Galatians 2:9-10: "James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do."
This passage displays a portion of the heart of God ... evangelism and taking care of the needs of the poor. On one hand we have James, Peter and John ... apostles to the Jews. On the other hand, we have Paul ... the apostle to the Gentiles. They all were commissioned and powerfully anointed by Jesus to spread the gospel to the world. They were to begin the evangelization of the nations.
We also see something else. James, Peter, and John asked Paul to make sure that he also took care of the needs of the poor. They were doing it in Israel. Paul was to do it wherever he traveled. It was not enough to evangelize. It was also necessary that the needs of the poor be taken care of. It was very important to them. God is not willing that any should perish, but even if someone chooses to reject Jesus, God's heart of compassion still goes out for that person's needs.
James, Peter, John and Paul were "God's generals" in that day. They had the heart of God. They were very passionate both for winning the lost and for helping the poor. True love can do no less.
In many places throughout America today we see one or the other, but not both. Many churches help the poor, but fail to evangelize. Many other churches evangelize, but do little to help the poor. We need to do both, just as the early church did, because both are still important. Could it be that the two are somehow connected in these end times to bringing in the great harvest? |
|
