Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats, in Matthew 25, describes the blessing that awaits God’s people—his sheep, in the language of the parable—when we stand before him on the last day. We will learn that Jesus sees the results of our work far better than we do. The middle of the parable reads this way:
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, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matt. 25:35–41)
We often feed the hungry or tend the sick in our volunteer activities, but it would be a mistake to think Jesus chiefly has volunteerism in mind. At work we have the greatest capacity to care for the needy. At work we have the greatest skill and training, spend the most time, and can bring the greatest resources to bear. If, by faith, we consecrate our work to God and aim to love our neighbors—our coworkers and customers—then our work serves him. And he will remember it forever.
At work we have the greatest capacity to care for the needy. At work we have the greatest skill and training, spend the most time, and can bring the greatest resources to bear. If, by faith, we consecrate our work to God and aim to love our neighbors—our coworkers and customers—then our work serves him. And he will remember it forever. In Matthew 25, Jesus teaches this:
- If your work has any role that helps brings food to the hungry, Jesus is pleased.
- If you are a link in the chain that brings water to the thirsty, he smiles.
- If you have a task in the process that brings clothing and shelter to humanity, Jesus will reward you.
- If your work has a place in the system that brings health or physical care to the sick, Jesus counts it as service to him.
When Jesus says, “I was in prison and you came to visit me,” he blesses all who care for the needy. Everyone who works in education, finance, transportation, technical support, administration, and management has a place in the blessing.
This article is from The New Man: Becoming a Man After God’s Heart by Daniel M. Doriani
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