“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? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:17-18 KJV).

Don’t just talk the talk, but also walk the walk.

Love and obedience to God work together. The Lord taught me this lesson over 25 years ago. I was singing in concert with a group in Detroit called the Followers of Christ, in Kennedy Square.

After we finished singing, I preached and gave an altar call. People came forth and were saved. It was a great service. Then while we were packing up the equipment to leave, a homeless woman came up to me and said, “Sir, I don’t have any food. I’ve got two children at home. Would you help me?”

She did not know that my wife and I had both lost our jobs. Not only that, but we didn’t have a whole lot of money. We were just kids. I was 19 years old. I had all of the money we owned in the world in my right front pocket. It was $30.

Then I looked to my spirit to see what the Holy Spirit wanted me to do. Before you decide something with your head, listen to see if you have something inside from the Lord. I had peace on the inside to bless this woman. So I preached to her and prayed the prayer of salvation with her. She made Jesus the Lord of her life, and I gave her $20 of that $30.

We eventually came to a place that we ran out of money. And the only thing we had in the house was a jar of water. Nobody knew that we were destitute. We looked prosperous. That is why you have to obey God.

One day, as the wife and I were sitting on the couch wondering what we were going to do, there was a knock at the door. A brother from the church I was attending was there. That brother and his wife brought in a station wagon full of groceries. Then he left me with an envelope full of money—two week’s salary. Praise God!

I am well convinced obeying God concerning that homeless lady opened the door for God to bring me what I needed—the groceries and money. And about the time the groceries and money ran out, I found a job. When we are obedient and walk in love, God supplies all our needs.

Scripture References: Phil. 4:13-19; John 14:15