Why We Do What We Do: Giving To The Needy.

| Spiry Tee

"And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do."
(Galatians 2:9‭-‬10 NKJV)

Giving to the poor or needy is a huge chunk of the gospel ministry. It is so because Jesus passionately cared for the poor. In the list of the people Jesus came to minister to, the poor tops. Himself said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed." (Luke 4:18 NKJV).

"The poor" is mentioned first in His list of assignments. As His ministry grew in influence, we see Jesus feeding the hungry multitudes with bread after feeding them spiritually with the Word. Many tooday in the charismatic movement have forsaken the thrust of ministering to the poor materially. The poor man's plight is close to the heart of Jesus and so must it be to us as Christians.

Being Christlike means putting a huge consideration into the welfare of the poor in the church and the society we live in. Good Christians are also good citizens anywhere. That is why the prominent apostles of Jesus could not give their right hand of fellowship to Paul as he went to minister to the Gentiles without emphasizing that "Paul Ministries" should not forget the poor (Galatians 2:9-10).

The love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit can only be felt or experienced by others through our acts of kindness to the less privileged. "But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" (I John 3:17 NKJV).  If giving or caring for the needy is a proof of love, we already know that love is the proof of eternal life. "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death." (I John 3:14 NKJV).

James speaks of pure and undefiled worship of God, "True spirituality that is pure in the eyes of our Father God is to make a difference in the lives of the orphans, and widows in their troubles, and to refuse to be corrupted by the world’s values." (James 1:27 TPT).

The subject of giving to needy people is a major part of the New Testament and the Bible is replete with scriptures that support this notion. We must needs therefore be Christians and support the weak, financially, materially,  healthwise and in every way possible.  You can start now for you have something right now someone needs.

SPEAK LIFE.
I have eternal life proven by my love which I express though giving to the needy.