By Danny Minton

“On Twelfth Street in the Iris section of Newark, New Jersey, nobody was rich and nobody was poor. The men had blue-collar jobs, and the women stayed home with the children. There were lots of children in the neighborhood, and that was one of the reasons the families knew one another so well. Kids grew up playing together and visiting in each other’s houses; their mothers gossiped over the back fences as they hung out the wash, and their fathers played cards together in the evening after work. Twelfth Street took care of its own. If somebody got sick, or lost a loved one, or was temporarily out of work, neighbors would pitch in to help without being asked. Nobody formed a committee; it was just done.” (Sea of Glory by Ken Weles and David Poling, pg. 51)

As I read this paragraph, I was brought to mind the current situation with the budget cuts for programs such as “Meals on Wheels.” Last summer, the federal government cut millions of dollars states would receive in 2025 for nutrition programs. This resulted in states needing to make tough decisions on budget cuts due to fewer funds. It then trickled down to groups such as “Meals on Wheels,” who are facing the possibility of cutting back on how many people they can help. Other agencies will probably also feel the cuts, making it more challenging to meet the needs of those who rely on their help.

The first thought to many is not understanding how the government can be so insensitive to the needs of the people they serve. “Why doesn’t the government do something more to help?” “They need to be helping!”

These are valid questions, but maybe not the main question we should ask ourselves. We should ask, “What am I doing to help those in need?” Expecting the government to care for all our needs is not what God expects of us. If we have the means, He expects us to help, feed, clothe, and care for those in need. 

Jesus’ expectations of us and how we treat others are found in Matthew when He speaks about judgment. “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’” Matthew 25:40-45 (NASB)

Most who read this are like our family. We have pantries, freezers, and refrigerators stocked with various items to eat. We’ll go out to eat occasionally, spend a few dollars on coffee, or stop by the bakery. We open our closet and spend time trying to decide what to wear from a rack full of clothes. We are blessed with so many blessings. The Bible refers to us when it speaks of the “rich.”

It’s okay to ask the government to step up and help, but it’s essential for us to do the same. If we have the resources, we should help those in need. Groups such as Meals on Wheels, Global Samaritan Resources, Love and Care Ministries, and many others need help to meet the community’s needs. Our churches should be canvassing our neighborhoods to be aware of those around us in need. Check with the schools in your area to see if families need help. Church pantries should be actively used to help as many as we can. We should not expect the government to do everything for us. People need to see the love and care of Jesus in the way we reach out to them personally. There is no reason that anyone in our communities should go without the basic needs of life.

“Nobody formed a committee; it was just done.” Don’t wait for the government to step in with the resources. Don’t wait to be asked. Don’t wait; find a way to reach out to help those struggling. By helping others, you are praising Jesus.

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 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; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’” Matthew 25:34-40 (NASB)

Danny Minton is a former Elder and minister at Southern Hills Church of Christ