Sheep & Goats

Matthew 25:41-46 (The Message)

“When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’
“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
“Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—
I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’
“Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’
“He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’
“Then those ‘goats’ will be herded to their eternal doom, but the ‘sheep’ to their eternal reward.”

I have been most challenged by this passage of late. Pastor Bob has shared on it twice in recent times and it has made me think about what it means to make this work. There is no shortage of people needing to fed, given shelter etc. The fact is that 10% of the World greedly consume 90% of the World's resources (That's where I live). We sit down to a $100 steak while most of the world are glad for a piece of bread or a bowl of rice in a day.

We can start simply by ensuring our unwanted food and resources do not end up on the scrap heap. We can follow that up by ending crippling debt in the developing world. Perhaps we can start to think about micro enterprise solutions that will could end the poverty cycle for those involved.

The saying "Live simply so others can simply live" is not just a glib saying. Surely it is time to consider how the resources that God has given us can be shared more equitably. Not by impoverishing ourselves, but rather by using our wealth to care for others rather than caring for ourselves.

Jesus is talking about the outworking of our faith. By loving others we show our love for him.

I John 3: 17"Whoever has earthly possessions and notices a brother in need and yet withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? 18Little children, we must stop loving in word and in tongue, but instead love in action and in truth."

Let's make poverty history.