NO GOOD REASON FOR NOT BEING A SERVANT!
NO GOOD REASON FOR NOT BEING A SERVANT!
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ —Matthew 25:35-39
Many wonder about what ministry they could/should be involved in. Well, we do not have to guess about it. There are many mentioned in this very passage above and other passages such as in Isaiah 58 — “to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”
So let’s list what we see in these two passages and then take a look at what we are doing or what our Lord would have us do. After all, He is the One who created us for “good works which He prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10) But always remember that ministry flows out of our love relationship with our Lord. That is to be our motivation as He leads us.
- Helping the hungry with providing food
- Helping the thirsty with providing water
- Helping the stranger and giving them shelter
- Helping those who need clothing
- Helping those who are sick
- Helping those who are in prison
- Helping those bound in wickedness
- Helping those who are carrying burdens
- Helping those who are oppressed
- Helping the homeless
There are ten areas of ministry in these passages and encompassing all of them is the commission to “be witnesses” and to “make disciples” (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20). Are there any ministry opportunities there in that list for you? Certainly there are! The question is where are you involved or where will you get involved?
As you look at the list above consider this— you are not waiting for these people to come to you, but you are going to these people. Serving the Lord means serving people. Jesus is our example of this and so is taking His gospel to them. He did not wait for people to come to Him. No, He went to where they were. Oh, there are times when people come to us, but our focus should be going to them. May we be doing so!
Dear Father may I be your faithful servant for the rest of my life regardless of what happens. May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus my Lord. Yes, may it be so!