Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries
A smile, a seat on the bus, a cup of cold water… There are many ways we can be kind and generous toward others, which is the primary encouragement found in the third parable of Matthew chapter 25.
The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Mt 25:40 NIV)
The King welcomed those into His Kingdom who had put His words into practice, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” those who practiced love for Him by extending that lovingkindness to others.
The recipients of the King’s blessing were surprised at His words because they did not remember serving Him. He recognized the simple act of the mother who shared food with the hungry child who came over to play with her own children. He honored the consistent way in which the businesswoman brought an extra bottle of water for the homeless man who sat in front of her office building. He celebrated the women who donated new clothes to the battered women’s shelter, not just the forgotten items in the back of the closet.
The parable about the sheep and goats at the end of Matthew 25 follows two others that also emphasize the importance of good stewardship— the proper management of what God has provided. The five virgins who took sufficient oil were intentional about planning ahead. The first two men, with five and two talents respectively, administered well what they had been given, thus multiplying it for when the master returned. Finally, the sheep were blessed by the Father and given their inheritance (Mt 25:34) because they honored the Father and took care of “the least of these.”
For us to be wise women, we must be good stewards of what God has provided.
- Recognize that all that we have comes from God. The virgin’s oil, the men’s talents, and whatever the people used to bless others, everything comes from the Great Provider.
- Be intentional about how we use what God has provided. The wise virgins didn’t share their oil with the foolish virgins, but the sheep were affirmed for sharing their food, drink, and clothing with others. Both practices have their place in the Kingdom.
- Keep a Kingdom focus. Prepare for the Bridegroom, work for the Master, and honor the Father by fulfilling His commands to love.
- Check our motivation. Are we falling into the trap of comparison? Are we doing things so that others will see us? Will someone recognize Christ through what we do or say?
- Avoid selfishness. If we are going to love and care for others, there will be sacrifices. But remember, we serve a God of abundance who graciously provides beyond what we could ask or imagine.
Take a moment to reflect on these five points. During a week in which many are focused on the birth of Christ, how did Jesus embody and inspire us to do whatever we can for the least of these”?
Finally, using the Common Threads, let’s make it very personal and practical.
From Matthew 25, name an area in which you want to grow or bloom.
What is a thorn that needs to be removed, possibly something that is hindering you from loving “the least of these”?
Is there an area in which you want to dig deeper or need someone to hold you accountable (iron sharpening iron, Pr 27:17)?
One way to dig deeper is to read the entire 25th chapter of Matthew and pray over these three parables, asking God to reveal the application for your life.
Amidst the holiday season, let’s extend God’s lovingkindness to others and give thanks when others do the same for us. We would love to hear your stories or see pictures of how God has provided opportunities for this to happen!
