Crisis Visits

In our lesson on Crisis Visits, we read a passage from Mathew 25: 35-36. The point is that there are people in need in every culture, society, and country. The point of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 is the end times and what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. When it comes to people in need the Kingdom of Heaven does not differentiate because when we help those in need it is the people we help and by helping them it is Jesus we serve. What Jesus says in verse 35-36 is a surprise to Christians who see addressing people’s needs as a way of serving. Lord, they say: when did we see you in need? Jesus replies: what you did for the least of these brothers (sisters) of mine you did for me. That puts crisis visits and addressing the needs of people we visit in a whole different perspective and it convicts us as well. How easy it is to say what the other group says, in fact they repeat what the first group asks Jesus: Lord, when did we see you in need? When we justify our refusal to help with; let them get a job, or they refuse to work, or it is drink or drugs that cause these needs we miss the point of serving. There are reasons that course needs among  people but it is never that simple and there still are real needs in families no matter what their situation.  We need to recognize those needs and extend a helping hand that must include rehabilitation, directing people to agencies that can help and we must meet that immediate need. There is nothing easy or clear cut about it, yet it is urgent because we know what Jesus says to that second group in the passage. He says: as much as you did not do anything for them you did not do it for me. May Jesus not have the occasion to say that to us?