Meeting Our Needs

The atmosphere around us seems to swirl with constant messages. The advertising of products and services. The speeches of politicians. The appeals of advocacy groups. The promotion of opinions. Each is trying to communicate their ideas, but some are more effective than others.

A recent study revealed that the most successful campaigns are those which focus on the needs of the audience. These messages are developed by people who are good listeners, who study their audiences and seek to show why their products are beneficial. In contrast, the least successful campaigns tend to talk mostly about what they think is important.

As Jesus began His ministry, we see Him demonstrating His sensitivity to people’s needs. He showed His compassion by healing all manner of diseases. Multitudes responded. Here was a man who really cared and who could actually help them. But Jesus didn’t stop there. He knew that people needed to know God and experience His fullest blessings. So Jesus used this as a teaching moment, sharing central principles of God’s Kingdom (Matthew 5:1-2).

As you interact with people around you, ask God to give you greater sensitivity. What are their deepest needs? What are the real concerns of their hearts? Seek to be a good listener. Be open to the leading of the Spirit. Be less concerned about your own interests and more focused on showing how the Gospel can meet every need. Physical and emotional. Mental and spiritual. Temporal and eternal.