Acouple visiting in Asia saw a father and his son working in a paddy field. The old man guided the heavy plow as the boy helped to pull it. “I guess they must be very poor,” the man said to the missionary who was the couple’s guide and translator. “Yes,” replied the missionary. “When the church was built, they were eager to give something to it, but they had no money. So they sold their ox and gave the money to the church. This spring they are pulling the plow themselves.” After a long silence, the woman said, “That was a real sacrifice.” The missionary responded, “They do not call it a sacrifice. They are just thankful that they had an ox to sell. Giving to God is not sacrifice. It is duty.”

There is a saying in India, “If you give what you do not need, it isn’t giving.” There is another saying in China, “A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog.” These sayings spell out the practical religion which Christ taught in His life and teachings.

Christ commissions us to reach the people and then teach them the love of God. “Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’”1

What was Christ’s method? He met the needs of the people and then they followed Him. Below are a few of many examples that Jesus left for us.

Matthew 20 describes the blind men. What did they need? They needed to see! Before they could see spiritually, they needed to get past their physical need. Jesus didn’t tell them to “ignore it.” If He had, they would have forgotten about Jesus and spent the rest of their lives accepting pity. We may not have the kind of faith that can heal a blind man, but we surely can be of greater service than just offer pity.

John 8 portrays a woman caught in adultery. She needed protection, acceptance, and forgiveness. Jesus could not show her a better way until He had won her confidence and love. God did not call us to be policemen but to be lovers of all. There is a time to call sin by its right name but only after the sinner has been loved unconditionally!

John chapter 3 illustrates Nicodemus’ meeting with Jesus. What did he need? A spiritual counselor, someone that could speak to his heart, to be born again. Jesus gently opened his mind and his heart in love, and gained a follower.

Luke 6 pictures a group of Pharisees. They needed to have a look at their own motivations for being so “holier than thou.” Jesus showed them these things by being a help to the man with the withered hand. They made the choice of pride to not follow Jesus. Many today, when they have their authority or pet beliefs challenged, would rather follow pride than Jesus.

Mark 6 accounts the feeding of the 5000. What did they need? It depends upon when the question is asked. First, they needed to hear the teachings of Jesus. That is why they were there. But as the day progressed, their needs changed. Their need for teaching changed to their need for eating. Jesus met this need so that He could once again meet their need for teaching. People’s needs change. We continually need to meet them and continually draw them to Jesus.

Jesus taught His disciples this very thing. “And into whatsoever city ye enter ... heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you” (Luke 10:8, 9).

See what Jesus said. “Heal first, and then tell about God.” Meet their needs and then share with them the answer to their greater need.

I remember the words of Martin Luther, “I have tried to keep things in my hands and lost them all, but what I have given into God’s hands I still possess.”

Do your giving while you’re living so you know where it’s going. God judges what we give by what we keep.

“It’s not what you do with the million,

If riches should be at your lot.

But what are you doing at present

With the dollar and cents that you got?”

Practical Christianity is what the world needs. “Practical Christianity is the revealing in word and action of the will of God.”2 When people know that we are genuine, when they know that we truly care, when we meet their needs, only then can we invite them to Jesus. In order to know those needs, we must know those people. When God’s work is done in God’s way for God’s glory, it will never lack God’s supply.