One of the most influential passages in all of scripture upon my life and faith is in Matthew 25. This is the passage where Jesus refers to the “least of these”.
On a regular basis (daily almost), we have needy people stopping by our church asking for help. I thank God for these encounters. I am excited when people stop by for anything.
Let me tell you a story that I hope will challenge you.
This week two women stopped by asking for assistance. One stayed in the car, the other sat in the office waiting for me to come speak to her. She waited 10 minutes or so until I was available. We talked for about 10 minutes concerning her needs. She assured me they were not lying. She assured me they had never ever had to ask for help before. She assured me that they would not need much help in the future…they were only needing it now. She also went on to assure me that they would be here for our Wed. evening service.
I made sure I was accurately understanding their position and needs. The local ministries had provided them with a weeks worth of food. We put them in touch with a local group that would pay their LG&E (electric) bill this month. I made sure they had food for that day. I asked her come back the next day and I would have them some more food. (She came and we gave her more food.)
Now, here is the part that caused me to write. During our very pleasant and cordial conversation, kinda in the middle of it, she said that “these days no one helps anymore.” She said they have been around several places and asked several people. “But no one just likes to help people anymore.”
I was offended. Not because I help people. Not because my church helps people. I was offended because Thats Not True. I was offended because her comment directly opposes Jesus.
Jesus helps people. When she said that, I responded by saying “Thats not true.” I went on to tell her that Jesus helps people and that followers of Jesus help people.
I told her that I was so sorry that her experience has led her to think that no one helps, but I comforted her with the life changing truth that Jesus helps people and so do His followers. Because of grace and Jesus in us at FBCF, we want to help people. We want to help people so badly that no one would dare say that no one helps. My heart is that our world and our town (Fairdale) would be in awe of our desire to be like Jesus and help people.
Matthew 9:35 “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.”
Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”