Part of our calling as people born of water and the Spirit is to care for others!
That’s in addition to being God’s servants, and Christian leaders. Review my previous reflections:
Before delving into today’s reflection, read the following words from our Lord, Jesus Christ:
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.’ Matthew 25:44-45.
To help you understand better why we need to care, you need to read the entire 25th chapter of Matthew, not just the two verses above.
This chapter has three primary sections, which I discuss in the following lines. So, while you read the rest of the article, keep Matthew 25 open, whether it’s a printed or digital Bible.
Do not let your lamp run out of oil waiting for the groom
The first section, in Matthew 25, covers verses 1 through 13.
Jesus gives a story using a typical Hebrew wedding ceremony. In the Jewish tradition, the bride and her bridesmaids would have to wait until the groom and his groomsmen show up. There was no fixed time for his arrival.
In the story, there are two things that come up. First, these women (10 because it was tradition to have this number in the Jewish tradition) had to wait for the groom to come.
But, there was no set time for that. So, they had no idea when he would show up.
Second, that happened in the evening, which means that these women needed to keep their lamps lit the whole time.
In Jesus’ days, most weddings took place in the evening and when after harvest is done, and also it was cooler. Wedding festivities also could last up to seven days.
Jesus divides the group of women into two: foolish and wise. The foolish women (5 of them) are the ones who did not provide additional oil, and the wise had extra oil for their lamps.
Think of your life as a lamp, and oil, as what you need to make sure when the groom comes, you will know it, and he will know that you’re awake.
I won’t go into more depth because this is a message for another day.
However, keep in mind that you and I are the brides (the body of Christ), and Jesus is the groom (read 2 Corinthians 11:2; and Revelation 21:2,17). The oil comes from God through the Holy Spirit. It is what keeps the light of Christ alive in us.
The use of the above story is also to point out that caring draws on our personal and intimate relationship with God.
[bctt tweet=”The fruit of our intimate relationship with God through Christ helps and enables us to establish relationships with people through care while maintaining those we already have with others. ” username=”emmanuelnaweji”]
The Master will put in charge of many things only those who are good stewards of what He’s given them
Jesus goes on to share a second story in Matthew 25. Now, He’s talking about bags of gold (treasure). Read verses 14 through 30.
A wealthy man goes on a journey. Before he leaves, he entrusts 3 of his servants with bags of gold. One receives 5 bags of gold. Another, 2 bags, and the last one, 1 bag of golds.
Pay attention that the Master never said that this treasure belongs to each of the servants. Even though the servants have received it from the Master, it was still the Masters.
Also, like the previous story, the Master did not say when he would come back. Nor, did he say how these servants should take care of the Master’s treasure.
When the Master comes back, he is so proud of two of these servants, and tells them:
Well done, good and faithful servant. I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master’s happiness. Matthew 25:21,23.
The Master was happy about how the first two servants had taken care of the Master’s treasure. They doubled what he had given them.
However, the third servant chose to hide the Master’s treasure. And, the Master wasn’t glad at all. That’s why he said to him:
‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25:28-30.
Caring, based on this story, implies the use of what we have for the sake of our Master.
Read the above scripture again. What do you notice?
[bctt tweet=”“Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” That’s a spiritual principle against any claim that you may think I have nothing to offer. ” username=”emmanuelnaweji”]
God has invested in every human being something they can use to help and care for others.
Caring means that someday, we will have to give an account of how we will have used everything God, the Master, has given us in this life.
And, what you have, no matter how small it may seem, is a treasure in God’s eyes, which you have got to use.
It can be anything from the breath of life to our life’s experience, spiritual gifts, professional expertise, relationships, and so forth.
Those on the right of the Master will inherit the Kingdom
Now, you and I have learned two things from the above stories, which will help us understand the rest of the chapter.
This last story talks of Jesus coming back as the Son of Man and the Judge of all nations. Read verses 31 through the end of the chapter.
Let’s take a look at verses 31 and 32 below,
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
In this story, Jesus talks about the Son of Man coming, not like the groom or Master, but the judge over all nations.
Also, just like in the other stories, no one knows when He will come in His glory. But, whenever He does, He will come with all the angels with Him, and He will sit on His glorious throne for judgment.
In the story, all nations gather before Him. Then, He separates the sheep from the goats. The sheep go to the right and the goats to the left.
The people on the right (the sheep) will take their inheritance and the Kingdom that God has prepared for them since the creation of the world.
The people on the left, however, will perish.
The question is what’s the reason why you have some people on the right, and others on the left.
It all comes down to “caring.” In other words, the ability to see Jesus in people.
Read again the following verses:
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.’ Matthew 25:44-45.
The ability to see Jesus in people is the foundation for Christian caring. We don’t care for others so that we get credit for doing so. We don’t do it for self-gratification.
We care for others because of our relationship with Christ. He is our groom, and that everything we have is a treasure we have to use by loving and serving others.
[bctt tweet=”Seeing Jesus in our daily circumstances and people isn’t an easy task. That’s why we need God’s help. We have to ask Jesus to fill our lamps with oil. We have to ask Jesus to show the most excellent way to use our gifts and talents. ” username=”emmanuelnaweji”]
With our lamps filled with oil, we will be able to see Jesus (the groom), and know how to faithfully use what God (the Master) has invested in us to love and care for others.
Bringing it together
You are a Christian, born of water and the Spirit, then you are God’s servant, a Christian leader called to care for others. You do it not for self-gratification, but because that’s who you are. The prayer you say every day is for Jesus to open your eyes so that you see Him through the circumstances you face and people you meet daily.
