In Matthew 25:35-40: Jesus describes, in parable, the corporal works of mercy.
“35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40“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.’”
We are called to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty and to clothe the naked. We are called and encouraged to shelter the homeless and visit the prisoner. We are to comfort the sick and father the orphan. We are to love without condition and be a friend to the friendless.
Jesus calls us to be His hands and feet.
We are to see to the needs of those around us – regardless of who they are or where they come from.
Jesus has called us all. We are all called to care for the community.
The early church – as described in the book of Acts – gave everything to the cause of Christ. All of their possessions were shared.
I am not suggesting that we live in the same way – what I am encouraging you to do is think a little bit beyond our own materialism.
The fact of the matter is, God has blessed us with certain skills, talents and resources. Therefore giving is not only an act of obedience but also worship.
Through giving – whether it is our time or money – or whatever it is we can offer – we are contributing to the great commission.
Sowing into ministry is a way of contributing to the cause of Christ.
I once heard a minister describing the first act of worship. He said that when God breathed into Adam and Adam exhaled it was worship – it was a physical reaction to what God had done.
This is what worship is – a reaction to the goodness and grace of God.
But this reaction cannot be purely spiritual.
We worship in spirit and truth – and if the truth is present within us and the Spirit moves through us it will always have tangible results.
Paul admonishes us in Ephesians 5 to be imitators of Christ as beloved children – to live a life of love just as Christ has loved us and offered Himself as a fragrant sacrifice for our sake.
He also makes it clear in his second letter to the Corinthians that Jesus became poor for our sake so that through His poverty we might become rich.
It is in reaction to this great love that Christ showed us – this love that laid down His life for us – that we worship and lay down our own ambitions for the sake of the Cross.
God, through His grace, has provided to our needs – and enables us to give to His Kingdom. Paul describes this in 2 Corinthians 9. From verse 10 we read:
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
Paul makes an interesting point – your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
He reiterates this idea in the following verses: OTHERS will praise God for the obedience that ACCOMPANIES your confession of the Gospel of Christ.
Giving is faith in practice.
James, in the epistle that bears his name, teaches us that faith without action is dead.
If we believe that God is who He says He is – our provider, our shepherd – the one who cares for us – than we can be pro-active in our giving instead of reactive. We can give and see to the needs of others without fear because we know that God is faithful and will supply and increase our store of seed (as Paul describes in 2 Cor 9:10).
The Bible also teaches us in the book of Proverbs that whosoever gives to the poor lends to the Lord – and I don’t know anyone I would rather lend to – as God is always faithful in settling His debts.
We pray: “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done…” but it has to be more than just a prayer – it has to lead to action.
What are we doing to facilitate the coming of His Kingdom?
We need to proclaim and show forth the praises of God. We need to proclaim His mercy.
Giving is a work of mercy through us. It is mercy at work in us.