THE WORK OF HELPING THE NEEDY

The word “benevolence” is often used in connection with helping the needy. Webster's Dictionary defines it as: “disposition to do good, an act of kindness, a generous gift.” This definition shows that if the church is going to be involved in benevolence, then it is going to be doing, acting, and giving. Doing what? Doing good, and by definition, doing so with a spirit of kindness and generosity.

What gives us the idea that the Lord's people ought to be involved in benevolence or helping those who are needy? When we read the first four books of the New Testament we see that the matter of helping others is one about which Jesus often spoke. Once a lawyer came to Jesus; and, desiring to justify himself asked the Master, “Who is my neighbor” (Luke 10:29). In response to this inquiry Jesus told the story that we call the Parable of the Good Samaritan. At the conclusion of His story Jesus asked the lawyer which of the men had acted as a neighbor to the one who had fallen among thieves. The inquirer said, “He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise” (10:37). This message shows that in order to be pleasing in God's sight we must manifest mercy and compassion.

Jesus not only taught by the things He stated orally, He also taught powerful lessons by His personal example. On numerous occasions we read of the compassion of Jesus, and how that compassion caused Him to heal the sick or feed the hungry. Thus, having read “the gospel accounts,” we are not surprised when we come to Acts 10:38 and read that Peter declared to the house of Cornelius that Jesus of Nazareth “went about doing good.” Are we learning the lesson? Are we seeing that we need to imitate Jesus and follow in His steps of showing mercy and compassion (1 Peter 2:21)?

Beyond the personal example of Christ helping the needy, we also have instructions in a number of New Testament epistles that show the need for Christians to be concerned about helping the poor. In Romans 12:13 the charge is given to distribute to “the necessity of saints.” Such assistance is not to be given to those who live in abundance or to those who are too lazy to work to provide for their own needs. Rather, it is for those who really have need (“necessity”) for such help. Galatians 2:10 records that James, Cephas, and John charged Paul and Barnabas to “remember the poor.” “To remember” the poor means more than simply remembering there are such people, and it involves more than just praying for them. Remembering the poor means to manifest a benevolent spirit toward them -- benevolence involves doing, acting and giving. When Paul heard the message “remember the poor,” what was his response? He said that he was “forward to do it.” What does Paul mean when he says that he was “forward” to remember the poor? Instead of “forward,” the ASV has “zealous” and the NKJV has “eager.” Thus, if we will follow the example of the apostle Paul, then we will not view rendering assistance to the poor as a burden. Rather, zeal and eagerness will describe our mentality as we approach the need to remember them.

In James 1:27 we read that Christians are instructed to visit orphans and widows in their affliction. When we come up short on rendering assistance to them and others who truly deserve it, then two serious questions come to mind. First, in James 2:14-16 we read, “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 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?” With this scenario James is really asking, “What kind of faith is that” — what kind of faith is it when we don't render assistance to our needy brethren? The apostle John writes of a similar situation, saying, “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him” (1 John 3:17)? In other words, what kind of love is that? Who can doubt that we need to be people whose faith and love is manifested by showing compassion on those that stand in need of material or physical assistance?

Is the church authorized to take funds from its first day of the week contributions to assist the poor or needy? The church is charged with the responsibility of relieving those that are widows indeed (1 Tim. 5:16). Since the church is authorized to assist such widows, and since it gets its funds from the contribution of its members on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:2), then, yes, the church is authorized to use funds from its treasury in order to render assistance to those whom it is to aid.

In Galatians 6:10 it is written, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” This message was written to “the churches of Galatia” (1:2). Thus, the churches were told to do good unto all men. Someone might say, “Yes, but I don't see anything in the charge to ‘do good’ about assistance that involves the use of money.” Think about this. After Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, anointed Jesus, some of the disciples began to murmur, saying that such a use of expensive ointment was a waste. Their idea was that the ointment could have been sold, and then the money could have been given to the poor. How did Jesus respond? He declared, “Let her alone; why trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will [“wish,” NKJV] ye may do them good: but me ye have not always” (Mark 14:6,7). Notice the three concepts that are combined in the apostles’ statement and Jesus’ response: 1) the proper use of finances (or material blessings), 2) to do good, 3) unto poor people. Therefore, when we read in Galatians 6:10 about the churches of Galatia being charged to “do good,” this concept most definitely can include the idea of rendering financial assistance or providing material aid from the church's funds. Assistance unto whom? “...Unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

What about specific examples? Do we have any New Testament examples of individual Christians or congregations being involved in helping the needy? In Acts 4 it is written that Barnabas and other disciples sold material possessions and brought the money to the apostles so that distribution could be made “unto every man according as he had need” (Acts 4:34-37). In Acts 6 we read that Grecian widows were neglected in the daily ministration. As a result, the apostles appointed seven men to take care of the problem by attending to the special needs of those widows. Acts 11 records the prophet Agabus going to Antioch of Syria and prophesying there would be a great famine in the days of Claudius Caesar. In response to such a prediction, “Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did...” (Acts 11:29,30). Note that the brethren in Antioch not only determined to send assistance — they actually did it!

In consideration of all that we have seen from the Scriptures, it is plain that we, as individual Christians, ought to be a people of compassion; and, the church has the obligation to do acts of benevolence or render assistance to those who are needy. Let us be certain that our efforts in the realm of benevolence are authorized by the New Testament, and that they bring glory to God rather than to men or some agency which is not authorized by the Bible. Let us also be certain that our hearts are open to assisting needy people of all races and backgrounds, and not just those who have the same physical appearance as we do or who live in our own geographic area (James 2:1-9).

(adapted)

Roger D. Campbell