How to Start and Run a Local Church	Print Page Chapter Links
Physical Help

Christ healed people and fed thousands of people—before they became believers. Many of them did not even seem to understand His message. If someone is given a miraculous gift to do this today, it would certainly be a great ministry. But Christ was only one and today believers are many. There is much they can do by using their natural physical resources to help the needy. There are many people in need of food, clothing, health-care, tools to obtain work, and other economic necessities.

It is important to remember Matthew 5:16, quoted at the beginning of this section. Good works should be done so that people receiving them will glorify God. Christ did His works "in my Father's name" (John 10:25). Matthew 6:1–4 warns that we should not do good works so that people will praise us. But the ones receiving the benefit of a believer's good works ought to know they were done in God's name and credit God for them. They should know that it is because people obey God that they have been helped, not just their "good luck" or getting their share of the country's wealth.

Jesus taught people to repent and turn to God when He did good works for them (John 5:14; 8:1; Luke 5:32; 13:3). The best way to be sure that people receive physical help in the name of God along with a message of repentance and forgiveness through Christ, is to do it oneself. It takes a while to develop discernment as to who is really needy and who is simply skilled at asking for a handout. But that is a valuable skill to learn. It is wonderful when physical help to someone can be combined with the personal teaching and encouragement mentioned above.