Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Just something to think about...



      Just something to think about:
      We post things on Facebook, and acknowledge that things need to change, and problems need to be fixed. We comment about how this has been our experience and click “like” on subjects or things we deem important.  We post pictures, and Christian scripture, as well as godly quotes from well-known preachers; along with cute animal pictures and save the earth…
None of this fixes anything and it doesn’t change anything. So I say to myself, after pondering this… now what? What can I do to help? Better yet, what did I do to help?
          
Because this is what I did yesterday:
I did my taxes, looking at how I can get every possible penny back because we are a hard working family and we deserve it. I looked at houses online, because my 1998 square foot house is too small and I just can't imagine living there for much longer.  I organized my laundry room and complained to myself about all of the stuff we have piled up in there and how it is going to be so inconvenient to drive all the way to goodwill and give it away.  I ate lunch and complained to myself about how I weigh more than I want because I eat more and drink more than I want to, because it's in the fridge, so I might as well.  I made a list of all of the cute little organizational things I need to buy at Walmart, because all of our stuff is falling off shelves and we don't have enough closet space and if I’m going to organize it, it may as well look cute. I put away laundry into my closet that is full of clothes I don't wear, or even like, but I keep them anyway because surely someday I might need them. I tripped over my four pairs of shoes that were spread out by the back door, and thought about how many more pairs I would like to buy. I sat on the couch and watched TV with my lap top by my side, at the end of my long day, because darn it, I deserve the break after all the work I’ve done.

Here’s what I didn't do:
I didn't cook food for hungry people. I didn't clothe the naked. I didn't take care of the poor. I didn't tell anyone how much Jesus loves them. I didn't house the homeless, I didn’t…
I didn’t call a friend to encourage them, I didn’t tell my husband I appreciate his hard work, I didn’t call my congressman to actually express my opinion on a matter (it’s much easier to just complain).  I didn't read my grand-kids stories about Jesus and talk about what it means to actually follow him. I didn't volunteer my time with something that makes an eternal difference.

So will tomorrow be any different? Will tomorrow be the day of change?

Then a small still voice reminds me:
35 For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you brought Me together with yourselves and welcomed and entertained and lodged Me,
36 I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me with help and ministering care, I was in prison and you came to see Me.
37 Then the just and upright will answer Him, Lord, when did we see You hungry and gave You food, or thirsty and gave You something to drink?
38 And when did we see You a stranger and welcomed and entertained You, or naked and clothed You?
39 And when did we see You sick or in prison and came to visit You?
40 And the King will reply to them, Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least [in the estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it for Me.
41 Then He will say to those at His left hand, Be gone from Me, you cursed, into the eternal 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 nothing to drink,
43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me and entertain Me, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me with help and ministering care.
44 Then they also [in their turn] will answer, 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 And He will reply to them, Solemnly I declare to you, in so far as you failed to do it for the least [in the estimation of men] of these, you failed to do it for Me.
46 Then they will go away into eternal punishment, but those who are just and upright and in right standing with God into eternal life.
Matthew 25

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