We need to meet people’s needs

“Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation 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, 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.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'”

Matthew 25: 34-40 (TNIV)

We probably don’t know all of the needs of everyone around us, but sometimes it is obvious, or God reveals a need to us, and we just need to get on and address those needs.

The needs we meet might be very basic – food, welcoming, clothing, looking after people (even if we can’t heal them), keeping in touch and visiting people (even if they did something to put themselves in prison). We are surrounded by friends and colleagues in need, as well as many other people we don’t know who have basic needs.

Jesus says that whoever’s needs we address, whoever we serve, it is as if we are serving God himself when we serve someone in need.

It is useful to know that serving others, therefore, does not contradict what we’ve already learned, that we should only serve God. Meeting God’s needs and wants is done by obeying him, which means we follow Jesus’ instructions to love and serve other people.

Extra information

We spent a lot of time yesterday looking at how Jesus served in a remarkable number of ways. Without getting bogged down in complication – because Jesus’ instruction here is very simple – it would be worth us spending more time today thinking about the needs of others around us. It may be that our work colleagues don’t lack for basics of food and shelter, but may need other things, such as:

• Physical needs – are they getting enough rest and sleep, relaxation and breaks from stress?
• Safety needs – are they feeling protected and secure, stable and free from the effects of crime?
• Belonging needs – are they in loving relationships, feeling appreciated and part of the team?
• Esteem needs – are they achieving, growing, recognised, given responsibility and feeling valued?
• Cognitive needs – are they learning and becoming more self-aware of their skills and purpose?
• Aesthetic needs – are they getting satisfaction and inspiration from beauty, wit and laughter?
• Transcendence needs – are they finding purpose in serving and helping others to grow?

Many psychologists say that these needs form a hierarchy – the most basic needs need to be met before we experience the more advanced needs. A person’s point of greatest need can be considered to be their most basic (in this case, the first in the list above which they find to be a need). How does that apply to the people you know? Do you know your work colleagues well enough to meet their needs?

To consider and pray throughout today

• How ready am I to serve? Do I know what the people around me need?
• How could I get to know my colleagues better?
• How can I meet their needs without patronising or judging them?