Reflecting the Love of Christ

Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

There are many people out there who need a helping hand but very few people are willing to help those in need. When we have compassion for the poor and sick, we reflect the love of Christ. Greed seems to control many people in our materialistic society, and the love of money outweighs compassion for the needy. There were times in my past when I went through crisis situations and could have used a friend, or a helping hand, but no one was there for me. People tend to run the other way when a person is experiencing hardships, like sickness, financial problems, or the death of a loved one. But Christians should be examples of love to a lost and dying world. The love of money is truly the root of all kinds of evil.

 1 Timothy 6:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

I admire the fine work of ministries like the Salvation Army, homeless shelters, food pantries, shelters for battered women etc. My wife and I used to do volunteer work for a Salvation Army homeless shelter, and we found it to be very rewarding to be able to minister the love of Christ to those who were hurting. The entire world is a mission field, and if you know Christ, then you are a minister, as well as an ambassador for the kingdom of God. Not everyone is called to preach behind a pulpit, but we are all called to share our faith however we can, as well as reflect the attributes of Christ. Christ taught us to let our light shine before men and not to hide it under a basket.

^{MATT 5:14} “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Bible has many warnings in regard to neglecting the poor if you are able to make a difference. James the brother of Christ, said that faith without works is dead. I have heard many people say to those in need, "I will pray for you", but they neglect to help them. In the book of Acts, those who had an abundance shared with those who lacked, so that every need was met. We need to have the same compassion that the early church had.  

James 2:14  What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

There are many ministers today that are teaching their flocks to worship money, this is known as the prosperity gospel. It is appalling to me how many messages they preach are about, make me rich and bless me. What about blessing others and helping the poor? These wolves are blessing their own pocketbooks with the money from many who are struggling to pay their bills. Quite often these apostate ministers are living in million dollar mansions and driving very expensive cars. They are robbing God by fleecing the flock. The prosperity gospel is polar opposite to the teachings of Jesus Christ. However, I believe that God does prosper some to further advance his kingdom, but few people are good stewards of God's  blessings. You cannot worship God and money, because only one will be your master. 

Matt 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.


Matt 25: 31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. ³³ And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. ³⁴ Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? ³⁸ When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? ³⁹ Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
⁴¹ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: ⁴² for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
⁴⁴ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ ⁴⁵ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ ⁴⁶ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”