As the African believers gathered shortly after our arrival, we were preparing to teach from God's Word. But as we typically do, we asked how things had been going since we were there last. A guest from another village asked this question: If two believers live side by side, and one is doing well, and the other is not, is the one doing well responsible to help the other believer.
James says, "If a brother or sister is in need and one of you says, 'Go in peace' without giving them what is need, what good is that?" (James 2:16). So while the answer is obviously we are responsible to help those in need, what is not always obvious is what constitutes real help. There is an old adage that says if someone is hungry and you give him a fish, he eats one meal, but if you teach him to fish, he can eat for the rest of his life.
On the way into the temple Peter and John met a man lame from birth. He was seated there begging, and Peter said, "We don't have any silver or gold, but we will give you what we do have." This story is found in Acts 3. Peter said, "In the name of Jesus, rise up and walk." And the Bible says that the man stood up and began to walk, and he began to leap and to worship God. If Peter had given him money, he would have continued to beg for the rest of his life. Peter gave him what he really needed.
In the same way, you and I must seek the face of God when presented with need and ask, what are we to do? How do we really help? The greatest thing we can do for anyone is to introduce them to the living God who can meet every need they have. Sometimes God will tell us to give food, or sometimes to give other physical assistance. Always, we should help meet their deepest spiritual needs. The greatest gift that we can offer anyone is the Gospel. Keep sharing the truth until all have heard.
