If I have not love

The apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13 --- "If I give all my money to the poor but do not have love, it profits me nothing."

How profound. Paul, you mean giving money is not in and of itself love? Wow! Is it possible to give money to the poor, and NOT have love?

That's exactly what Paul is telling us.

The other day I was talking to a friend of mine. He is a student of the justice of the Lord and social justice. He said, "We're idolizing the poor and demonizing the wealthy. The poor aren't special. If they don't have Jesus, they still perish."

His statement pricked my heart. I'd started down the slide of "help the poor, help the poor" but without bringing them to the true Food! Jesus, the way, the truth and the life! We can give them money and food all day long but if we don't teach them to care for themselves and come to Christ for salvation, we've done NOTHING! We've not shown love at all.

I think of those who are social justice minded in the secular world. They want to help the poor, but do they show love? Demonizing the wealthy is NOT showing love.

Many in politics want to help the poor to make them dependent on them so their power base increases. How do I know? I look at their lives. They fly private planes, have six, eight houses, live above those they claim to care about so deeply.

Am I better? No. But I am convicted about loving. I don't want to give money to the poor but not have love. It profits nothing. Helping the poor is not going to get Obama, Oprah, Pelosi, Angelia, Bono or any of us into heaven. It's just not.

Should we care for the poor? Absolutely! But becoming rabid and angry about it, becoming Robin Hoods, is not love. Stealing from the rich is not love.

Pray for God's love to abound. Phil 1:9. To end poverty. We must have a revelation knowledge of Jesus.

Best Selling and award winning author Rachel Hauck lives in central Florida with her husband. She is a graduate of the Ohio State Univerisity and has traveled internationally as a software trainer.

But, writing is her love, and she hopes to spread the fragrance of Jesus with her words.

Her current release is Love Starts With Elle from Thomas Nelson, her second lowcountry story. Her next release, "The Sweet By and By" comes out this summer with country artist Sara Evans. Check out all of her books and musings on her web site at www.rachelhauck.com.