WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?’
“Then He will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.” Matthew 25:44,45
Many believers around the world are of the opinion their ‘work’ for Jesus and God, is going to services on Sunday and, perhaps, a Bible study during the week. What a shame they do not understand to full meaning of Adonai Yeshua’s, the Lord Jesus’, message in Matthew 25:40-46.
Why do they have such a difficulty in helping the most vulnerable of Yahveh’s children? Why do they ignore the plight of those who are ill, physically and mentally, homeless, without support? Do they believe helping these is beneath them?
The Apostle James certainly did understand Adonai Yeshua’s meaning, when he wrote, in the Book of James, Chapter 2: faith without works is dead faith. But, to what works was he referring in this chapter? In verses 15 to 17, he writes: If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself.
James also told us, in James 1:27, Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. Thus, when we ignore this command from our Lord and Master, Himself, are we making ourselves impure and defiled? Are we just like everyone else in the world, who holds Yahveh and Adonai Yeshua in contempt?
How do these commands apply to us today? When was the last time you gave of your time to work at a soup-kitchen or at a homeless shelter? When did you approach those in a hospital or long-term care facility, who have no families, and no one visits them? When we do these and other things of a similar nature, we are answering His call.
When was the last time you donated to a food bank or to the maintenance of an orphanage? Here is where each of us has a clear impact on the world.
When many of us do not see an immediate impact of our ‘work’, we often become discouraged and believe what we do has little relevance. This, unfortunately, is a very selfish approach to giving, both of out time and resources. It is important for us to adhere to Adonai Yeshua’s words, found in Matthew 5:13-16 – You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men. “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Yes, when we work in the world in which we live, we are accomplishing two important tasks: 1. We are helping those in need and 2. We are sowing salt into a tasteless world and shining His light onto those who live in darkness. We have no idea what our help may bring or who might be affected through the light we cast into darkness. These impacts are known by the Blessed Holy Spirit of the Living God, by our Messiah and Saviour and by Yahveh, Himself. What more could we ask for? And, so, I pose my question again: what are you doing?
May the God of Avraham, Isaac and Jacob bless you richly.
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