Jesus answered them…you have been searching for Me…because you were fed…and were filled and satisfied. – John 6:26, Amplified Bible (AMP)

Nobody knows better than Jesus how effective it can be to reach someone’s soul by first taking care of his/her physical needs. By healing the sick, casting out demons, and feeding the hungry, Chirst opened hearts and minds to the message of the Gospel.  But, nobody knows better than Jesus how dangerous serving the physical needs of others can be, for such a ministry can quickly lose sight of its spiritual purpose, focusing instead solely on meeting the physical needs of others.

In John 6, Jesus had departed the mulitude after feeding five thousand men (plus women and children) with five loaves and two fish.  Some of the multitude crossed the sea to Capernaum looking for Jesus, and once they found Him, Jesus said to them in verse 26 (AMP):

…I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, you have been searching for Me, not because you saw the miracles and signs but because you were fed with the loaves and were filled and satisfied.

In other words, this crowd wasn’t searching for Jesus for what He could do for them spiritually. This crowd was searching for Jesus because of what He could do for them physically. They wanted another meal to fill their bellies, not a Christ to fill their souls. Jesus knew this, and this is why Jesus admonished them in verse 27 (AMP) to:

Stop toiling and doing and producing for the food that perishes and decomposes [in the using], but strive and work and produce rather for the [lasting] food which endures [continually] unto life eternal; the Son of Man will give (furnish) you that, for God the Father has authorized and certified Him and put His seal of endorsement upon Him.

Interestingly, Christ chose not to feed the multitude again with the earthly food for which they sought Him out, choosing rather to emphasize their need for the spiritual food – Jesus Christ Himself, the Bread of Life – that saves.

As always, Jesus gave us a perfect pattern to follow. Use “helps” ministries to bring people closer to Him. Don’t use “helps” ministries when they become an end unto themselves. Many charitable ministries begin with the purpose of bringing people to Christ by first meeting one or more physical needs. Unfortunately, many such ministries, over time, morph into nothing more than a way of making people feel good about themselves by helping others who are less fortunate. The thought of sharing Christ doesn’t even come up, and those served by such ministries get a full belly – or clothes or medical care or something to meet a physical need – but leave with an empty soul.

There is nothing wrong with charitable effort. There is something wrong when the charity forgets its reason for existing: sharing Christ. When the charitable effort becomes its own end – to make us feel good because we did something nice for someone less fortunate – then we are both wasting our time and disappointing our Lord.

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