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“Bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2, NKJV)
Generally speaking, when we’re young, healthy, capable and socially involved, we can go where we want and do as we please.
As the saying goes, “The world is our oyster!” It seldom occurs to us that we’re surrounded by those who, because of age, disability, illness, or social and physical isolation, cannot enjoy the same benefits we do.
They depend on the compassion and care of others to meet their basic daily needs. Sadly, our self-focused culture often ignores and marginalises such people, discounting their intrinsic worth and contribution to society.
This is certainly not God’s way of doing things. Paul tells us to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2, NKJV).
Note: it’s not a suggestion. It’s a law; a divine directive in which we’re all expected to participate. Against the backdrop of final judgement, His law of love is illustrated in Matthew 25:31-46, using sheep and goats as the illustration.
To the sheep he said, “I was hungry…thirsty…a stranger… naked…sick…in prison, and you met my need. Every act of compassion you do for anyone is recorded to your credit as having done it to me.’ To the goats he said, ‘I was hungry…thirsty…a stranger…naked…sick…in prison, and you ignored my needs. Every time you failed to show anyone compassion is recorded as your failure to care for my needs.”
If you truly want to love and follow Jesus, you must intentionally show your love for others in practical ways. In other words – be there for others when needed.
“I was hungry and you gave me food” (Matthew 25:35, NKJV).
Author, Tim Hansel tells about a seminary professor who set up his class in an unusual way. Each student was required to deliver a sermon on the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37).
They were to go from classroom to classroom preaching love and compassion for others. Some students had ten minutes between classes, while others had less time, which forced them to hurry in order to stay on schedule. Each student was also required to walk down a designated corridor past a ‘beggar’ who had been deliberately planted there by the professor.
What happened that day was a powerful lesson. The number of would-be preachers who stopped to help the beggar was extremely low, especially among those pressured for time. They were so busy rushing to preach about the Good Samaritan that they walked right past the beggar at the heart of the parable.
Here is a paraphrase of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:31-46 that’s designed to make you think, pray and reach out to hurting people: ‘I was hungry, and you formed a humanities club to discuss it. I was imprisoned, and you stayed home to pray for my release. I was naked, and you debated the morality of my appearance. I was sick, and you thanked God for your health. I was homeless, and you preached to me about the shelter of God’s love. You seem so holy and so close to God, but I’m still hungry, lonely, cold, and in pain.
Does it matter to you?’ Don’t just talk about God’s love; show it!
By Alfred Nyamekye
