Category Archives: Benevolence – Caring

We find so many needs in the lives of those in our Church Body, albeit around the world. As individual believers, a church, or ministry, we certainly can’t meet all of those needs. That, however, shouldn’t discourage us from doing our part in helping those we can. Whether helping one individual or many, lets make sure we do benevolence God’s way.

Four Points to Remember If We’re Going to Do Benevolence God’s Way

Much can be learned from Scripture about helping people in need. These four objectives just scratch the surface but are good points to remember.

1. Get beyond merely applying quick fixes to assistance that helps people learn how to do better.

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. (Prov. 3:13-14)

2. Address more than people’s felt needs. Help them with core issues.

Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?” (Matt. 9:1-5)

3. Provide resources but also remember Jesus’ Great Commission to make disciples.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matt. 28:19-20)

4. Guard against doing benevolence merely out of duty. Make it about sharing God’s love to those being helped.

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Cor. 13:3)

These four points are listed in the Church Purpose Ministry Manual with benevolence being one of the ways we show love for God that spills over into loving people.

We previously established that benevolence should be a priority for the Church. And, we looked at the example of benevolence in the Early Church. We must note, however, that Hebrews 13:16 commands us to remember to do good and share which suggests that it’s something we might be prone to forget if we don’t work at it. Perhaps considering results of making benevolence a priority will help us keep working toward that end.

3 Biblical Results of Making Benevolence a Priority

1) We experience greater equality.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. … And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. … (Acts 4:32-37)

2) While we should be motivated by love to help others (1 Cor. 13:3), rather than what we get from it, we do receive personal benefit from it as we reap what we sow.

The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. (Prov. 22:9)

… Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. … (Gal. 6:7-10)

3) God is honored.

Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. (Prov. 14:31)

These three results are listed in the Church Purpose Ministry Manual along with some additional Scripture references. Benevolence is in that manual as one of the ways we fulfill our primary purpose to love God with all of who we are and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:37-40).

Learn more: Resources for Benevolence Ministry

We could come up with a number of excuses of why we can’t get involved and help those in need. Once we truly allow ourselves to feel compassion, however, it’s hard to hold on to those excuses.

An Example of How Compassion Dissolves Excuses

Why did the Good Samaritan, in Jesus’ parable, help the beaten man along the road when the priest and Levite failed to stop? They all saw the need but only of the Samaritan do we read that “he felt compassion” (Lk. 10:33-34).

We could come up with a number of excuses of why we can’t get involved and help those in need. Once we truly allow ourselves to feel compassion, however, it’s hard to hold on to those excuses. Compassion dissolves excuses, making it impossible to pass by on the other side and not get involved in People Helping Ministries.

Lack of means to help? – Compassion moves us to find something we can do to help directly or indirectly.

The priest and Levite undoubtedly had the means to personally help but if not, they could have looked to their social and religious network to do what they couldn’t. If they had compassion, they would have at least stopped and given the man some water. Or, they would have gone to get help if they truly didn’t have the means or know-how. They might have waited with the man until better help came along.

Too busy? – Compassion has a way of shifting our priorities as we make time for what we view as important.

The priest, Levite, and Samaritan were all on their way somewhere. The Good Samaritan, however, moved by compassion, did what he could, left the man in someone else’s care, and then came back when he could.

Too scared of not knowing what to say or do? – Compassion causes us to stop long enough to truly see the person and assess their needs, usually making the next step obvious.

Having gotten close enough to the injured man to see his cuts and bruises, it became clear to the Good Samaritan that the first step was to bandage the wounds. Remember, they didn’t have cell phones to call 911. They didn’t have ambulances to take the person to a hospital. Tending to the injuries was obviously the first step for the Good Samaritan.

Learn about opportunities for compassionate ministries in the People Helping Ministry Manual.

To fulfill our purpose to love others (Matt. 22:39), we must consider ways to demonstrate that love. Benevolence, the practical meeting of people’s needs, provides a means of loving others. Hence, benevolence should be a priority for God’s people.

5 Biblical Reasons to Make Benevolence a Priority

If we page through Scripture, we’ll find plenty of other reasons to make benevolence a priority.

1. God cares about the poor and oppressed. (Ps. 10:14, 17-18; 35:10; 140:12; 146:5-9; Prov. 22:2, 22-23)

2. What we do for the poor is likened to doing it for the Lord. (Prov. 17:5; 19:17; Matt. 25:31-46)

3. We see benevolence modeled in the Old Testament. (Lev. 25:1-55; Deut. 14:28-29; 24:19-21)

4. Jesus’ own life is an example of benevolent living for others. (2 Cor. 8:9; Phil. 2:5-7)

5. We find an example of its priority in the Early Church. (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37; 5:1-11; 6:1-7)

Certainly these reasons should motivate us to make benevolence a priority. But, let’s remember that God wants it to be more than merely fulfilling our duty. To Him, it’s about truly loving people.

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Cor. 13:3)

The Church Purpose Manual includes the above content along with more about this priority as well as other ways we can live out our purpose to love God and people.

More: Benevolence Resources & Ideas

Training Category: People Helping Ministry

Helping people in need is something all human beings with any kind of compassion in their hearts should do. And, we do see both Christians and non-Christians coming alongside of people. But, as Christians we have other reasons to reach out in compassion to those in need, giving added motivation to be people helpers.

4 Good Reasons for Christians to Come Alongside to Help People in Need

You’ll find the following four reasons listed in the People Helping Ministry Manual. The manual focuses in on seven specific ways we can come alongside of others.

1) It’s a way to show love.

Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matt. 22:39) — My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (Jn. 15:12-13) — Serve one another in love. (Gal. 5:13)

2) It’s a part of making disciples.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matt. 28:19-20)

3) It’s what body life is all about.

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. (1 Cor. 12:26) — Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (Rom. 12:15) — Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal. 6:2)

4) It’s a reflection of the character of our Lord Jesus.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mk. 10:45) — Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. (Phil. 2:4-5)

Sometimes we do nothing about homelessness because we don’t know what real difference we as individuals, or even as a local church, can make. God never intended for one person to do it all. When everybody does their part, we can make a greater impact.

From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph. 4:16)

To know your part, start by identifying the spiritual gifts God has given you. Then look for ways to serve that fit your gifting.

Spiritual Gifts Help Identify the Part Everybody Can Have in Helping the Homeless

While the spiritual gifts of mercy, giving, exhortation, hospitality, and service may be most commonly used in a ministry with people who are homeless, that doesn’t mean people with other spiritual gifts can’t get meaningfully involved.

Ministry with people who are homeless is used as an example in the Ministry Handbook: Spiritual Gifts in Use of how there can be a place for the use of almost all spiritual gifts in a given ministry. Sometimes people have a passion toward an area of need but don’t have the spiritual gifts typically used in that ministry. Or, at times you want to join hands in a church-wide effort, especially when the need is great. This handbook suggests how people with varying gifts can help in ministry with homeless people in ways that fit their gifting.

When everybody does their part, we can take a more comprehensive approach to homeless ministry while addressing specific, immediate needs.