The question is asked, “Am I my brotherʼs keeper?” Genesis 4:9 NIV
The bible says …
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For 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, 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.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 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.’
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:31-46 NIV
We will always encounter brothers and sisters who are in need. Some need emotional support more than physical or financial need. Regardless of the need; realistically we are not always in the place to help, but we always someone who can, and his name is Jesus. It is our responsibility to not leave them in a place of darkness but to do something that will bring light. Always, we must lift them up to God in prayer and ask for direction. The mere fact that they came to us to disclose their need is evidence that we are exhibiting fruits of the spirit, which allowed them to put their trust in us.
Often times when we turn away our brothers and sisters in their time of need, not only do they lose faith in us, but also in the body of Christ. Why? Because each member is a representative of the body of Christ. And because they are in the place of need they become vulnerable to the enemy and begin to be swayed with false doctrine leading them down a path that not only affects their lives but the lives of others whom they may influence or come across in their journey.
“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:13-16 NIV
G.M.
G.M. Sunshine 