Who is Sandra Oliver, the author of our Friday posts?

I have written before about the Lord’s conversation with the disciples and the multitudes concerning the final judgment. Matthew 25:31-46 lays out the plans for the coming of the Lord and separation of the sheep and the goats. The sheep, of course, represent the saved; the goats represent the lost.

The saved are those that provide food, clothing, and visitation. The lost are those who do not provide those things. Obedience to the gospel is also required, but it is interesting that someone could be lost eternally for not helping the needy.

Maybe the reason this is weighing on my mind this week is because of the tragedy in Nashville and Cookeville, Tennessee, due to the storms. Many in our church family have been affected because of connections to families in those areas. Some had family; some had friends. All of us are affected because it reminds us that life is short. Bad things happen, and they often happen when least expected.

The stories about those rushing in to help the families affected have been remarkable. Blood donors, businesses, individuals, groups, children, adults, rich, poor—all are examples of “good Samaritans.”

But there are people that cross our paths every single day that are in need. The Bible addresses those who may need support in places other than Matthew 25. Who are those in need, and why should we help them?

James, the brother of Jesus, admonishes us in his letter. He said, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 1:27 ESV).

I can’t imagine what it would be like to be a widow or an orphan, but I am sure many of us know someone living in such a situation. We have many widows and widowers in our congregation, and two of our families are serving as foster families.

James continued with his instructions about supporting the needy with these words: “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” (James 2:15-16).

 James is speaking of those in our church family. I can’t imagine telling someone I see two or three times a week in such a condition that I hope they get warm and find some food.

The writer of Hebrews tells us, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 1:2).

So, the writers tell us that we should help widows, orphans, brothers and sisters in Christ, and strangers. I think that covers most everyone, doesn’t it?

Why do we need to do this? We need to do it because we are servants of God. We are His hands, His feet, His mouth, His servant.

After James presented the case of the brother or sister in need, he said this: So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). He used Abraham and Rahab as examples of those who had faith, but their faith was manifested in their works. It takes both!

Paul, in writing to Timothy, spoke of those who had turned away from him. Then he said, “May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onespiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains” (Second Timothy 1:16).

So Paul was in chains, and a household of Christians visited him and encouraged him. They were worthy of mercy from God because of this act of kindness. So I would say we can add prisoners to our list of those we should serve.

Paul, in writing to the Thessalonians, told them how often they were remembered in his prayers. He spoke of their “work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (First Thessalonians 1:3).

The entire chapter is about their faith and the example they showed to others. They had obeyed the Word, and then they relied on their faith to serve God.

The question we each should ask ourselves is, am I a sheep or a goat? Our answer will be our eternal destiny.

Sandra Oliver