As Christians, we all have a responsibility to look to the needs of others.
Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4)
The Christian journey is not exclusively about seeking salvation, certainly not merely for ourselves. Even less is it about pursuing our own comfort and pleasure in this life. We were created for a much higher calling; our lives have a much greater purpose and destiny.
Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you. (Matthew 6:33)
There are many souls in this world whose eyes are entirely focused on the fulfillment of their earthly desires. This mindset blinds individuals to the true purpose of their earthly life.
The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. (Matthew 6:22-23)
In the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, we read about Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand. Thanks to the generosity of an unnamed boy…
One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are these for so many people?” (John 6:8-9)
Jesus makes provision for an enormous crowd.
But despite this miracle of multiplication, the people remained more concerned about their material provisions than about the eternal truth Jesus was trying to reveal to them.
[The next day], when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats and came to Capernaum, looking for Jesus. And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate some of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” (John 6:24-27)
We should ask ourselves one critical question about our own priorities. Do we spend more of our days seeking to make provision for our immediate and future earthly needs? Or do we spend our time working to transform ourselves and make ourselves ready for eternal life?
Another way of looking at this question is to consider where we focus the majority of our daily activity. Are we most concerned with our immediate material surroundings, our home our clothes, our bank account, our honor and reputation, and even our physical fitness (which does not go with us into eternal life)? Or do we instead look at everything in our life in the context of how it may help or hinder our preparation for eternal life?
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)
As important as the question of our priorities is for us to wrestle with, we must understand that even when it comes to ministering to others, to making provision for the needs of those less fortunate, we, like Jesus, must help souls see the larger meaning behind what we may provide. We have a mission to help those we help see that it is God working through us.
To do this, we must first acknowledge, in all humility, that God is the source of all provision, both temporal and eternal. We are merely His ministers. In addition, even in our most charitable endeavors, we must bear witness to the existence of the living God, the one true source of all life.
For the fountain of life is with You;
It is only in Your light we see light. (Psalm 36:9)
Let us pray this week for the wisdom to bear witness to God’s eternal Providence.
Copyright © 2024, Deacon Mark Danis
Image credit:"La multiplicité de pains (The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes)," James Tissot (Brooklyn Museum), Public domain, via WikiArt