Meeting the Need...

Greetings in Jesus name,

This time of the year a lot of people are giving to charities and donating their time to help meet the natural needs of less fortunate persons. And this is certainly a noble thing. James tells us in his general epistle that we are to feed the hungry and clothe the naked.

Jam 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Jam 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

Jam 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Jam 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Jesus also had compassion on the people and supplied them with food when they were hungry.

But having said that I now want to make the point that this should not be the main focus of a true Christian's efforts and work. Let me illustrate.

At an army hospital unit when the wounded soldiers start coming in from the battlefield the surgeons of the unit are not seen driving ambulances or carrying stretchers and equipment with the orderlies. No, they are seen using their unique skills to save the lives of the seriously injured.

Now, it's not that driving an ambulance is unimportant or that a doctor would never find himself helping to move a patient. But if a doctor failed to use his special skills to save a life because he was too caught up in helping with what could be left to others who do not possess his medical knowledge, he would be guilty of manslaughter through negligence.

In the book of Acts the apostles were faced with a similar problem. The Greek widows were being neglected in the daily ministration and someone needed to take charge and ensure that the ministration be done properly. But the apostles knew that their teaching in the temple was to important to leave to handle this themselves so the assigned certain other men to meet the real physical need while they continued to meet the also real and much greater spiritual need.

Act 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples were multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

Act 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

Act 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Act 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Act 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

So remember whenever you find yourself in a position to meet the physical needs of someone, by all means do it. Our faith without works becomes dead. But do not squander the Spiritual gifts that God has given you by not using it. Help the needy but do not let your efforts to meet a natural need hinder you in meeting the greater and more permanent spiritual need of the soul. Remember the greatest gift we have to give to anyone is the saving message of the Gospel and the healing power of the Holy Ghost.

God Bless!