Working in the medical field as a scar specialist, I was exposed to many types of physical trauma in people’s lives. Bringing healing to their wounds required an intentional act of love on my part; this took a tremendous amount of care and commitment. Showing God’s love for one another takes that same kind of commitment. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are to have care for one another.
I Corinthians 12:25:
That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
Think about how you would care for Jesus Christ and how he would care for you. We can give that same quality care to each other because we have a limitless supply of God’s love within.
What is involved in our care for one another? To “have care” means to “take thought,” to “look out for,” to “seek to promote one’s interests.” We are to please our neighbor for his good to edification (Romans 15:2). Even Jesus Christ pleased not himself.
Mark 14:3-8:
And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
Jesus let this unnamed disciple anoint him because it was important to her. He didn’t just tolerate her; he loved her. Love allows a lot of things because love sees into people’s hearts. The motive is what’s important. Anointing him with her costly ointment was what she desired to do out of love, and in accepting her act of love, Jesus Christ took care of her heart. We are to have the same care one for another according to God’s Word. We can properly care for others and make a difference in people’s lives.
The better we understand how to care for one another, the greater we can manifest the love of God and extend ourselves to others. What is it to CARE? We can remember this acronym:
C is for Concern for others’ well-being.
A is for Ask questions, drawing them into our lives.
R is for Reaffirm the Word.
E is for Esteem them highly.
CONCERN FOR THEIR WELL-BEING
Showing concern includes thinking about how to bless each other. We pray and speak in tongues and keep the needs of the believers ever before us in our hearts (Philippians 1:8,9).
ASK QUESTIONS
We ask questions to show an interest in each other’s welfare, and we share our hearts and lives with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our actions, coupled with our concern, attract them so that we build tight bonds. We get to know and trust one another. We become part of each other’s lives. It takes our souls to minister to one another, to show the Word living in us.
I Thessalonians 2:8:
So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
REAFFIRM THE WORD
We reaffirm the truth of the Word to elevate believing and overcome challenges together. We say what the Word says. Paul exhorted and comforted and charged the Thessalonians “as a father doth his children” (I Thessalonians 2:11). He reaffirmed the Word for them. We do that too.
ESTEEM THEM HIGHLY
“To esteem” means to set a high value on and prize accordingly. God deemed us to be worthy of the highest price, that of His only begotten Son. God highly values your life and mine. Our esteem for one another is the deep respect we show because of our high value to God.
I Thessalonians 1:4:
Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
There is no substitute for our loving care for one another. Love allows a lot of things because love sees into people’s hearts—and we have a limitless supply of God’s love within. With that love we extend CARE to one another—showing concern, asking questions, reaffirming the Word, and esteeming others highly.