Lesson 40. Material Assistance—A Language of Love

Money is a means established by society through which we pay for services and goods and determine the value of anything that must be evaluated in some way. Money will never cease to exist. It has different forms and types. Money may be metallic, paper, electronic, or virtual. But whatever form it takes, society must accept it for payment and valuation. Every nation has its own national currency within its territory, recognized as the principal monetary unit for measuring goods and services within that country.

It is for money that we spend our life, earning or acquiring it. We must understand that money is not trash or mere paper. It is something we strive to obtain throughout life, investing our time, strength, and talents in the process. Yet while accepting this state of affairs, we should not deify money or elevate its acquisition to the goal of our entire life.

Although money becomes an idol for many people, it is not evil in itself. The love of money is the root of all evil. At the same time, money is not the source of happiness, although it can make many people conditionally happy.

Love sets itself in opposition to money, yet it does not deny money’s importance in our world. Love teaches us to earn and use this means with diligence, wisdom, and consistency.

Will there be money in Heaven? With what will we pay for one another’s services and goods there? I think I will not be mistaken if I answer that Agape Love is Heaven’s unit for measuring the value of every service and that it alone will be the single recognized currency circulating throughout the Universe.

In our world, love also has its price and its demand.

Material assistance is a language of love when it proceeds from pure motives and has sound judgment at its foundation. When I extend such kindness to someone near me or support a project from my personal funds or savings, I thereby give a portion of the life I spent earning those resources.

Material assistance becomes especially precious and meaningful when I provide it at the proper time, placing all my love into it.

Reading Mark 12:41—“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury...” —I understand that God watches me very attentively and is interested in how I manage what He has entrusted to me. The deed of the poor widow, who gave to God’s cause all that she had to live upon, will forever remain an unsurpassed example of self-sacrifice. Throughout all ages, this small deed of sincere love for God, which received the highest appraisal in the eyes of Jesus, will continue to touch human hearts.

Have any of you been in need? Has there been a time when you understood that you had nothing to live on, nothing to eat, and did not know what to do?

I remember a time in 1994 when my wife and I were living in Germany and renting a room in a hotel. I had just found a job but had not yet earned anything, and all our resources had reached zero. We had seventeen German marks in savings. When my wife went to the kitchen and left the door open, someone stole the wallet, and we were left without any means. What an interesting condition of soul! At that time I already believed in God but did not yet know how to pray. Yet my soul began crying out to Heaven and asking what we should do. We went to the bank, withdrew the last single mark from our account, went to a store, bought something to eat, and that was all. Where could we go? Whom could we ask? What could we eat? Everything was uncertain. Strangers surrounded us, and the language was unfamiliar. Suddenly a neighbor came, gave us fifty marks, and offered to drive us in his car to a supermarket for groceries. Our joy knew no bounds. The neighbor imposed no conditions for repayment; he simply decided to help us. How timely it was, and what joy it brought us!

I think many of you have experienced or are now experiencing something similar, and perhaps such an experience still lies ahead for someone.

When I help poor people, I lend to the Lord. Jesus identifies Himself with those who are in need, sickness, and darkness. He teaches us that by helping such people, we lay up treasure for ourselves in Heaven.

This part of society does not need words; people in such circumstances need something that will relieve their need and suffering. Love sees this and seeks an opportunity to help.

But we must also understand that poverty is sometimes not a misfortune of fate, but a condition of a person’s mind. If you give such a person everything without measure, their way of thinking will cause them to become poor again within a short time. Therefore, in addition to providing material assistance, it is worth teaching a person to earn independently if they have that ability.

Love finds pleasure in helping the poor. It places its whole self into every deed. By giving material assistance to others, I open people’s hearts to friendship, relieve their suffering, and give them hope.

I show spiritual beings that my heart is where my treasure is. I demonstrate that the values of this world do not draw my heart toward themselves but give me an opportunity to serve others. I give my life to those near me in the form of money and invest it in various missionary projects, thereby bringing God’s Kingdom nearer.

This is a difficult language of love, but it is worth learning, for speaking it brings many blessings to everyone—and to me first of all.

My assistance is evaluated not by the amount given to another person, but by the action and motive I possessed while giving it.

1. In the light of this lesson, please read 2 Peter 1:5–8.

2. What did you understand from this lesson?

3. Please name three or more Bible verses that speak about material assistance to those near us and its benefits.

4. Did you receive any new revelations?

5. Why must sound judgment be exercised in acts of kindness?

6. How often may material assistance be given to those near us?

7. Will a person become poor by helping poor people?