James 2:14 – 17 “What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? So too, faith by itself, if it is not complemented by action, is dead.”
It was Christmas time and bitterly cold, a damp, biting penetrating cold that defied the layers of winter clothing worn by Christmas shoppers. A teen – age girl in ragged clothing was sitting inside the entrance to the shopping mall. Next to the girl was a two year old little boy wrapped in a blanket that had seen better days. Each time shoppers entered the mall, the girl’s face lit up in hopes that this might be someone who would help her. And each time, the girl’s face fell as the preoccupied shoppers rushed past, intent on completing their lists. “Tommy,” she told the little boy, “just wait. I prayed this morning for God to help us, and I am sure God wanted me to come here.”
One well – dressed woman entered and slowed as she walked past the girl. “Surely,” she thought, “that girl looks familiar. But if she needs assistance, there are always charities. All she has to do is to apply to one. And anyway, if I don’t hurry and connect with my daughter, I will be late for the women’s meeting at church tonight.” And the woman hurried away into the mall.
Hours went by; it was now late afternoon. A weary middle – aged lady in a waitress uniform with worn – out shoes slowly entered the mall. Spying the girl, the woman walked over to her and sat next to her. “Dear, you look familiar. What’s your name?” the woman asked.
“My name is Diana,” the young girl replied. “I was named for my Aunt Diana, my mother’s younger sister. But my aunt and both of my parents are dead. They all died in a car crash a year ago.”
“What a cute little boy! Is he yours?” the lady asked.
“No,” replied the teen. “This is my baby brother who was with my parents at the time of the accident. Because he was in a good car seat, he survived.”
“So are you in school?” the lady continued.
“I graduated from high school in the spring. Now Tommy and I share one room at a friend’s house and I work at a fast food restaurant. But my wages are barely enough, and now my friend is getting married and will be moving. Soon we will have nowhere to live.”
“Dear,” the lady asked, “was your mother Diana Larson and her husband John Larson?”
“Why yes,” replied the girl. “How could you guess that?”
“Dear,” answered the woman, “My name is Margaret Lindgren. I grew up with your mother and her sister. We graduated from high school together. I was married but my husband died two years ago, and we never had any children. I have a small place, but there are two bedrooms. It’s very lonely being there by myself. If you like, you can come live with me. I would love the company, and I enjoy children.” At this, Diana burst into tears of joy and relief! Margaret helped Diana gather up Tommy and they left together. Shortly after that, the very well – dressed woman who had passed by earlier bustled up with her daughter. “Mom, I tell you, I saw my friend Diana and her baby brother right here! You must have walked by them as you came in!”
“Oh, I did see a young girl sitting there, but she looked ragged and dirty. And anyway, there are charities…”
“Mo-om! I TOLD you that Diana lost both her parents last year and that she was working at Kentucky Fried Chicken! ”
“Oh, yes, I guess you did. Well, since she’s not here, do you want to get something to eat?”asked the woman, leading her daughter toward a restaurant.
“God,” prayed the daughter, “please help my friend! And please forgive me for failing her.”
There’s a meme that says “God is not interested in your ability; He is interested in your availability.” We may feel that we have few resources and little talent. God, on the other hand, is just waiting for someone with exactly our qualifications so that He can use us to help someone else. In this story, it was not the rich lady from the suburbs who saw Diana’s need and met it; it was a tired waitress who was probably working for minimum wage. But God put Diana and Margaret together; now Diana has a friend and a mother figure and a place to live and Margaret has Diana’s company and can help Diana raise Tommy. Who knows what wonderful things will come to all of these people, just because Margaret stopped to ask Diana if she needed help?
Just before Jesus was to be crucified, he described for his disciples what was going to happen at the day of judgement.
Matthew 25:31-40 “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 place 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, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation 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 took Me in, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited 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 take You in, or naked and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’
And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’”
PRAYER: Father God, forgive our hardness of heart! Forgive us for not having compassion on those around us! Lord, let our hearts break with the things that break your heart. And help us to help others – simply, humbly, and in practical ways – so that they will see your hand of mercy and love in our actions. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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