Romans 5:5 says, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
Times were bad. Food was almost nonexistent. Four dirty, unclean, outcast men of society were about to die. It was a time of war. These men were not soldiers—you might say they were traitors. They decided to leave their nation and join the enemy camp. They made their move one evening after the sun had set. Their fear of meeting the enemy was overshadowed by their hunger and desperation. As they cautiously approached the enemy camp in the little remaining twilight, they were shocked to see not a man anywhere. There were horses enough. Campfires were still burning. Nothing was disturbed. It appeared as though everyone had just got up and left. The four starving men carefully pulled back a tent flap to find food and water. They indulged themselves ‘til satisfied at last. Looking around the tent, they found silver and gold and clothing much better than their ragged garments. Their immediate impulse was to gather up all they could and run and find a place to hide it. They returned and found another tent and in like manner picked up all they could carry and went and hid those things also. They finally came to their senses and realized their selfish greed. “Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household” (II Kings 7:9).
Today we live in similar times. Millions of hungry people are starving to death for the good news of the Gospel. We live in a day of good tidings. If we have the love of God in our hearts by the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit, it is intended to be shed abroad—not hid or hoarded. We may fail to do this for a number of reasons. What will people think of us?
The four men in the story were lepers, living outside the camp. People already avoided them. They were to cry out, “Unclean, unclean!” yet these were the very men that God used to spread the good tidings. The shepherds that announced the good tidings of Jesus’ birth were not much above them.
We might think we don’t know what to say. It doesn’t matter much how we say it. If we have discovered His great riches, we dare not hide them. There are many ways to share love, when we make up our minds to. It will cost us something. That is what love is, giving. It will no doubt take time, something dear to all of us. I asked a preacher of a large church if he would call on a friend of mine that had recently moved into his neighborhood. I was told that he didn’t have time, but would see to it that his calling team would. I guess his calling was done on the golf course.
Jesus had a lot to do in His short three-year ministry, and yet found time for the down-and-out when He crossed their path.
In our text, the love of God is actually shed abroad by the Holy Ghost. He puts the love of God in us. He uses us, filled with His love, to shed abroad to the whole world the good tidings. This gives us a hope that makes us not ashamed. Instead of fear, we begin praying, “Lord send me!”
“Keep me pure, keep me clean, so that you may be seen, let your love, let your love flow through me” (Rodger Strader). Our world is crying for our love shed abroad!
