OUR PURPOSE: TO HELP THE NEEDY
SELECTED SCRIPTURES
INTRODUCTION:
Max Lucado, in his book, Applause From Heaven, tells the story of the time when his 3 year old daughter, Jenna, awoke him in the middle of the night. He said that he tried to stay asleep but her insistent, "Daddy" wouldn’t allow him to stay in slumber. He writes, "I opened one eye. Andrea was at the edge of my bed only a few inches from my face. `Daddy, I’m scared.’ I opened the other eye and saw the clock, 1 am in the morning. `What’s wrong, Andrea?’ `I need a fwashwight in my woom.’ `You need what?’ `I need a fwashwight in my woom.’ I was awake now, `Why do you need a fwash- uh, flashlight in your room?’ `Cause it’s dark.’ I told her the night light was on, the hall light was on. `But Daddy,’ she objected, ’what if I open my eyes and can’t see anything?" `Say that again?’ `What if I open my eyes and can’t see anything?’ Just as I was about to tell her that this was not the best time to have a discussion on why people are blind, my wife interrupted. She explained that there had been a power failure around midnight and Andrea must have awakened in the dark. No night light, no hall light. She had opened her eyes and had been unable to see anything. Just darkness. She had apparently stayed in her room, frightened, until the lights had come back on in order to make it to her Daddy." Even the hardest of hearts and the sleepiest of parents would be touched by the thought of a child waking up in a darkness so black that they couldn’t find their way out of their room. So, Lucado did what any good father would do. He climbed out of bed, picked Andrea up, got a flashlight out of the utility room, and carried her to her bed. All the while, telling her that Mom and Dad were there to help her if she got scared again.
I want to talk to you today about the Church’s responsibility to encourage the needy. The 4th section listed in our practice statements, says: M.C.C. seeks to accomplish it’s purpose by: Encouraging those in need.. By ministering to the needy, first as Scripture dictates, to the household of faith, and then to others as we have ability, so that Christ’s love might be displayed. Our world is filled with people who, like Andrea, are unable to see any light in their lives. Some feel the oppression of physical needs, like hunger and disease, some live in the darkness of being unloved, where loneliness is like an empty pit they keep falling down, some can’t see where their next dollar will come from. And just as parents do their best to supply their child’s necessities when known, so too our Church must minister, as best we can, to those who are in need.
Now, before we get into the main thrust of the message I want to point out 2 preliminary principles. (1) Ministering to the needy is not just the task of the corporate Church but also of every individual Christian. Sometimes we excuse our
own lack of involvement with people, by blaming the Church. Why doesn’t the Church do something about feeding the hungry? Why don’t the Church leaders organize an effective program for the homeless? I thought we hired minister’s to care of us? Now, the Church and it’s leaders do need to coordinate ministries to help the needy. But much of what the Church does is done through individual response. When you look at all the “one-anothering” passages in the N.T. it is clear that they are just that.. “one-anothering,” help that each one of us is to give to one another. Now, you may say.. “Yes, but Tim, last week you read the list of spiritual gifts in Rom.8 and there was the gifts of “encouragement” and “mercy giving,” what if I don’t have either of those gifts? Well, remember there is also the also the gift of “evangelism..”some who are especially gifted in sharing the gospel with others, many times to an absolute stranger. Just because we don’t have that gift doesn’t release us from the Commission of Jesus in Matt. 28 of sharing what Jesus has done for us does it? Same thing here. Just because you may not have one of the specific “caring” gifts doesn’t release you from the responsibility of helping others when you have the opportunity. Sometimes we just need to climb out of our beds of comfort and respond to the need first hand.
(2) Ministering to human or temporal needs must always come 2nd to ministering to spiritual needs. Throughout the N.T. the #1priority for people was the salvation of their souls! That’s why our first priority is reaching the lost. Jesus is our primary example of this proper balance. He was certainly concerned about the physical needs of people, He healed the sick, fed the hungry, befriended the lonely, comforted the fallen. But His primary task was to “seek and save the lost.” In fact, Jn 20:30 tells us the reason the Bible records Jesus’ care for the needy, is so we’ll believe He is the Son of God. You see, the reason the “spiritual” must come before the “temporal” is because the only thing that is going to last is our soul! That makes our chief responsibility to share the good news of Christ to those lost in sin. But we also must understand that ministering to needs many times opens the door to sharing the message of salvation. The proper Biblical priority is making our primary focus reaching the lost, but while we are doing that, as Ambassadors of Jesus, we minister to those who have need.
So, in this message I want to point out how the early church met needs and then how we, through ministry need to do the same. The early Church made disciples but part of the maturing process was shown through their help for the needy. Let’s look at their example for a few moments and see where we are and need to follow it.
I. WE MINISTER TO FINANCIAL NEEDS:
I want you to see first, the Church as it ministered to financial needs. Let’s look at several passages in the early Church that demonstrate their care for the poor. (1) Acts 4:32-35- “32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.” I saw a cartoon in Leadership that showed two men coming out of church and neither one of them had anything on but their boxer shorts. One man turned to the other and said, "Wow, that’s the greatest sermon on giving I’ve ever heard in my life!" Well, the early Church had that kind of enthusiasm. Bit I want to notice a couple of things here about how they gave and how they distributed the money for the poor that should be true of our church today.
(1) Note that the Church was supported by the sacrificial giving of individual Christians. They didn’t have elaborate fund raising schemes to pay their bills. There were no bazaars at the temple, they didn’t raffle off "the fastest camel in the east." No “slick” gimmicks. They just voluntarily and sacrificially gave of their own resources.
(2) Notice that they depended on the discernment of their leaders for the proper distribution of what they gave. They didn’t just indiscriminately give money to those who were poor, they brought the money to the Apostles. Sometimes it is good to spot a need & respond to it individually & immediately. But this passage teaches us that most long term benevolence giving should be done through the Church. That purifies our motives & it enhances the name of Jesus instead of bringing glory to us.
(3) I want you to see that the apostles used the money, they didn’t hoard it. I’m reminded of the story of the small Church that struck oil on their property. They immediately passed 3 resolutions. (1) They would all invest in the proper equipment to excavate the oil. (2) They’d divide up all the profits among the Church people. (3) They’d take in no new members. When the Church receives resources that money is to be used, not just set aside for a rainy day. This early church used the funds for ministry, to impact their community for Christ they didn’t just sit on it.
(4) Notice that the money was given to those who had need, not just those who had less. Christianity is not socialism, where we seek an equal distribution of wealth. 1 Jn 3:17 reads, "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" It doesn’t say, "If you see your brother with an older car, a smaller house or less steak in the freezer, wanting more than he has, then you must give..” It says, "When you see your brother in real need.. if you don’t care or share then.. the love of God is not in you.
And because of how they handled their money the early Church had a welfare program that worked! Acts 6. “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.” The Church obviously had a program whereby they cared for their widows, they had some sort of “food closet” for them. But there was a problem.. Some complained that they weren’t getting their fair share. In fact some felt racially discriminated against. Grecian Jews vs Hebraic Jews. So, how did they solve the problem? Vs:2 “..the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, `It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.” They weren’t refusing to do manual labor they were saying that their primary calling was to evangelize the lost and edify the saved. But they recognized the need for widow’s care, it’s just they couldn’t do it all. Vss:3-4 tells us their solution: “Choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and we will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word.” Here are the first deacons.. And the idea pleased the whole group, so they delegated that responsibility to 7 men. Vs:7 tells us that because of that decision “..the word of God spread.” You see when the church ministers to the needy it enhances evangelism. There’s no better testimony to the world than some tangible expressions of compassion within the Church.
Now, the reason this welfare program worked was because they didn’t just dole out money without responsibility. When it comes to our meeting financial needs there are two other passages of Scripture I want you to know. 2 Thess.3:10- "We give you this rule: if a man will not work he shall not eat." In other words, if somebody has the opportunity to work and they have the ability to work but they refuse to work we should not give them a dime. One of the things I think we need to do within the church is not just give money but give financial aid which includes helping them set up a budget and developing good spending habits. Otherwise we just put a band-aid on their problem. My vision is to have a financial team that will do just that, not only for people needing money but for anyone in our fellowship that needs help with Biblical financing.
One other passage: Gal.6:10- (Printed) "Therefore as we have opportunity let us do good to all people but especially to the family of believers." In other words, we help anyone, where possible, but first, those in the Church. That’s why the portion of our purpose statement reads: "first, to the household of faith." We help those outside the church but we also must be careful that we don’t give all our benevolence away to the outsider and then have nothing left for “the household of faith,” those who have made a commitment to Christ and this church.
Now, I want you to know that this Church is doing the best it can to help those in financial need. We give to missionaries overseas that are ministering to the homeless
and the hungry, we give to a ministry here in town called “Share Ministries” that helps feed the hungry. We have helped families who have large medical debts or a financial emergency. We support the AMC fund for rent and utility help. We have a have a benevolence fund that our Elders administrate through Don Frey or myself if Don’s not available. When we know of a need we talk with the person or family to determine the degree of the need and to address the source of the problem. Through this benevolence program we have assisted in purchasing food, paying bills, etc. We are simply following the example of the early Church who helped those in financial need. In fact, you can follow their example by giving an extra gift designated to “benevolence.” The Elders and myself give you our word that it will be used the way the Scripture talks about in helping those with financial needs.
II WE MINISTER TO PHYSICAL NEEDS:
Next, I want you to see that the Church also met the physical needs of people. In Acts 1:27-30 tells us that a famine would hit the region of Judea especially hard and so vs:29- “The disciples (Ones at Antioch) each according to their own ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.” You see, they didn’t just preach the gospel, they ministered to physical hurts like hunger. And they were told to take care of those inside their fellowship too. Rom. 12:13- “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Let me share with you a practical way to do this. From time to time I have couples who are living together that want to do “right by God” but are in such a financial bind that they can’t see anyway to separate. We need someone or someone’s to be willing to temporarily provide a home for one of these while they decide what they need to do or prepare for marriage. It’s not enough to point out the sin, we’ve got to help too. If you could practice “hospitality” in that way let me know. 1 Cor. 16:1 tells us the early church took a special collection to meet needs, 1 Tim. 5:3 tells us to “Give proper help to those widows who are really in need.” Now, let me read you the rest of that teaching on the care of widows. Those ladies who have lost their husbands have a special place in God’s heart, but there is Biblical teaching that defines that phrase: “..who are really in need.” Vs:4: “4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help... He goes on with further instruction in vs:9- No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 10 and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.. Then Paul gives some advice to young widows.. Then concludes his remarks in vs:16.. If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need. Isn’t the Word of God practical? See, the early church took care of each other. I believe this would be a great ministry for some of our more mature folks, who are healthy enough to take it on.. The Membership Ministry would be glad to put an active “widows” ministry under their budget and organizational umbrella.
But it’s not just widows who need physical care. All of us, no matter our age or marital situation get sick from time to time. The Church for ages has been concerned about bringing healing, and providing compassion for those who are sick. Just think of some names you’ve seen for hospitals: St. Mary’s, Baptist Hospital, Methodist Medical Center, Presbyterian General, etc.. And when I see our people, visiting those who are ill, sending cards of inspiration, when I see our Elders participating in a calling rotation for the hospital, when I see Gene and Judy Bowen and their helpers taking communion and giving encouragement to our shut-ins, when I see our youth group "adopting" children from other countries, I am grateful for those who are carrying for physical needs. It’s one of the reasons we are looking for a staff member to help in this area. So we can expand our caring ministry, helping us us coordinate and communicate needs. We are simply wanting to do what Jesus said to do.. Look at His words from Matt 25 (printed). It is clear that His desire is that all of us feed the hungry, visit the lonely, the sick, the imprisoned, clothe the naked.. meeting the physical needs of others.
III. WE MINISTER TO EMOTIONAL NEEDS:
And that brings us to a third way we need to encourage the needy. The early Church took care of emotional needs too. Jesus said, "I was a stranger- lonely, you took me in." Paul was in prison, the Church came to visit him. You see the early church carried each others burdens. They looked for opportunities to help one another. That’s what Paul told them to do in Gal. 6:1 and what Peter taught them in 1 Peter 4:9. To lift up the spiritual struggler, to provide hospitality without grumbling so that others may be encouraged. And one of the best ways to lift someone up emotionally is to use your past to help those in the present. 2 Cor. 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” Christian people need the comfort you have received to help them do spiritual battle in the world. We need to be ready to help others.. As Gal. 6:10- “as we have opportunity..”
Tony Campolo relates the time his mother called him and told him that Mrs. Kilpatrick had died. He said, this dear woman, Mrs. Kilpatrick, had lived on his street in W. Philly as he was growing up. She had taken him to museums, concerts, social functions. So, Tony’s mom called and said, "Now, Tony the least you can do to show your respect for Mrs. Kilpatrick is to go to her funeral." Now, Campolo, in his 60’s, says, "If your Italian and your mother tells you to do something, you do it, no matter how old you are." So, he went but he got there a little late. He said, "I rushed in and sat down, looked around and realized that I was the only one there except for this one elderly lady." Then he said, "I looked over the edge of the casket and I could tell that the MAN laying there was not Mrs. Kilpatrick." And he realized he was in the wrong room! And he was about to get up when this elderly lady grabbed his arm, looked at him with tear filled eyes and said, "You were his friend weren’t you?" Campolo asks, "What would you do? Would you say, No, I’m in the wrong room, I didn’t know your husband but by the looks of things nobody else did either?" "No," Campolo said, "I did the same thing you’d do, I lied. I said, Yes, he was quite a man wasn’t he?" Campolo says, "I sat through the whole funeral and since I was the only one there I went to the cemetery too." On the way back Campolo said, "Mrs. King, I have to be honest with you. I didn’t know your husband. I came to the funeral by mistake." But instead of being angry, she squeezed his hand and said slowly, "You’ll never ever, ever know, how much your being with me today meant to me." We all need someone to be with us on occasion. Maybe not quite that desperate but we all need emotional support at times. Somebody we can talk to, somebody that will hold us up in difficult times.
And I am so grateful for the different support groups that we have already going. Like “Weigh-Down” “Exodus From Strongholds,” the weekly prayer group that meets on Thursday mornings and our other small groups. I praise God for our preschool ministry. It is so gratifying to see these children day in and day out being taught about Jesus. The emotional support that some of these little ones need is incredible and I’m thankful for Judy and her staff that is supplying emotional and spiritual support while the parents must work. I have a vision for a much greater ministry in this area. So many areas could be developed with a Christian/Biblical view to help others.. divorce, grief, single parenting, chemical dependency, etc. All providing emotional support. The Church needs to be a place where we stand for purity, but also where, shining through, is forgiveness, encouragement, love & support.
Ken Medima wrote: "If this is not a place where tears are understood, where can I go to cry?
If this is not a place where my spirit can take wing, where can I go to fly?
If this is not a place where my questions can be asked, where do I go to seek?
If this is not a place where my feelings can be heard, where do I go to speak?
If this is not a place where you accept me just as I am where do I go to be me?
If this is not a place where I can try and grow and love, where can I go..to be free?
May this be a place where we care because Jesus cared. May this be a place where in the name of our precious Lord we heal the wounded, comfort the hurting and lift up the fallen. May this be a place where “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people...”
