Shutting Up Compassion
W. Brock. 1 John 3:17-21 But whoever has this world's good, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him… Pure and undefiled religion is the imitation of God. Whatever else may characterise the men who have passed from death unto life, this is characteristic of them all. Now, assuming this, look at the immense interrogation which he proposed in our present text. A man is presented to us who professes to be a son of the Lord Almighty, but his profession was unsubstantiated. I. THE MAN WHOSE RELIGION IS VAIN HAS THIS WORLD'S GOODS; of the things which are necessary for the vigorous maintenance of life he has enough and to spare. Before his wants ever recur there is the supply. God daily loadeth him with His benefits. II. HE SEETH HIS BROTHER HAVE NEED. It is not with others as it is with him. By treacherous and sore calamity they are afflicted in mind, or body, or estate; perhaps from ascertainable causes, perhaps from causes not ascertainable, they are destitute of daily food. He sees it plainly. III. HE SHUTS UP THE BOWELS OF HIS COMPASSION. There may be the clamorous appeal, he is deaf to that; there may be the eloquent appeal of the silent heart. It is just the same, and lest his bowels, peradventure, should yearn, he locks them up and bids them remain unmoved. Why should he interfere? People should be more careful; there should be a great deal more frugality; the institutions of the country should prevent such calamities. Such applications are nothing to him, and now, at all events, he means to be excused. IV. HOW DWELLETH THE LOVE OF GOD IN HIM? Does he resemble God? I know your answer. That man an imitator of God, who causeth the sun to shine upon the just and the unjust! That man an imitator of Him who "giveth us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness"! That man an imitator of Him who "dealeth not with us after our sins, who rewardeth us not according to our iniquities"! Impossible! How can he be? God is merciful, he is unmerciful; God is communicative, he is parsimonious; God is compassionate, he is unrelenting; God bindeth up the broken in heart and healeth their wounds, he irritates the broken in heart. There is no similarity whatever. You might call light and darkness one. (W. Brock.) Parallel Verses KJV: But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? WEB: But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him?