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There is a pitfall in the church today: Too many Christians have allowed their priorities to become other than God-centered. We need to get back to basics, emphasizing such things as dedication and commitment to God and place less emphasis on seeking after things. The Bible says when we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things shall be added unto us (Matt. 6:33).

Quit worrying about the things - the cars, the houses, the lands and the prosperity. These things will take care of themselves if you'll just get yourself lined up with God and His Kingdom. Seeking God's Kingdom first is getting people saved and ministering to the needs and hurts of others.

Actually, the reason why many Christians are not having the things added unto them, even though they believe God and making all the right confessions, is because they are seeking first the things - not the Kingdom of God. Their priorities are reversed. It's not possible to receive the things God has promised until you've sought first His Kingdom. That's just the way this principle works!

It's so easy to explain to a man in need how he should believe God in order to put food on the table for his family. Then as you leave, you cheerfully tell him, "Well, God bless you, brother. God will meet all of your needs." You walk off without a care in the world - but his stomach is still crying out for food!

That same person would be more apt to listen to what you have to say if you'd bring him some groceries to satisfy his hunger. After he's fed his physical body, he'll be able to hear what you have to say to his spiritual man. Let's get back to the basics! Let's minister to the needs of people!

Many Christians don't mind hearing a sermon or a message, but when you ask them to give of their time, their money, or themselves, they whistle a different tune! This just points to the fact that seeking first the Kingdom of God is not uppermost in their minds!

One Christmas, my heart became burdened for people in Tulsa who were out of work. The oil business had declined, the economy was down, and many people were suffering financially. I knew there were those who would not have presents or food for Christmas.

I was praying one day, and I began to pray for these people. I prayed that the Lord would send laborers across their paths to minister to them in both the spiritual and the natural realms. As I was praying, the Lord said to me, "Why don't you do something?" I replied, "Lord, what can I do? I don't know any of the people in those homes."

Then the Lord gave me an idea. To play a charity basketball game - the RHEMA staff against a local Christian radio station - and give all the proceeds to the Salvation Army so they could minister to the needy in Tulsa.

I also said to the student body of RHEMA Bible Training Center, "We need to minister to needy people in Tulsa. I want every student here to bring some canned goods or groceries. If you have new toys or games you'd like to donate to families in need, bring those too." As a result, the students brought in thousands of dollars worth of groceries and gifts, all of which went to needy families in Tulsa. We didn't advertise what we were doing, nor did we hold a big press conference. We just obeyed the Word!

You see, one reason why some Christians are not going to receive much reward in heaven is because they've already received their reward here in earth! They're always sticking their thumbs under their lapels, boasting, "Look what I did!" Bless God, none of us could do anything if it weren't for the power of God. It's God who does these things through us - and we'd better always give Him the credit for it!

Christians, it's time we minister to the brokenhearted! When a person is in financial need, if you're really going to minister to him - why don't you reach into your pocket and give him some money? The easy way out is just to preach to him, and then walk off and leave him with his problems and burdens!

Of course, I'm talking about people who are really in need - not professional "con artists" who pretend to be in need just to take advantage of the Body of Christ. There's a big difference!

In the Body of Christ today, there are many so-called "faith" people who are selfish. They never think about the needs of others, or the difficulties others in the Body of Christ may be experiencing. That's contrary to the Word of God! Galatians 6:10 says, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Here the Bible tells us to do something. We are to help others in need! And it's not always just giving money, either; I'm talking about giving of yourself.

Proverbs 3:27 says, "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." When it's in your power to assist someone in need, and you neglect to do it - you're out of line with God's Word! You can give people all the instruction you want, but if they have needs, you need to obey the Word and help them!

There have been times when my wife and I have heard about students who were having financial struggles. On one occasion, we knew of a couple that had a financial need. Lynette knew where the woman kept her purse, so she just slipped some money into it. I don't think that couple ever found out where that money came from!

The Lord didn't specifically speak to us to do that. We just knew what the Word said! These people had a financial need, and we had the means to help meet that need. That's what the Bible says in James 1:22, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

It is the job of local churches to minister to the hurting and the needy in their own cities. This ministry can't meet the needs of people in other parts of the country or the world. There are too many people for one ministry to reach alone. But if every local church and every individual believer will do their part, we can make a difference together!

Christians get quiet when you start talking like this, because it puts the responsibility on them. Some don't mind hearing preaching or teaching about how to believe God so they can get their own needs met, but it's a different story if you talk about taking money out of their pocket to help someone else in need.

But Christians, let's learn how to minister to needy people in our own community wherever we encounter them.

Source: Ministering to the Brokenhearted by Kenneth Hagin, Jr.
Excerpt permission granted by Faith Library Publications

Author Biography

Kenneth W. Hagin
Web site: Kenneth Hagin Ministries
 
Kenneth W. Hagin, President of Kenneth Hagin Ministries and pastor of RHEMA Bible Church, ministers around the world. Known for calling the Body of Christ to steadfast faith, he seizes every ministry opportunity to impart an attitude of “I cannot be defeated, and I will not quit.”
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