It’s the nameless on the news that stand in need and it’s the all too familiar that we’re too close to help that stand in need. So what is it that we can do? Where does the answer come from? Is it government that is suppose to do this, is it the church that is supposed to do this, is it other non-profit charities that are suppose to take care of large numbers of people in large need? Should it be left up to private citizens and their voluntary charitable work? Which needs can we meet? The needs exist on so many different levels, physical, emotional, financial, educational. It turns out that when Jesus looked around He saw the same thing that we do, needs all around.

For those who wonder whether or not the church should be in the business that touches people at the point of their physical and emotional need, the answer is without a doubt, yes. Some have mistakenly thought that all the church should do is dispense the gospel. Roger Greenway said, "If we wipe out poverty but neglect to tell the poor the good news about Jesus Christ, we will have failed in our mission, but if we preach the gospel and ignore the plight of the poor, we are false prophets."

The goal is to help people to acquire new skills and resources so that they can be independent, not merely to help people. If you’re there only to help you’re a resource to exploit rather than a potential friend. There is a dysfunctional way to help people. It’s paternalistic, it’s a way that manipulates people, it’s a way that fosters dependency, and it locks people into their position of powerlessness. Ultimately what it does is build us up and keep them down.