When Anakin brought Qui-Gon and company back to his home, they met his mother Shmi. They share that they are on an important mission to Coruscant.
While Qui-Gon is explaining their situation, Anakin volunteers to help. He does so without question.
Shmi is more than a bit hesitant.
Anakin replies “Mom, you say that the biggest problem in this universe is nobody helps each other.”
Jesus Gives A New Commandment
Jesus tells His disciples in John 13:35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
The love that Jesus was calling us to was agape love. That is the unconditional love described below.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
~1 Corinthians 13:4-8
The Early Church’s Response
The early believers took Jesus’ commands very seriously. Read Acts 2:45-47, 4:32, and 20:35.
There were not any government programs to take care of the poor, widowed, or orphaned. These programs came into being in the last 100 plus years when the church stopped being the church.
There are so many verses that talk about how we are to care for one another.
What Scripture Calls Christians To Do
Read the following verses and write out how you could live one of them out in your own life today.
Acts 2:45-47: And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 4:32: Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
Acts 20:35: In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Deuteronomy 15:11: “For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’”
Proverbs 19:17: Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
Isaiah 1:17: learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.
Matthew 25:35-40: For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Romans 12:13: Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Philippians 2:4: Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Hebrews 13:16: Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
