It’s a Test for the Church
I Don’t Know You – Part 2
Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:14-20
Key Verse: Matthew 25:12
“But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’
Yesterday’s devotional explained the two parables that Jesus told so we could understand the kingdom of God. We know that because Jesus started both stories with: “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like…” If we are serious about being kingdom people, we must study these stories carefully.
The second story, starting at Matthew 25:14 reminds us that God has given all of us gifts and blessings from His gracious hand. But he is watching to see what we do with what we have! As Jesus’ story explains, everyone is given different amounts of blessings. Some have a lot; some have little, but everyone is responsible to manage carefully whatever amount we are given!
Take a moment and think about what you are doing with the blessings God has given you. Are you using it all in a very selfish way? If God has blessed you with good health, are you giving your energies, at least in part, to help those who are not given good health? If you are blessed with a wonderful family, are you welcoming a person who has no family into your family fellowships once in a while? If you are blessed with some extra money, are you trying to help those who have no extra? Remember, God is watching!
Father, I want to be judged as a good manager of my blessings. Please grant me wisdom and show me the path of the kingdom of heaven. In Jesus’ name, amen.
You mentioned blessings like good health, a wonderful family, and extra money. These are indeed spoken of as blessings in the bible; but only the Old Testament does so. The basic covenant of Moses was if Israel obeys the commands God gives them, God will bless them with long life, a large family, and prosperity in their promised land.
In the New Testament, however, none of these are called blessed. Instead, Jesus says to his disciples: blessed are the poor, for yours is the kingdom of God (Lk. 6:20); that is, Jesus’ poor disciples are blessed with being part of his new kingdom of God, where Jesus rules as king. Similarly, when Jesus’ family (his mother and brothers) comes and wants to interrupt him, he says it is his disciples who are his family, for whoever does the will of his Father–this is his brother and sister and mother (Mt. 12:48).
Thus in Mt. 25 when Jesus refers to the least of these his brothers, his poor, persecuted disciples would recognize themselves as the least. As they go out to the nations, the nations will be finally judged according to how they have treated these disciples on mission. As Jesus tells his disciples in Mt. 10:40, whoever receives you receives me; and in 10:42, even giving one of these “little ones” a cup of cold water because he is a disciple will not go unrewarded. These disciples are the hungry and thirsty portrayed in Mt. 25. To follow Jesus means not just helping a few poor people out of one’s extra money (wealth); it means selling treasured possessions and giving to the poor, and thus coming closer and closer to poverty oneself (Mt. 6:19-20; 19:21).