1 Corinthians 16:1-6
Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me...
Paul taught the Christians that they should help and give to one other. The early church did not have any insurance or social welfare policy, so it was in the church we help one another. When people were in need, others were willing to help meet their needs. How about the modern church? Because we are too dependent on government, and other social organizations, we tend to neglect the most basic love, which is caring for one another.
Sometimes we say we love one another and know logically we should love one another, however we fail to realize that love is a very simple thing. When we see people in need, and we show concern for them and take care of their needs, this is love. Believers should do so all the more, because the Lord first loved us and gave himself for us. We should also love brothers and sisters with the love of the Lord. When the world sees the love of among brothers and sisters in church, it will bring glory to God.
Pastor Otis is a servant that God used greatly during the Argentina revival. He had testified, saying, God used his church to teach the lesson of loving one another. One time during his sermon, he only said one sentence, "Brothers and sisters, God said to me, we should love one another". After he said that, he sat down. The church initially did not know how to respond. After a while, some brothers and sisters said, "I understand!" So they stood up, and began to ask the person next to them whether they had any needs. When someone said they have a need, others would say how they could help. Some brothers and sisters were unemployed, and others immediately picked up the phone to call around asking if there were jobs available. Within half an hour, the whole atmosphere of the church was changed. That day there was no preaching, but a simple phrase "love one another", caused all these miraculous things to happen during the half hour. May God help us to use actions to express the love in Christ and take the initiative to care for the people around us.
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