What Did Jesus Say About Helping Others? Fueling a Life of Service and Mission

Ashland Watson
2 days ago
4 min read

In a world constantly clamoring for attention, it’s easy to miss the quiet, profound call that Jesus issued to His followers: help others. Over and over again, Scripture shows Jesus not just talking about service but embodying it. He didn’t ask for applause. He asked for obedience. And as we fuel our lives with the mission of Mosaic International, it’s essential to root our service in what Jesus actually said and modeled.

The Heart of Jesus: Service as a Lifestyle

Jesus didn’t separate helping others from holiness; it was holiness. In Matthew 25, He paints a vivid picture of what final judgment looks like: not based on how often you went to church, but what you did for others.

"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

That’s not just a nudge, it’s a command.

He didn’t simply endorse generosity; He equated it with righteousness. In doing so, He echoed Isaiah 1:17:

"Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause."

Sound familiar? That’s the heartbeat of our mission.

Jesus’ Words Echo the Old Testament

Jesus was steeped in the Hebrew Scriptures, and He frequently alluded to them. When you hear Him preach, you hear Leviticus 25:35 beating in the background:

"If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you."

This wasn't an optional command. It was part of the covenant, to care for the community.

The same God who told Moses to free His people also told His people to free others from poverty, isolation, and injustice.

We’re reminded of Exodus 17:12, where "Moses’ hands grew" weary during the battle, and Aaron and Hur had to hold them up. It’s a visual of what support looks like, standing beside one another when the burden is too much. Helping others often means holding up tired hands.

Generosity Isn’t Just Financial... It’s Holistic

Jesus didn’t just help the poor with material goods. He restored dignity. He made eye contact with the leper. He spoke to the Samaritan woman. He touched the untouchable.

Helping others isn’t about dropping spare change in a jar; it’s about stepping into someone else’s pain, bearing their burden.

As Proverbs 21:13 tells us:

"Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered."

That’s not just a proverb, it’s a promise. Jesus models a generosity that is “good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over” (Luke 6:38). In other words, we don’t give just enough. We give abundantly, even recklessly, in trust that God will refill us.

Created to Do the Work

If you’ve ever wondered what your purpose is, start here:

“We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10)

Let that settle in, created in Jesus. This isn’t just a suggestion. It’s baked into your design. You were made to serve, to love, to go. We are all made in God's amazing image. Not because it earns salvation, but because it reveals salvation.

Living the Example of Christ

Jesus was our perfect example of how to live. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 8:9,

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich."

He laid down comfort. He laid down the status. He laid down His life. And if the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, then we know what kind of life we’re being invited into.

Service Isn’t Always Convenient, It’s Always Worth It

Just like Moses needed his hands lifted in battle, we won’t always have the strength to serve on our own. But Jesus never asked us to go it alone. He told us He’d be with us. He gave us each other. And He prepared the works in advance, we just need to walk in them.

Fueling a Missional Life

So what did Jesus say about helping others? He said it’s everything. It’s the criteria for the Kingdom. It’s the legacy of love. It’s the call on your life.

Whether you're supporting local missions or global initiatives like those through Mosaic International, remember, you're not just doing good deeds. You're walking in the path Jesus walked.

MOSAIC INTERNATIONAL