“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the one of the least these brother and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40
We live in a world where the elite, those who have the most, are favored. They are the ones who make decisions for many of our lives, who create policy and make laws. Some elite decide where we live and what we eat, dictate our buying patterns, and influence our daily decisions through aggressive marketing. They affect society so enormously that deciding who we should pay the most attention to can be challenging. We are conditioned to be entertained by celebrities. But more than that, we are conditioned to give our time and talent to those who are the greatest, the most famous, and most revered in society, not the least.
However, when we are judged by the only righteous judge, Christ Our King, he will not judge us based on good works, our social status, or our financial portfolio. Instead, the King will judge us based on what we did for the least in society, the ones who could not pay back the favor. What exactly will be the standard by which we are judged? The scripture gives us insight into this answer.
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 25:36-39
According to these scriptures, we can see who we are called to minister to:
- Those who have inadequate clothing to wear
- Those who are sick and invalid
- Those who are incarcerated
When last did you clothe the naked? When last did you visit and pray for the sick and shut-in? When was the last time you supported the effort of the prison ministry? You may be in a precarious situation if your answer is never to all of these. These are not options but biblical mandates that we practice as part of our daily walk as believers. Why is it so important to minister to the needs of the hungry, the naked, and the prisoner? It’s because they represent the least in society.
They represent those who cannot offer anything in return to us. If you financially contribute generously to a Presidential or mayoral campaign, if your candidate wins, you may be favored in many ways. You may get an appointment, a job, or special recognition from your winning candidate. So, your financial donation was directly connected to your potential advancement. I am not suggesting that it is a bad thing when you give to political candidates. You should invest in candidates who represent what you value and those who can make a meaningful change for your community.
It doesn’t work the same with the least. You give, and you do not get anything from the one you’ve given to. This kind of giving is far more praiseworthy from God’s perspective. It’s the type of giving that requires great faith insofar as your total (ROI) return on your investment will come from God, not man. As I mentioned, these categories represent the least.
- Those who have inadequate clothing to wear
- Those who are sick and invalid
- Those who are incarcerated
My challenge to you is to consciously choose to begin giving to the least. In doing so, you will connect to your highest calling in life, not to be famous or celebrated, but to minister to the needs of those who cannot do for themselves. When you do, not only will you feel incredible, but you will be honoring God in the most significant way. Accept the challenge to minister to the least. Your return will be heavenly.
Dr. Aaron Lewis, October 6, 2023