Compiled by Diane Dew

I.  God cares for us.

             1 Peter 5:7 "...he cares for you."
              Deuteronomy 11:12; 32:10
              Psalms 8:4 (cp. Psalms 144:3 and Hebrews 2:6)
              Psalms 95:7
              Jeremiah 15:15
              Hosea 13:5
              Nahum 1:7 "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."
              Revelation 12:6, 14

II.  Christians, who are made in God's image, should be caring people.

       A. Christians should care for each other.

                   1 Corinthians 12:25 "...that the members should have the same CARE ONE FOR ANOTHER."

       B. Christians should care for their pastor.

                    Philippians 4:10 "...your CARE of me hath flourished again..."

       C.  Christians should care even for strangers.

                    Luke 10:34 The good Samaritan "TOOK CARE OF him" and told the innkeeper to "TAKE CARE OF him."

       D.  The righteous care for the poor.

                    Proverbs 29:7

        E.  Friends should care for each other.
                    Acts 24:23

III.  Pastors are responsible to care for the flock of God.

                John 21:16 "Take care of my sheep."
                2 Corinthians 8:16
                Jeremiah 23:2, etc.
                Ezekiel 34:2, 3, 4, 8, 12, etc.
                Philippians 2:20
                1 Timothy 3:5
                1 Timothy 6:20 "Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care..."

        A.  The minister's care for the sheep should be obvious/apparent.

                2 Corinthians 7:12 "...that our CARE FOR YOU in the sight of God might appear unto you." 

        B.  With "eagerness."

                1 Peter 5:2 "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under YOUR CARE ...eager to serve."

        C.  With "gentleness."

                1 Thessalonians 2:7 "but we were gentle among you, like a mother CARING FOR her little children."

         D.  On a regular basis: "daily."

                2 Corinthians 11:28 "...daily, the CARE of all the churches" 

         E.  Especially the sick and weak.

                Ezekiel 34:16 "strengthen the sick" 
                Isaiah 35:3 "Strengthen the feeble." 

         F.  "Bad" pastors "don't care" for the flock, God says.

                Zechariah 11:16 
                John 10:13 "the hireling fleeth... and CARETH NOT for the sheep."

IV.  Family members should care one for another.

                1 Timothy 5:4 "...first of all to put their religion into practice BY CARING
                FOR THEIR OWN FAMILY...for this is pleasing to God."

        A.  Husbands and wives are to care for each other.

                1 Corinthians 7:33, 34
                Ephesians 5:29 (regarding husbands:) "no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and CARES FOR it, just as Christ does the church"

        B.  Parents are responsible to care for their children. 

                 Ruth 4:16
                 Lamentations 2:20
                 Acts 7:20

         C.  Children are to care for their parents.

                  John 19:25-27

V.  Caring is more than words.  It is shown with actions: giving, prayer, listening. 

           1 John.
            Luke 10 (The good Samaritan "TOOK CARE of" the stranger - he got personally involved in his life, even at his own expense.)

VI.  Certain professions especially bear a responsibility to care for people.

           Luke 18:2 "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God NOR CARED ABOUT men."

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Luke 10:40 (Misinterpreting Jesus' delay in responding to her request, Martha questioned Jesus: "Lord, don't you care...?" )

In the last days, it says, the "love of many shall wax cold."