"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40
In the Christian life common acts of kindness and generosity to people in need become holy acts of service to Christ with eternal consequence. Our eternal security rests in God's grace received through faith in Christ alone but Jesus makes it clear that those who have His life in them will express His love in service to the hungry, the lonely, the needy, the sick, and the one in bondage.
Father, grow me in the servant love of Jesus so that I truly learn to love Jesus by caring for those He cares for.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
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A major theme throughout Matthew has been the Kingdom of Heaven. By skillful application of parables Jesus has described what the kingdom of Heaven is like. The parable of the ten virgins tells us to be prepared and faithful in the end times. I noticed for the first time this morning a tense change in Jesus’ parables. The beginning verse of the 25th Chapter seems to have a follow on reference point of the end times. “At that time (the end time) the Kingdom of Heaven will be like. I am not sure what all that means right now but it generates a future study point. The parable of the talents is cast in the same event time-frame. Not only are we to prepare for the Kingdom of Heaven but the Kingdom of Heaven has been prepared for us. The sheep and the goats parable conveys to us a major reward principal. At the same time, this parable ties together some of the important guidelines of the book. The one I think of is the answer to the question: “What is the greatest Commandment?” Remember, Jesus said love God...and love your neighbor as yourself. Love God — Love Others! Now, rewards and punishment at the end time (after the sheep and the goats are separated) is based on our care of others. Check me, but I read here that what I do (what I see and respond to in a helpful way) as unto the Lord, will be counted as doing for Jesus Himself. “One of the least of these,” He says.
ReplyDeleteThe important question for me becomes: Who are the least of these? Clearly the Scripture points out that they are the outcast, in trouble and troubled, inadequately clothed and the malnourished and mal-nurtured among us. If we draw the line too closely however, we may miss some others in that group. Could a person temporarily fit in this group? Like maybe, the prison of grief or being hungry for spiritual guidance and companionship? Strangers are abundant around military installations but how many of them are comforted by us? Maybe they are the ones we honk at because they are too slow or seem undecided at a turn. One of my chief obstacles to seeing “one of the least of these” is busyness. After all, I am doing God’s work and all these interruptions keep me from the important things. It sure sound like “the least of these” is God’s work and highly valued by Him. When I started this Chapter and with repeated readings, I had no idea it would take me to this place of reflection. This may linger awhile.
Although talents in biblical times was an amount of money, we cannot deny the application to our lives in drawing the comparison to whatever gifts, skills, and abilities God has blessed us with to use for His honor and glory. Whether those skills seem like much, i.e., singing beautiful solos, preaching a sermon that moves many to make decisions for Christ, or other obvious, out-in-the-open talents, we all have some ability to use our lives in service, honor, and glory for God. We should NEVER think that just because we can only do "this" or "that" that we can't do anything significant for God. Remember that our treasure is in Heaven, and whatever you do, whether it be teach a Sunday School class, paint a hallway, take time to explain something to a small child, or clean a bathroom at church, "whatever you did to the least of these you did also to me". Use your talents well!
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