We’ve all seen commercials that portray hungry children with dirty faces, barely clothed at times, with bones protruding from their bodies from starvation. It’s easy to dismiss them for several reasons.
- Sometimes we think the problem is so big and we can’t possibly make a difference so why bother.
- Sometimes the physical distance between the continents breeds an emotional distance in our hearts.
- Sometimes we’re just too distracted to consider the least of these.
No, you can’t feed every hungry child.
But consider the words of Jesus when he teaches the parable in Matthew 25:
I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink.
I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.
I was naked, and you gave me clothing.
I was sick, and you cared for me.
I was in prison, and you visited me.
Then
these righteous ones will reply,
and feed you?
Or thirsty and give you something to drink?
Or a stranger and show you hospitality?
Or naked and give you clothing?
When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?
And the King will say,
I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!…
I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the
least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.
Matthew 25:31-45
(condensed)
Now please don’t hate the messenger!… I know it’s a difficult passage, but it’s God’s word, not mine.
I simply share this as a reminder that God doesn’t call us to save the world, that’s His job.
However, if you are a believer in Christ then He has called you to live a life of compassion for the “least of these”…
the hungry, the thirsty, the rejected, the poor, the incriminated.
For whatever we do unto the least of these, we do unto Him.