The true work of the church of Christ

You will say: The true work of the church of Christ is to preach the gospel. Of course! But even in that we are failing. The work of the church of Christ is not only preaching the gospel, there are other areas in which we also manifest God’s love to the world and I believe that preaching the gospel must be something complete, not a part and abandon the other. The work of the church is also to help the needy!

Sometimes we find ourselves involved in so many activities that do not really belong to the work of the church, we invest a lot of time in activities for ourselves, in embellishing the temple, in meetings, programs, and events that often only serve internal interests. Many churches grow inwardly but forget to look outward. Yet the world sees us as a place of refuge, not only for their spiritual needs, but also for material needs. People expect compassion, mercy, and help from those who claim to follow Christ.

Jesus said the following:

12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.

13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,

14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Luke 14:12-14

I believe that this work should be taken by the church, not only as a group, but also by each one of us as individuals to help those most in need, because it is not a great task to give to the one who already has and expect a reward. It is very different to give to the one who does not have and to know that you will possibly never receive any material reward. Why? Because when we give to the one who lacks even the most basic resources, we do not expect anything back, for that person is poor and has nothing to offer in return.

Jesus’ teaching confronts our natural tendency to give selectively—choosing to bless those who can bless us back. He challenges us to give where repayment is impossible, because that is where true love is manifested. The church today must recover this spirit of generosity, this willingness to bless the forgotten, the marginalized, and the invisible people of society. When we do this, we reflect the heart of God more accurately than with a thousand sermons, because mercy is a language everyone can understand.

There are widows, orphans, immigrants, single mothers, elderly people abandoned by their families, and entire communities living in extreme need. Often these people live just minutes away from our churches, yet we pass by them without noticing. The work of the church should not be confined to walls and pews; it must reach the streets, neighborhoods, hospitals, shelters, and places where pain is constant. Preaching the gospel includes proclaiming salvation, but also demonstrating compassion. Both must go together.

If we do this as a church, then Christ calls us blessed. Not admired, not recognized, not applauded—blessed. This is a word loaded with heavenly meaning. To be blessed by Christ is greater than human applause, greater than any public recognition, and greater than anything the world can give. And the most important thing is that we have a guaranteed reward in doing this, and it is not an earthly reward, but a heavenly one. What we do for others echoes in eternity, because God Himself promises to remember every act of mercy done in His name.

Dear reader, I urge you that as long as you can bless the most needy, and show them the love of the Father, for in this way you will be doing a great work. You may not have much, but even small acts done with love carry weight before God. A word of encouragement, a plate of food, clothing, a visit, a prayer—these simple gestures can transform a heart more deeply than we imagine. Let us not forget that we, too, once needed mercy, and God extended it to us freely.

Let your life be a reflection of Christ’s generosity. Let your hands be instruments of compassion. And let your heart burn with the same love that moved Jesus to draw near to the broken, the forgotten, and the poor. When the church embraces this mission fully, the world will see not only our words, but the living evidence of God’s love shining through us.