“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith”
to all,
The word “to” means towards, face-to-face. Spirit-filled believers are willing to deal with people face to face. They deal with others with a sense of rapport.
Spirit-filled believers do not limit their good to Christians only; they are willing to do good to “all,” whether Christians or non-Christians.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
especially to those who are of the household of faith
The word “household” signifies belonging to, a house. The household of faith is the company of the redeemed, children of God, the family of God.
“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death” (1 John 3:14).
“If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21).
The definite article before the word “faith” in the Greek emphasizes “those who belong to the faith.” Paul discriminates between the saved and the lost here. God selects the saved for special treatment. An evangelical Christian is a dirty word to many people on television, yet they are God’s people. If there is a choice, God’s people are to give priority to God’s people.
“For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10).
Principle:
God’s people must stick together for the cause of Christ.
Application:
Philanthropy is a good thing, but there is something better–the cause of the family of God. There is a massive difference between Gentile philanthropy and Christian work. Most pagan philanthropists will not give a dime to Christian work.
God’s people ought to support God’s work. God’s work has a prior claim over secular work. Many of God’s ministries are dirt poor. This is a disgrace and shame. This is because God’s people support this world’s great secular foundations and neglect God’s ministries. This is especially true with the baby boom generation.
Baby boomers give as much as previous generations, but the proportion is much more directed toward secular institutions. They have lost a sense of the eternal, of heaven and hell. They respond to temporal maudlin needs rather than eternal issues. They could not care less about the family of God or about getting people into the family of God. They want to impress those around them.
“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God…” (Ephesians 2:19).
God’s people must stick together for the cause of Christ.
