Ministering Mightily

February 23, 2025 Background Scripture: Matthew 25 Lesson Passage: Matthew 25:31- 46 For too long, many have considered attendance at Worship Service, Bible Study, and Sunday School as behavior that serves God. If you include giving tithes and offering while attending those, then many believe their ministry is complete! We believe we have done what God requires of us. We truly believe we have worshiped and obeyed God while honoring Jesus Christ. We even repeat the lyrics, "Only what you do for Christ will last." But do we know what it means to do something for Christ? How do we do something for an invisible God that will satisfy Him? Is attending religious services and giving money liberally sufficient to meet God's expectation of His children? Jesus provides the clarity we need to answer this in today's lesson. In fact, Jesus bluntly stated what one must do to ensure it is done for Him, "Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." This statement is both the heart of today's lesson and the heart of the gospel message, God wants His children to take accountability for the welfare of people we encounter in life. This is what Jesus demonstrated during His three years of ministry prior to His arrest, crucifixion, death, and resurrection. And this is what Jesus succinctly stated to His disciples after they asked Him concerning the sign of His return at the end of the age. Our Background Scripture shares some insight concerning what Christians should expect when Jesus returns. First, Jesus shared with them two parables about the importance of being watchful for His return. When He returns, He will sit on the glorious throne of the kingdom of heaven here on earth. He will separate the righteous from the unrighteous. Then Jesus will pronounce eternal life in the kingdom for the righteous and everlasting punishment as judgment for the unrighteous. The only criteria used to determine which group a person would be in will be how each person had treated the needy in the society in which they lived. This is consistent with what Jesus had been teaching them and demonstrating. All the Law is summed up in two commandments: love for God and love for one's fellowman. Love for God is based on reciprocation; we love God because He first loved us. Love for one's fellowman is an act of benevolence that is motivated by the need of the person. This type of love is not an act of reciprocation. We should not expect anything in return. It is enough to know that someone's burden has been relieved or eliminated by an act of kindness. When it is left at that point, then God will reward the doer. If anything is received in return, including flattery remarks that are desired or boasting about the deeds that were done, then we have received our reward. It is worth noting that the reason for the Lord's judgment says nothing about one's love for God. Again, the only criteria given was the treatment of the "least of these His brethren". Jesus clearly communicated that He personally identifies with the "least of these His brethren". Jesus was born into this world as one of the least of these in His society. He feels their pain, and He feels the relief also that is provided to them. Whatever treatment befalls persons who are considered the least in their society, Jesus takes it personally. Ministry that is directed towards providing relief for the hungry, thirsty, imprisoned, socially isolated, and naked is synonymous with serving the Lord, or minist1Y to Jesus. It is interesting that the people identified in the text as righteous appear to be unaware that what they did for the least was all that was expected of them. James wrote, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." Through this effort we can minister mightily! Robert C. Hudson February 13, 2025