"...the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 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.' - Matthew 25:34-40
I want to be frank and honestly say that I tend to get so caught up in my own life and its tiny troubles, that I tend to forget or even ignore "the least of these". I move quickly through life, fixating on the things and people I consider to be important. And maybe they are! But have I made them so important that I've left no room for those who are also important in God's kingdom? Didn't Jesus stand with the poor and needy? Didn't he come for the sick and weak?
I have all the comforts I could possibly need and then some. I have so much food that I often throw some out (and still get off at times complaining there is nothing to eat). I have an abundance of clothes (and maybe wear 20% of them on a regular basis). I have a job, shelter, amazing family and group of friends, supportive church, and yet I still at times feel I am lacking. What am I lacking? Mostly gratitude to God for his provisions.
I was reminded last week that what I am given is really not my own (it is God's), and just how much being generous with what God has given us can bless others. My grandma became very sick and had to go to hospital. I really wanted to see her, but the problem was that she lived in Hawaii and I didn't have the money to fly out there. I prayed about it and asked others for prayers of provision. Within a day I was given the funds to purchase a plane ticket by two old friends who both expressed how their money was God's, and he had blessed them with enough excess to bless me. Now I'm left thankful...and inspired.
All week I've been praying into how I can respond. Even before this, God has been working in my heart to fill me with a desire to be more generous. After all, it is important enough that Jesus made a very clear statement about it: "whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me." I'm tired of living a selfish, undisciplined life where my money, time and energy goes to...well...me and what I want! I know there is room for me to make more sacrifices for the least of these. Because really, living a me-cluttered life is exhausting and keeps me from having a lot more joy than I have now.
Maybe you'd like to join me? If so, shoot me a message! Let's chat about how we can respond to God's heart for the poor and needy.
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