Question 1

Does God care what happens to me?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 31:7I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.Psalm 71:6Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you!Psalm 139:13-17You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. . . . Every day of my life was recorded in your book. . . . How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!God’s love for us began before we were born, continues throughout our life, and extends through eternity. Since he created us to have a relationship with him, he cares about every detail of our life. He knows all our troubles and hurts and takes care of us as we walk in them.

Question 2

How does God show he cares for me?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 78:72He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands.Psalm 121:7-8The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.Psalm 145:19-20He [the Lord] grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked.Matthew 6:30“If God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?”1 Peter 5:7Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.God is always close to us, ready to help in our times of need. God’s presence surrounds us, protecting us from Satan’s attacks far more than we realize. God sends opportunities our way to make our lives more full and satisfying. He also sends blessings our way in a variety of forms. He promises to take our worries and cares upon himself. And he offers us eternal life in heaven, away from all hurt, pain, and sin. These things reveal a God who is fulfilling his promise to always care for us.

Question 3

How can I show others I care?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 25:36“‘I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’”Luke 10:34-35“Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’”1 Corinthians 12:25-26This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.As God shows his care for us by protecting, providing, and preserving, so we can show his care to others by doing the same for them. We can protect others by being kind, helpful, and willing to reach out. We can provide by giving of our time, treasure, and talents to people in need. We can preserve harmony with others by rejoicing together with them. A good exercise would be to list all the ways God cares for you; then try to model this same kind of care toward others.

Question 4

What or whom am I responsible to care for?

Accepted Answer

Deuteronomy 1:31“‘You saw how the Lord your God cared for you all along the way as you traveled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child.’”1 Timothy 5:8Those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.We are responsible to care for members of our family.1 Chronicles 9:28Some of the gatekeepers were assigned to care for the various articles used in worship. They checked them in and out to avoid any loss.John 2:16Then, going over to the people who sold doves, [Jesus] told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”We are responsible to care about our church.Psalm 107:2Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.Mark 16:15Then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”Romans 10:14How can they call on [the Lord] to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?We are responsible to care about the salvation of those who don’t know Jesus.Colossians 3:23-24Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.We are responsible to care about our work. Caring about our work means we will work with excellence and set an example to others for doing our job well.James 1:27Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.Our loving care must reach beyond our own family to orphans and widows and other people in need. Through his plan for provision, God expects us to lovingly do for the needy what they cannot do on their own.

Question 5

How do I care for the people I lead?

Accepted Answer

1 Samuel 30:21-25Then David returned to the brook Besor and met up with the 200 men who had been left behind because they were too exhausted to go with him. They went out to meet David and his men, and David greeted them joyfully. But some evil troublemakers among David’s men said, “They didn’t go with us, so they can’t have any of the plunder.” . . . But David said, “No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the Lord has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders . . . . We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.”Leadership keeps the whole person in mind, not just their productivity. It also recognizes and affirms the different roles and abilities of each person. Sometimes a leader must take measures to accommodate the realities of human struggles and trials.2 Samuel 23:15-17David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. “The Lord forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.Godly leaders often inspire sacrificial service from the people they lead. And there are times when a leader must lift up and praise a person’s sacrificial service, even at the leader’s own expense.1 Thessalonians 1:2-3We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.Godly leaders must affirm and pray for the people they lead.