Jesus told three different stories, but the same message. One is the story of the good Samaritan found in Luke 10. The other is found in Matthew 7:21, where Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” The third one is that lesson in Matthew 25, where He talks about the consequences of those times when we either extend kindness to “the least of these” or not.
i don’t know about you, but these stories teach me one and the same important lesson. There is a risk, Jesus warns me, that on judgment day, the all-knowing God would say to me, “Truly, I tell you, I do not know you.” (Matt 25:12)
Oh, how easy it is to believe that I live a guilt-less life, not making enemies, not offending anyone, or not violating other people’s space. After all, I’m not the robber who mugged that traveler on the road to Jericho. And I’m not the one who caused the poor to be poor. Why, I even worship, and I praise, and I shout, “Lord, Lord!!”
But today, the gospels remind me that God considers sins of omission just as seriously as all of the other offensive sins that man is known for. God warns me today because He has seen me leave behind so many victims of my busy-ness and my self-important pursuits. He says that no matter how successful I may be in whatever I do, these do not count unless I consider the importance of others’ interests and welfare other than my own. He points out how aloof, insensitive and indifferent I am about whether my decisions, actions, and priorities affect others who have to pay an expensive price of hurt, of discouragement, and of anxiety because of my sins of care-less omission in the guise of busy-ness and productive projects. Lord, Lord!
Today I beg forgiveness from all those people affected by my self-centered smugness; I know now that God is your comfort, and my Judge. I pray, “Lord, please forgive me for my self-centeredness; please put Your heart in my heart, so that I would grow in the fruit of kindness and make that extra but simple effort to love everyone sincerely, not just with my mind, but also with my heart, my hands, my time, and my resources. And not for my sake, but for Your glory. Through Jesus, the King of Kings. Amen.”
A great reminder to start my day. Thank you once again, Lord!
Eddie is painfully frank about his shortcomings. Shouldn’t we all? Better to accuse ourselves and to find a remedy now, than for the Judge to accuse us on the last day. Thanks, Eddie.
Succinctly said as always, Kuya Eddie. We’re truly focused on what we do and forget about what we don’t do. God bless.
A very good reminder especially during this time of pandemic. Thanks Kuya Eddie.
Amen. I share in your prayer. May we all grow in the fruit of kindness. Thanks Kuya Eddie.
Malasakit sa kapwa. I think we are all guilty of this in our pursuit of our careers and projects. Thank you Lord God for the reminder to look around and notice people who are in need especially at this dark times.
Thanks Bro Eddie for reminding me of this important lesson. I am very much guilty of this sin of omission and self-righteousness. I pray that God will greet me in a warm embrace when my time comes. In the meantime, I will work hard to make myself a good servant of the Lord.
God bless you!