The Least of These

Truly serving the Lord is not glamorous, clean, comfortable or easy business. We must learn to step out of our squeaky clean parameters and physically go to the hurting where they are at. Although it is true that there are hurting people everywhere including churches and it is very important to help and comfort them as well, we also need to help and comfort those who are in the hospital, the homeless wandering the streets and the prisoner. Of course, we need to use common sense and not put ourselves in imminent danger, but there are a vast number of people out there in these three predicaments just wishing someone would notice. If only the friends of some of these people had not left them when in these situations, life would be more tolerable. If only more people would turn to the hurting instead of turning away when they needed someone the most…

I never remember one verse in scripture where Jesus was living in luxury, stayed out of the seedy parts of town and purposely avoided those in dire need. We often see him hanging out with and ministering to the sinners, the unclean and others who were considered the “least of these.” He walked for days on end and consequently most likely had dirty feet, uncombed hair and wore plain clothes. The Bible describes Him as ordinary-looking and having no beauty or majesty to attract us to him. (Isaiah 53:2b) He went in, rolled up his sleeves and got dirty with “the least of these.” Shouldn’t we be doing the same? After all, we are now His hands and feet to a hurting world. If we don’t show love to those in the most need around us, they may die in their suffering never seeing the hands and feet of Jesus reaching out to show them that someone cares.

Seven years ago, I started working with a dear lady with whom I ended up working with for four years and we became good friends. Right before I met her, her only son had been arrested and had to serve 7-8 years. I saw a picture of him on her desk and asked about him. He looked a little familiar to me and so I asked about him. When I asked further questions, thinking I had surely met him before, she started to cry, saying that he was in jail and would be there for a long time. It broke my heart to see a broken mother who missed her son. I had two choices right then and there. I could have brushed it off and said, “Oh well, he messed up and has to live with the consequences now,” or I could have supported my new friend, a fellow mother in a state that I could not even imagine being in nor would I want to be. I will confess that this was the first time I had ever seen what the family of an incarcerated person goes through and my eyes were opened. We don’t usually get to see the whole picture.

Over the course of months, she and I talked about the type of child he was growing up and the things she loved about him. She never once made excuses for him or said he was innocent, ever. She knew he had done something wrong and was now facing the consequences. She also told me that all of his friends but one cut him out of their lives because of this, so I offered to write him. I almost felt like I knew him from the many conversations we had about him. I was moved by compassion to act and do something for someone who was abandoned by his friends. I have been there too. Not incarcerated, but when I have needed people the most, many of my “friends” left me high and dry.

I wanted him to know that at least ONE person outside of his family noticed and was going to show him God’s love as he was facing what would be some very difficult years ahead. I also wanted him to know that God would never leave him or forsake him, even after making the worst decision in his life, which got him there. I wrote him regularly, sharing encouraging scriptures, trying to lift his spirits and telling him about my life, what I have been through, how I turned to God every time and how He faithfully saw me through.

 Hebrews 13:3 says, “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Is this glamorous? No. Is it worth it? Yes. When we remember those who are suffering, even if it is by their own fault, we are blessed and we are being obedient to what God’s word says about how we are to treat “the least of these.”

Some of the best memories I have are of being there for someone who needed to know they were still important, a jewel in the eyes of God. From the young lady I prayed with who had just totaled her car in front of my house and was alone, afraid and begging me to hold her and pray with her to the homeless couple I was able to encourage through an outreach by really listening to their hearts, sharing words of life with them, hugging them and serving them lunch to the young man in prison who just needed to know someone cares about him too, I have learned that I would rather be doing nothing else than rolling up my sleeves and going in where most people turn away. 

Are you ready to roll up your sleeves, get dirty and minister to the down and out, like Jesus did? Or, will you continue to look the other way and stay in your comfort zone and play it safe? Remember, whatever we do to the least of these we do for HIM.