofitable (1 Corinthians 13:3). God gave us His best in order to restore intimacy between Him and us. Without love, there can be no intimacy. Love, though a noun, is also an action word. We see this example in Jesus when He gave Himself to meet our spiritual need for God (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) and also fed multitudes (Matthew 15:36-38) to meet their physical need for food.
Meeting the needs of others is so important that Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 25:40 that whatever they do to His brothers, they have done unto Him. In this, we see that when you give money, food, clothing, shelter, comfort, encouragement and other life essentials to those in need of them, you have given them to Jesus. Giving to meet others’ needs is profitable according to Luke 6:38. Jesus promises you a return in greater measure than you have given.
When you have an intimate relationship with God, you will extend this to others and this will guide your motive and attitude to giving. Jesus says in Matthew 6:3-4 that “when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…….” This emphasizes that:
You give with humility without seeking personal recognition or praise. Give privately without announcing it to others. This allows those in need of your help to approach you freely without the fear of being embarrassed. You do not dwell on the good deeds you have done because you have done it to God and in His name.
PRAYER: Our dear Father, please put in our hands resources that can meet our needs and those of others and give us the grace to embrace the virtue of generosity in love in Jesus’ name, Amen.