The Work of the Church - Benevolence

The following comments apply to chapter ten of Batsell Barrett Baxter's book, The Family of God.  This chapter covers a third major portion of the work of the church, benevolence.

"Each day I'll do a golden deed by helping those who are in need.  My life on earth is but a span, and so I'll do the best I can--the best I can."  This is the first verse of an old hymn that someone just told me the other day was one of their favorites.  The song book we use in our congregation has it included under the title, A Beautiful Life.  I can't think of a better way to sum up the attitude this lesson attempts to create in us.

To understand the nature of benevolence, we really have to absorb the events of the life of Christ and try to resolve in our minds what He did in His ministry and why.  He helped people, and there is just no getting around that.  Our faith must include the way we respond to the needs of others.  We not only want to share what we know and build up the church, but we want to help others.

Baxter includes in this lesson the story of the good Samaritan from Luke 10:25-35.  Someone who was well versed in the law asked Jesus, technically speaking, who his neighbor was.  Jesus told the story and then asked the man which of the potential helpers in the story proved to be a neighbor to the one in need.  The obvious answer is the one who had mercy and helped him.  At this point our Lord could have given a three point sermon on why that answer was correct, but instead He simply said to go and do likewise.  The answer then presents a few questions for us.  Who needs our help?  Do we consider ourselves their neighbor?

Baxter mentions some other teachings but says that the message of Jesus in Matthew 25 about the time of judgment would be sufficient by itself to point the church and its members in a big way toward benevolence.  The saved are welcomed into heaven because, having done good things for the least of those in need, they honored the Lord.  The condemned are those who have chosen to abstain from such activity.  This is very serious and requires us to search our souls to see where we stand.

Are we really a helper?  Do we really share what we have?  I remember going in on a lawn mower one time with a member of the church, after having read that the early church had all things in common.  Even that took a toll on me, because my idea of lawn mower maintenance and his son's idea were two different things.  I was frustrated by that, but I understood the circumstances.  How much bigger do our hearts need to grow to actually have compassion on those in situations we cannot completely understand?  More importantly, what is our role in their lives?

Baxter mentions a lot of needs people have and how we might be able to help.  He points out that scripture does not spell out exactly what the method is.  We have to use our best judgment.  Helping those in need opens closed doors and can bring people to the Lord.  It allows us to show that Jesus is our example of unselfish service.  Many individual decisions must be made on this topic, but we must keep in mind the fact that benevolence is a major thrust of the work of the church.