meeting needs

“When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.”
Romans 12:13 NLT

Paul’s pastoral heart emerges with the verse we are considering this morning. He was concerned with the social needs of his day, and, in particular, the needs of the early Christians. Note that he didn’t start this verse with an “if”, but rather with a “when”. It was a reality that in the early church there were some who were needy. But what was the “need” that Paul observed?

The counter-cultural faith of the early Christians was considered subversive by the Roman-orientated government and societies of their time. And there was a reaction to them, that made it difficult for the early believers to be in business, or be involved with the non-Christians around them. They were too different, with their Gospel that there is only one true God. Their sexual ethics were distinct, promoting chaste behaviour and monogamic relationships between husbands and wives. They were anti-abortionists.  They refused to worship the  gods of their neighbours, considering it idolatry. They promoted a faith that was based on a love relationship with God, and salvation through grace. They were a community. They were, in fact, so different to the peoples around them that they both attracted and repelled them, and the church growth at that time was dramatic. 

But the reaction against them in their societies resulted in their having “needs”. Social justice was a part of the early church ethos, so why did Paul have to remind them of their obligations? Don’t forget that the church in Rome was an amalgam of Jewish and Gentile Christians, and perhaps some of the rivalry, even dislike, prevailed. Also, within the growing nascent church, it would have been easy to overlook those particularly on the margins. Paul wasn’t specific about which needs should be helped. He was just encouraging the people to look out for them and help them in whatever way possible. The second half of today’s verse mentions “hospitality”. Be eager to practice it, he wrote. Perhaps he was saying to these early Christians, invite God’s people around for a meal. A coffee and chat. )pen up your homes and have a party, he was perhaps saying.

To provide a clue of how the early church started can be found in the last few verses of Acts 2, “And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved” (Acts 2:44-47). Counter-cultural? If that described our local churches today we would be living in a different society.

There are those today, concerned with social justice, who look to the state to provide for people’s needs. The response expected is one of finance. Increase the benefits and eliminate poverty, they demand. More universal credit and state pensions. More housing benefit and council tax concessions. The demands are strident and never seem to end. I should point out that I agree that needy people should be helped, but, sadly, we have become confused between what is a “need” and what is a “want”. The early church made sure that people were fed – Acts 6:1, “But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food”. Note that the need at the time was for feeding those who were unable to feed themselves because of their status in society – widows. And perhaps Paul knew that the same problem between different factions – Jews and Gentiles – in the Roman church was already present elsewhere. But they dealt with it. Needs were met.

So how does Romans 12:13 impact us today? How do we pilgrims respond? The main feature for me is that the early church was growing explosively because it was different. Their morals, their community, their focus on one God, who loved them, cared for them, and had saved them through His Son Jesus, were so counter-cultural that they polarised society. The early Christians upset the idol worshippers around them because they refused to accommodate and recognise their many goods. They were society confronters, and not afraid of the consequences, even being prepared to die for their faith in God. Perhaps we have an opportunity today to confront a new reincarnation of the Roman deities – the gender ideologies. We have to point out to society around us that their “need” is not the ability to change gender at whim but instead it is to embrace the one true God. We have the right and true message. How are we promoting it? Are we hunkered down with our heads below the parapet, hoping the problem will go away? or are we too, like those early believers, willing to face the consequences of being society-confronters.

But back to “When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them”. Peoples’ needs are many and often complex. We immediately think of the the basics of life such as food and drink, warmth and shelter. But most of the time in our societies there are many others. In the news this morning there are statistics reported that show a pandemic of mental health issues amongst the young people in the UK. In my community the biggest issue is not financial. It is loneliness. And the community of “God’s people” is not immune from these problems. We pilgrims need to be aware of people’s needs, and not be put off by the “fine” response at the church door. Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit with us, and He is willing and able to empower us to discern the needs before us. Fulfilling Paul’s entreaty to “be ready” will cost us. Our time and money. OIur reputations and even our careers. Much prayer is needed. We probably won’t see any rewards in this life but one day we will near those precious words, “Well done …”.

Dear Father God. We worship You today. Thank You for Your loving kindness, and always being there for us in our times of need. Amen.