Who Is Worthy of Your Help?

Unfortunately, too many Christians have a very narrow and limited view of their responsibilities toward helping others. Ignoring the clear teachings of Jesus and his disciples, they devote their time, energy, and financial resources to supporting their leader(s) or each other. They view their obligation to offer help and comfort to others with inward looking eyes. In other words, "if you're not part of my group, don't expect any help from me!" "After all," they say, "Jesus did say that his followers would be known by their love for each other."

But is that what Christ had in mind? Did Christ intend for his followers to focus on the needs and interests of their own little community? Did Christ intend for his followers to ignore the needs of the wider community? What did Christ mean when he said that he didn't want his followers to be a part of this world?

In beginning to answer these questions, we are reminded of the people whom Jesus chose to be associated with during his time on this earth. We remember the story of Jesus calling Matthew, a despised tax collector, to be one of his disciples (Matthew 9:9). Later, we read that Matthew invited Christ to dinner with some of his fellow tax collectors and other "disreputable sinners." (Verse 10) When the Pharisees learned that Jesus accepted the invitation, they asked his disciples: "Why does your teacher eat with such scum?" (Verse 11) How did Christ respond to this question? He said: "Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do." Then he added, "Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners." (Verses 12-13) Hence, we see that Christ clearly had an expansive view of the kind of folks who were worthy of his attention!

Although Christ's distillation of the Law into two great principles (love for God and love for neighbor) is found in all three of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), in the Gospel of Luke Jesus went on to more clearly define who is our neighbor. Now Jesus and his disciples were all Jews, and he knew that the Jewish people had traditionally been very prejudiced against Samaritans - thinking of them as being unworthy of their time or attention. Nevertheless, Jesus responded to the question, "Who is my neighbor?" with a parable about a Jew who was attacked by bandits along the road and left for dead. (Luke 10:29-30) Eventually, a Jewish priest came by and spotted the man lying there and intentionally crossed over to the other side of the road to avoid helping the man! (Verse 31) Later, a Levite came by and did the same thing! (Verse 32) Finally, Jesus said that one of those reviled Samaritans came along and immediately took pity on the man and went out of his way to help the injured Jew. (Verses 33-35) Then, when he had finished his parable, Jesus turned the question back to the man who had originally asked it of him. He said: "Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?" (Verse 36) The man responded that the one who had helped the injured man had shown himself to be his neighbor. (Verse 37) "Yes," Christ replied, "now go and do the same." (Same verse)

In the Gospel of Matthew, we are informed that Christ also told a story about when he would return to this earth someday, and all of the nations of the earth would be gathered before him, and he would separate "the sheep from the goats.". (25:31-33) Next, we read: "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 creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’" (Verses 34-40) And, of course, he then went on to condemn those on his left for NOT helping folks who found themselves in those circumstances. (Verses 41-45) In other words, Christ clearly expects his flock to help those who are in need!

Hence, we see that Christ's view of who is or isn't worthy of our help was very expansive when compared to the cramped and narrow views of some of his followers! In this connection, a passage from the epistle of James to "the twelve tribes scattered abroad." (1:1) takes on new significance. He wrote that "If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." (Verses 26-27) In the light of all of the scriptures which we have examined related to Christ's attitude, how do you read this passage? Do you think that James was referring only to children who had lost their parents? OR Do you think that his remarks were meant to encompass children with abusive and neglectful parents? Do you think that it's possible his remarks were meant to include older adults who have also lost their parents? Likewise, do you believe that his remarks were only intended for older women whose husbands had died? OR Do you think that they were also intended to encompass younger women whose husbands had abandoned or abused them? And what did he mean by "refusing to let the world corrupt you?" Is it possible that he was talking about the cruelty and indifference that exists in the wider world? In other words, do you have a narrow or an expansive view of who is worthy of your help?