First,

It is hard to care for others needs before our own, but the Word talks about that. In Matt. 20:28, it says, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve...” Jesus was our example for serving others and putting others’ needs first. The scripture also talks about the joys of service and “a cup of cold water given in My Name.” (Matt. 10:42)  What an awesome delight to serve others and experience loving God and loving our neighbor.

Second,

We also must love our neighbor by telling them about the love Jesus has for them.  In Acts 1:8, with the promise of the Holy Spirit, comes a command for us to be His witnesses in “Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” To be His witnesses, we must tell of the love Jesus has for ALL people.  The word says that God is not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance. (2 Pet. 3:9).  So, we must be willing and ready to share our story of how His love has transformed us with a world that needs to hear it.

So we know what God wants us to do – to love our neighbor as ourselves by caring for their needs and telling them about Jesus – but how do we do that?

Meeting Needs:

Jesus gives us a great example in Matt. 25:35, 40 in the parable of the sheep and the goats when He said, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me….I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” We will seek outreach opportunities to feed the hungry, visit the prisoner, clothe the naked… When we meet people in their needs, right where they are, we have fulfilled Christ’s commands…and His heart.