2 Corinthians 8:24

IN every Believer's heart there is love to God, otherwise he cannot be a child of God! In every Christian's soul there is love to Jesus Christ. How could he be a Christian otherwise? As a consequence of this, in every Christian's bosom there is a love to the brotherhood—"We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren." In every Christian's breast there is also a love to all mankind. He practices that second great Commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

IN every Believer's heart there is love to God, otherwise he cannot be a child of God! In every Christian's soul there is love to Jesus Christ. How could he be a Christian otherwise? As a consequence of this, in every Christian's bosom there is a love to the brotherhood—"We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren." In every Christian's breast there is also a love to all mankind. He practices that second great Commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The spirit of God has cast out the demon of selfishness and, in proportion as that is the case, the man possesses the mind of Christ which is love. As all the Law is fulfilled in one word which is, "love," so the outcome of our holy faith is also contained in that one word, "love." Oh that we were saturated with it! Where there is true love in the heart, it becomes a working principle. It does not lie dormant, but it works—works abundantly! It is a vital principle that where there is life there is movement and a measure of activity. It is a principle that grows and out of its growth there comes fruit. For these reasons and in these ways, true Believers give sure proofs of the love that is in their hearts. I wish to speak to you, at this time, by answering four questions. I. First, WHAT IS THE EXCELLENCE OF THIS LOVE that we should be so anxious to prove it? This Christian love must have some great worth about it, or else we should not be exhorted by the Apostle once and again to prove that we have it. Remember, first, that true love to God and the saints in the Christian heart is Divine in its origin. We would never have loved God if He had not first loved us! And, unless His Holy Spirit had turned the stream of our affections in that direction, we would have run away from God and have hated God and we would neither have loved Him nor His people.

Wherefore show ye to them ... - By a liberal contribution in the cause in which they are engaged and for which they have come among you now, furnish the evidence that you love me and the Christian cause, and show that I have not boasted of you in vain. The proof of your love - Your love to me, to God, to the cause of religion; see the note on 2Co 8:8. And of our boasting ... - My boasting that you would give liberally to the object; see the note, 2Co 7:14. Let it now be seen that my boasting was well founded, and that I properly understood your character, and your readiness to contribute to the objects of Christian benevolence. Remarks 1. Let us bear in mind that a disposition to be liberal proceeds only from God, 2Co 8:1. The human heart is by nature selfish, and indisposed to benevolence. It is only by the grace of God that people are excited to liberality; and we should therefore pray for this as well as for all other graces. We should beseech God to remove selfishness from our minds; to dispose us to feel as we should feel for the needs of others, and to incline us to give just what we ought to give to relieve them in trouble, and to promote their temporal and eternal welfare. 2. It is an inestimable blessing when God gives a spirit of liberality to the church, 2Co 8:1. It should be regarded as a proof of his special favor; and as an evidence of the prevalence of the principles of true religion. 3. People are often most liberal when in circumstances of distress, perplexity, and affliction, 2Co 8:2. Prosperity often freezes the heart, but adversity opens it. Success in life often closes the hand of benevolence, but adversity opens it. We are taught to feel for the sufferings of others by suffering ourselves; and in the school of adversity we learn invaluable lessons of benevolence which we should never acquire in prosperity. […]