Helping Those In Need

In Matthew 25, One of Jesus' final messages to His disciples before going the Gethsemane was about taking care of the needs of those around us, on this planet.
Matthew 25:31-46,  “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.”
We have all made excuses for not helping those in need.  Oh, someone else will do it, Lord.  There are plenty who will take care of them.  But, Jesus looks us squarely in the heart, and says "But, I didn't ask them.  I'm asking you.  You know me, and the truths that I have shared with you.  Is there a reason why you won't help those in need, even if a million people are offering to help them?  The others don't have the lessons you've learned through life experiences.  The others don't have the calling.  I am asking YOU."  But Lord, I can't afford it!  Jesus says, "O you of puny faith.  You can't afford not to."  But Lord, I don't have time.  "You're right.  I'm going  to split the sky real soon." 
But, Lord.  I've helped these people for years, and they're still not coming to my church.  "O, slow of heart to understand.  They may not be in your church, but I am in their heart because of someone's kindness.
God's best 2 U,       Joy J