Did you know it cost $7 million dollars to purchase an ad for the Super Bowl this year.  Many people said that money could have been used to help the homeless and the hungry. People say if God is all powerful why does he allow people to be poor, hungry, and homeless in the first place.

The answer is God has already solved every problem.  Let’s take food for example.  2.5 billion tons of food goes to waste every year in the world.  That equals 4.656 trillion meals.   According to the Global multi-dimensional poverty index by the World Bank there are about 1.1 billion people who are really in need around the world.  There is enough food just in waste to feed each person in poverty 4233 meals a year.  To put that in perspective, 3 meals a day a person needs 1095 meals a year.  God has provided enough food to feed everyone almost 4 times over.   The problem is not God, it what humans do with what God gave us. God has provided all that we need and then some.

Jesus said in Matthew 26:11 you will always have the poor with you in response to the disciples criticizing the woman who used expensive perfume on his feet saying it could have been used for the poor.  Jesus said that if you are just concerned with taking care of needs you will go crazy and you will never really make a difference.  You need to make a difference that lasts.

Bringing someone into a relationship with Jesus solves every single problem in a person’s life.  When a person truly comes to Jesus their life will change for the better.   Jesus says the righteous are never forsaken and are never begging bread. Now the key here is righteous.  Not just saying you are a Christian but saying Jesus I want to have a real relationship with you.  Relationships take a commitment from both sides, or you are not in a relationship.   Jesus is looking for that. When you do Jesus has to change your life for the better because He made a commitment to you.

 It is also why Jesus created the church to be a vehicle to help people who come to Him.   The early church had everything in common.  They sold all they had and brought it into the church thinking that is what God meant.  That is not what God intended, what God means is in a true church we realize that Jesus is our source for everything, and we have the attitude, “Jesus if you need anything I have you can have it.” It does not mean God will ever ask for that, but if He did would you be willing to help.  That is what having all things in common means.  It does not always refer to money or material things, sometimes people need your time, or your ear, your compassion, etc.   

When we have this attitude no one in the church family will ever be in want. That means if a new believer comes in and needs help, we help them as Jesus’ hands and feet.  What if you, who are already a member of the family, are in need, this means you too will be taken care of.   

Jesus designed it to be that way to show others why it is important to be in a committed relationship with Him.   When you are in a committed relationship real change that lasts can be achieved.

Some will say that is a club.  It is, but the difference is ANYONE can join the club at any time and reap the benefits because God already has provided all we need. 

Jesus is asking for a commitment.  That is fair.  It does not mean you have to be perfect, but that you are trying to make your relationship with Jesus better.  That is all He asks of you to reap all the benefits. We will not always be perfect in our commitment, but God will always be committed to us. 

Jesus is not in the hand-out business; He is not in a business at all. Jesus is all about loving those who want to be in a relationship with Him.  There should be a marked difference between those in a relationship with Him and those who are not.  Not to put anyone down, but to show them why they should choose to be in a relationship with Jesus.

One last thing, people often criticize Christians who help people saying they have an agenda.  They are right we do.  We want to earn the right to be heard so we can introduce them to Jesus, so all their needs are taken care of for all time. What is wrong with that? 

Without an agenda you are just fixing a problem temporarily.  When that temporary fix is over the person you helped is usually worse off because they had hope for a while and not it is crushed.  With Jesus He says there is not only hope for right now, but also for a future Jeremiah 29:11.  And Jesus also says His hope never disappoints Romans 5:5.

For those who criticize Christians who help with an agenda, did you know that 78% of all charity work is done by a Christian organization.  If you take that out of the equation no one would be helped at all, because without a reason people don’t help.  It has been proven time and time again.

That is why the world needs Jesus.  Jesus solves every problem when you have a true relationship with Jesus.  Introduce someone to Jesus first and the rest will take care of itself because God never fails to keep His promises. 

Jesus even says in Malachi 3:10 to “try Me”.  Have a relationship with me, a real one, and see if I don’t take care of all your needs because I love you.

Remember Jesus loves you; I love you, and you are meant to be so AWESOME!