We have all seen this type of Christianity.  It is the kind that tries to make others feel guilty as if they aren’t helping out the poor enough. Philanthropic Christianity is sometimes known as the “Social Gospel” wherein the advocates are somehow the protectors of the downtrodden & Jesus’ message is depicted mainly as one of class equality.  Jesus is portrayed not so much as coming to preach REPENT (since that would be mean & judgmental), but rather in the Social Gospel, Jesus is more like a happy-hippie roaming the countryside looking for poor to feed & sick to heal for no other reason than to be kind & loving.

This philanthropic Christianity plays down doctrine.  It plays down (if not all together denies) the real problem with humanity, which is the sin nature & the need for repentance.  Instead, this humanist approach is more akin to this erroneous approach:

a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. – Matthew 26:7-11

As preterists we see Christ has returned so perhaps some people would advocate we return to “selling the fragrant oil to help the poor”, I think they would miss the intent of the message.

First, let me say no one is advocating that we DON’T help the poor, those with AIDS, & those generally downtrodden.  But the first focus should be pointing them to the Water from which if any man should drink he shall thirst no more. It should be to pointing them to the Manna which feeds forever – rich or poor.

This constant focus that to be righteous one must sell everything he owns & give it to the poor is not biblical.  As a matter of fact, lets look at that text a moment.

Matthew 19:16-22

Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Note first how Jesus was trying to get the young man to see that Jesus Himself is God, that is when Jesus pointed out that “none are good except God”, it was sort of a roundabout way of Jesus letting this man know he isn’t just talking to some wandering prophet.

Next, we see that the man wants to know (like many people even today) what checklist will get him passage into eternal life.  Jesus again indulges the man’s false notions that if only he keeps the Law he could have eternal life, knowing full well the man knows that is not really possible.  What else is needed?

In telling the man to sell everything he owns & give it to the poor, Jesus wasn’t merely saying that is all that is needed – but more so Jesus was showing the man point blank that the man had set up idols instead of God, be it money, reputation, or anything else.  The man could not let it go & “follow Him”.

So, this constant appeal by some that call themselves Christian that we need to be more philanthropic is ok as long as we don’t neglect adoring Christ with the fragrant oil of our praise.  All glory to Christ Jesus. Amen & Amen -- it is NEVER a "waste" to praise & adore the Lord.