But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:24

There are so many needs in this world. It is tempting for well meaning people, including Christians, to try to make the world a better place by meeting those needs.

But what if there was one need that was more dire than all the rest—combined? Wouldn’t addressing that one greatest of all needs be the wisest, most important, and most urgent? Of course it would.

There actually is one need that is infinitely more important than all other rival needs. That need is for forgiveness if sin. Why is that the most urgent of all needs? Because all other needs are minor and temporary compared to the most important and eternal—since the ramifications are eternity in either Heaven or Hell.

Jesus is the supreme example of understanding this greatest of all needs. He came (Matthew 1:21) “to save His people from their sins” by providing forgiveness. If that was not the greatest need, His priorities would have been misaligned. Granted, Jesus did address some lesser needs. He did perform miracles that had only temporary benefit, but feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and raising the dead (who would physically die again) were part of, and secondary to, His primary mission to forgive sinners.

Paul followed in Jesus’ footsteps. Miracles were performed at his hand, but only as a part of, and secondary to, his primary mission to “to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” If we have been forgiven, let us follow Paul’s example as he followed Jesus’ example. “Let us do good to all men, especially those of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10), but always as a part of, and secondary to, sharing Christ and the gospel.