Benevolence
For with God, nothing is impossible …
Luke 1:37
So many people have no one to turn to, and they believe that all hope is lost. We as Christians have a responsibility to show them in our lives and our actions that there is a hope beyond this life. This hope comes from the single fact that God so loved the world that he gave his only son so that we might have eternal life ( John 3:16).
Scripture calls on believers to help those in need, and this rings true for those who are found in the household of faith. Following the example of Acts 2, the church has a primary responsibility to take care of those who are of the faith first. However, our impact can not just be relegated to those of the church. Early Christians took up collections to help those who were destitute and with out food or shelter. These were the homeless and truly poor. These were the ones without money to purchase their food for that day. These were the ones who really needed help.
So many times members of the Church do not realize all the many areas Benevolence encounters. We are stewards, and should serve in the area of benevolence. We can be of assistance to make the difference in people’s lives, but we need to give God the glory and praise.
There are many ways that we can serve benevolently:
- Prepare a meal for those in need
- Make a phone call or visit
- Provide the counseling service information
- Collect and dispense used furniture
- Send a cards and many other works
Get involved! Do not be afraid to help someone that needs assistance, but please understand that money is not always the answer. Jesus’ most benevolent actions were providing the crowds with food when they were hungry or healing those who were sick. While it helps pay a bill, benevolence requires that we become involved in the lives of others. We must show that we care that we might be able to plant a seed of faith in the hearts of those we aide. God intends us to reach out to others so that we might show His love towards us in our daily lives.
