From Warren Wersbe's "On Being A Servant" (20-21):The people God calls us to serve have all kinds of needs -- physical, emotional, relational, financial -- but at rock bottom their greatest need is to be rightly related to God and His will.
That doesn't mean the Word of God and prayer will pay their bills or feed their stomachs. We don't quote a Bible promise to hungry people, pray for them, smile, and say, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled" (James 2:16). We do what we can to put food on the table. But unless we help people grow into a right relationship with God, whatever help we give will be only a stopgap measure, a quick fix until the next time they have a need; and then the cycle is repeated.
Perhaps that is one of the major differences between Christian ministry and mere humanitarian benevolence, as helpful as it may be. Both can be done in love; both can put food on the table and shoes on the feet; but only true Christian ministry can put grace in the heart so that lives are changed and problems are really solved. The best thing we can do for people is not to solve their problems for them but so relate them to God's grace that they will be enabled to solve their problems and not repeat them.
Ah... good stuff, Warren. There but for the grace of God go I. And even still.... sometimes. A shot of grace all around.
1 comment:
sounds like "teach a man to fish... and pray while he's doing it."
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