They cannot hear you if their stomachs are growling…

In Matthew 25:31-46, we are given the final judgment.

In Matthew 28:16-20, we are given the Great Commission.

“Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him- but some doubted! Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always even to the end of time. “

 

Between these two very important segments of scripture, there is a great responsibility placed on those of us who are living to be like Jesus. We are supposed to clothe the naked, feed the hungry and commit to meeting the physical needs of various people who cross our paths during our lifetime. Our biggest and most important job is to serve other people. In this day and age, this is such a different approach than the “me” everyone is so worried about.

When talking about these two segments in depth, my husband said something so simple, yet so profound. We were discussing how many churches do not have “social services” anymore. Food pantries have closed at an alarming rate, benevolence funds are for those who “qualify” and the church is looked upon as more of a club for the rich than an outreach for Christ.  However, aren’t we the original social service organization? Doesn’t feeding people who are hungry, clothing those in need and providing for those physical needs when they aren’t being met qualify us as such?  I asked him how we could possibly think we could lead people to spiritual wellness when all they can think of is their physical need. He replied “They cannot hear you if their stomach is growling.”

Mind blown.

I never thought of it quite that way before, but it makes sense.  When people come to the church, they should feel welcomed. Feeling welcomed has much less to do with the decorations and furniture in the foyer. It has to do with the compassion and love they are offered, alongside figuring out their physical needs and solutions to them. The entire time they need to know there is no judgment- just mercy and grace.  It is hard enough for people to be so humble when they are in such great physical need. They come to us for all reasons- illness, money, food and housing. They come because they literally have no place else to go, and it is expected when you walk into a church there will be someone there to help in some capacity. They have this hope we are going to help them.

When we decide taking care of people and their physical needs is important again, we will reach far more people for Christ. Believers aren’t expected to do things on their own, non-believers should not have to either. Jesus did not come to this earth and hang out with the rich, the people who had their spiritual acts “together”, or the well taken care of. He came here and spent time with the very least of these- the very bottom of culture, the very needy, the very poor, and the very lost. These people couldn’t see past their physical situation- there was no time or concern with the spiritual needs, because they were just focused on survival.

When I think of these scriptures I feel convicted to be more compassionate, more giving. I want to serve more, be more to those who need me to be and give whatever I have in love and sacrifice. I want mercy, grace and service to be at the top of my list, because if I truly want to be the church to those who need it, I need to be more like Jesus and less like this world.