Ezekiel Kimosop Supporter

What does "sees his brother in need" imply about Christian responsibility?

1 John 3:17 says "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?"

The passage context of 1 John 3:16-21 says:

"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment." (NKJV). 

This passage provides the theological context for v.17. The broader context can however be distilled from a study of vv.:1-23. The writer is speaking about Christian love. In this context, a Christian who holds genuine love for his fellow believer will be compelled to go an extra mile in seeking for his brother's or sister's spiritual and material wellbeing, including championing for their support from among well-wishers. They will not look the other way under such compelling circumstances. 

This exhortation is also found in James 2:14-17 which says "14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 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? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (NKJV). 

These passages of Scripture exhort believers to practically demonstrate their love and faith for the needy in their communities of context. We are compelled by the love of God to exercise sacrificial love in our circumstance of context in the name of Christ and to the glory of God. This is a responsibility that rests on God's covenant people. We should therefore reach out to the needy, knowing that God has extended His immeasurable grace to us in Christ Jesus. James makes reference to the "naked and destitute" in v.16, an illustration of extreme deprivation in society. 

This is not to suggest that God's love should only be demonstrated in extreme cases of need. God's love should be defined by a lifestyle of outward service to the needy in the general sense. Notice that 1 John 3:17 contemplates the believer's capacity in making a response. This suggests that God expects us to respond to the needy in accordance with how much God has blessed us. 

These acts of charity should be informed by a cheerful heart. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says "But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." (NKJV).

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