Doing The Most to Help The Least

Matthew 25: 34 - 45 ~ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me. They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you? He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

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This message is not necessarily profound, groundbreaking or something new. It is simple TRUTH. It is no secret that we are all busy trying to balance all of life’s responsibilities. No one can or will argue that 

point. But there is an even bigger issue happening all around us. You don’t have to look very far to see that people are hurting. The times we live in seem to be amplifying the problem. Life is getting the best of people and as a result we have families out on the street, children going hungry and without basic necessities. Should we be concerned or even moved to show compassion? Yes! It is our responsibility to help the hurting. In the scripture, Jesus tells us about this very thing: meeting the needs of the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, and the homeless. We can miss it if we don’t pay close attention. Some are trying to do “big things”, when God has called us to do the simple, the obvious, the practical. It doesn’t matter their situation, their need, or their physical appearance. All that matters is that they are hurting and that alone qualifies them to be on the receiving end of our compassion. How can you help them you may ask? Clothe them, give them a drink, provide shelter, visit the prisoner, and take care of the sick. It is time that we are about our Father’s business!