Reflecting Jesus’ Compassion

Posted by David on March 23, 1997 under Bulletin Articles

Jesus healed many sick people and fed many hungry people. He validated his spiritual message by ministering to physical needs. He always was concerned about the whole person–mind, body, emotions, and spirit. He reeducated minds, fed bodies, redirected emotions, and cleansed spirits. He healed the body and forgave the sins.

He stressed the fact that his disciples concerned themselves with people’s physical and spiritual well being. Read Matthew 25:31-46 again.

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. ³² “All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. ³³ “And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. ³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵ ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ³⁶ ‘I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ ³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? ³⁸ ‘When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? ³⁹ ‘Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ ⁴⁰ “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ ⁴¹ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: ⁴² ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; ⁴³ ‘I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ ⁴⁴ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ ⁴⁵ “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ ⁴⁶ “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Wealthy Christians were instructed to place their hope in God. They did so by being rich in good works, generosity, and readiness to share (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. ¹⁸ Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, ¹⁹ storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

We are wealthy Christians. If you compare our living standard to people of virtually all other nations, we are unbelievably prosperous.