in the famine

I read over Acts 11 today and the verses 27-30 hit me in the face
"Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, everyone according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul."

am i reading that right? did i miss something huge?
a famine over the "world"...probably meaning a very large portion of the middle east. and what did the disciples determine? to send help to the brothers in Judea. not to everyone. not to random people. to the brothers. other believers are who they came to aid. the famine was everywhere. why just the brothers?

here's my two cents. we often think that we are aiding people by helping them in the physical realm, what is commonly referred to as 'social justice.' often times (though not always) what happens is that we help people and they get back on their feet and they never turn to God in their time of need, but rather depend on man to supply for their needs.
Christians, however, are told to love one another. By our love for each other others will know we love Christ. Care for the brethren. We care for our own because we are the body of Christ, we act as his intercessor to provide all the needs of those who trust in Him.

do i think that every time a disaster happens we should only help those who are Christian? no. but only to a point. if we help those outside the faith, there must be a call to repent and believe. Luke 13 should be taught. the folks who died are no more sinful than we that are alive. therefore, repent.

thoughts back?

-joe