All In The Family

NEXT PREVIOUS

PODCAST

September 21st, 2012

When you think about helping the “least of these,” what comes to mind? Donating old clothes and cooking for a sick neighbor? What about conserving water, searching out sustainable food, or looking for fabrics and furniture made from recycled material? Do you think of serving Jesus in choosing the products you buy?

Matthew invites the reader to see every man and woman as a brother and sister to Jesus. We are all connected on a spiritual level; our neighbor is both the one who lives across the street and the one who lives across the world. In helping the “least of these,” we are called to look beyond our neighborhoods and, as far as we’re able, to consider the consequences of our actions beyond our immediate surroundings.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat” (Matt. 25:35) also means ensuring your food choices do not starve others. “I needed clothes and you clothed me” (v. 36) means our bargains shouldn’t require the maker to work for pennies. We can serve Jesus by serving “the least of these” in our daily lifestyle choices.