Today, it’s commonplace to hear aspirations of taking cities for God and taking the country back for God. Sure, I guess its great to aim high, but sometimes in our lofty pursuits of greatness veil our vision of seeing opportunities to pour cups of water. You might think that giving a person a cup of water or feeding the impoverished is silliness, but what you’ll actually find is that such a mindset is actually out of step with Jesus. Take a moment and read Matthew 25:31-46. If you don’t have a Bible in hand, I’ll supply it for you.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the 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 food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
To Jesus, a cup of water in his name was significant. He doesn’t expect us to take cities or countries for God. That’s not within our power anyway. We are seed sowers (Matt. 13) who commit ourselves to the service of others. As unprofitable servants, such is our “duty” (Luke 17:10).
We live out the Truth of Jesus in His Way (John 14:6). We serve. No strings attached. That’s anything but silliness.
