Community Service

Matthew 25:31-46 ³¹When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. ³²All 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. ³³He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. ³⁴Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." ³⁷Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?" ⁴⁰The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."¹

In the last ten years there has been a great ground swell of activity towards community service. Many schools and organizations do service projects as a part of their regular business. Recent surveys done on incoming freshmen students has shown that most have been involved in community service projects. While this is mostly helpful and done with pure motives, some is done because it is required and expected. Jesus advocated serving the less fortunate some 2,000 years ago and challenged us to do so out of service to Him.

Reread the above passage and see how many different groups of people Jesus identifies as the "least of these." How are you engaged in caring for and ministering to them? As you do so, you just might encounter Jesus along the way.

¹ Matthew 25:31-46, NIV.