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What We Believe and Why - Vol. II
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

Copyright - Lester Hutson - 1982
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.

Chapter Forty Four
Love in Action
Part I

I. LOVE IS LIKE FAITH: YOU CAN'T SEE IT.

A. In Hebrews 11:1 faith is described. Hebrews 11:3 points out that some things we cannot see are obviously there. Then beginning in verse 4 and continuing through verse 40 the whole point is illustrated. Abel "offered a sacrifice," Noah "built an ark," Abraham "went out," Joseph "made mention," etc. These things we can see. Now what do these things tell us? That faith is present. Twenty times in this chapter alone the words "by faith" or "through faith" are used. In essence it was the faith that produced the "sacrifice," "ark," etc. These things themselves weren't the faith. They were simply visible things which told us that faith was there.

B. Love works on the same order. I John 3:16 says that we know of the love of God because of the death of Christ. We can't actually see the LOVE of God, but we can see the death which it produced: the death of Christ. This death tells us the love is there.

C. In II Corinthians 2:4, Paul wrote letters to churches as one means of showing his love. Obviously, if love within itself was visible Paul would not have to write these letters to show it.

D. Men can't see radium, but a Geiger counter is used to detect it. The noise and lighting up is not the radium but merely proof that radium is present. We look at the trees sway. That is not the wind, but rather the effects of the wind.

II. BEAR IN MIND THAT MAN IS THE ONE WHO IS LIMITED TO SEEING THE EFFECTS OF LOVE.

A. I Samuel 16:7 shows us that man looks only on the outward appearance, but God knows our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9) This was seen by Christ's coming. (I Peter 2:4)

B. God knows whether or not a man loves, despite what the man does or does not do to show it. (See Psalms 139:7-12.) He is not limited to having to judge us by our works. Of man the Scriptures say, "by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 9:47; See also John 2:24.)

C. Compare again love with faith. Of Abraham, Romans 4:1-8 reveals that he was justified by faith "before God." (verse 3) But whenever it came to being justified before man, (James 2:15-16), Abraham was justified "by works." (James 2:21) Why? Because God could see his heart while man couldn't. As far as the world of man is concerned, Abraham had faith. This they say in view of what he did. He proved to the world his faith by his works. Even so love works the same way. It can only be known to other men if it is put into action. If it is not put into action, it, like faith, is dead. (James 2:17,20)

D. Consider the two given by James. First, look at verses 15-16. If a man was hungry and destitute you might say you loved him with every breath, but if you never put your love into action by providing food, shelter, clothing, etc., he'd no doubt starve to death. He'd only be able to gauge your love by what you did to reveal it. Second, see verse 25. Rahab might well have said she wanted to help the messengers, but they were able to know her real love by her hiding them from the enemy.

E. It is therefore that Paul exhorts the Corinthians, "Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him." (II Corinthians 2:8) Again he says to them, "Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches the PROOF of your love, and of our boastings on your behalf. (II Corinthians 8:24) If you have love, then show it. Otherwise the world will never know you had it.

III. LOVE IN ACTION CONCERNS OTHERS.

A. We don't see God here, but we do see man. What we do here is before men. Like the tabernacle which had no floor indicating that those inside were always touching the dirty ground, even so we may be the saints of God with a home in heaven, yet we are still on earth among people.

B. Jesus recognized this truth and thus said, "Let your light so shine BEFORE MAN, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16) A man can best serve God by serving his fellow man.

C. This then is all the more reason why we should work with people. We should constantly devote our energies to pointing people to Christ. We should let our every action be such as to cause them to see love and concern in us for them, not actions to portray hate and indifference.

D. Paul said to the Ephesians, "I heard of your love," (Ephesians 1:5), and of the "labor of love" of the Thessalonians. (I Thessalonians 1:3) He was only able to do this in view of the fact that they were doing some things which he and others could see. Thus he concluded as a human that they had "love."

E. I've never seen God, but I am working to honor Him. He says He can best be honored by one working to win his fellow man. Many men see me every day. I then ought to let my every action before men portray the love of God.

IV. THE WORLD ONLY BENEFITS FROM LOVE IN ACTION.

A. As we have already seen from James, it doesn't do any good to just say you are going to help someone. The good is in the actual helping. That is why Solomon said, "Open rebuke is better than secret love." (Proverbs 27:5) There is little more useless than one always saying he loves God and never proving it. Paul exhorted the Corinthians to "prove the sincerity of your love." (II Corinthians 8:8)

B. When genuine love is present, there'll be some actions. Galatians 5:13 says, "By love serve one another." A good many people today talk about not having time to work in a church faithfully, not knowing what to do for the Lord, not knowing anyone to win to Him. Get a man really in love with the Lord, and he'll find time to serve in His house, find things to do to honor Him, find someone to win and bring to His house, if it has to be done by house to house knocking.

C. We can well conclude today that an absence of action for the Lord is indicative of a lack of love in the heart. If you want the people of your church, city and the world to know that you love God, then tithe, be there when the doors of your church are opened, do what you can to make the church better, promote unity, bring people to the services, pray, encourage the saints, etc. That is love in action. But if you want the world to see that you don't really love God, just be there when it is convenient, give a small offering, stir up trouble by smart remarks, temper fits, gossip, disagreeing with what's going on whether or not you have a scripture to stand on, just pray when you feel like it, spend most of your time thinking about the job, the home, the recreation, etc. The only way the world has of knowing you love God is by what you do to show it, and in view of Matthew 5:16 you can't ignore that and say, "Well, I'm not trying to please men" for God holds you responsible to them. You can't serve Him without serving them. So, put your "love in action." Start by bringing someone to God's house next Sunday.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"