Who are the least in your life? Are they the homeless? Are they people you do not like? Are they people you know? Are they people you don’t know, but see on the streets? How do you look at them? Are you serving them? If so, how? If not, why not?
We often gravitate toward people we like. We strive to be with people we are attracted to. Many times, we do not even see the least among us. If we do, we may look at them with scorn or pity, but do little for them. We do not see them as Jesus sees them.
To follow Jesus’ commands, we must see the least among us from His point of view. We must look upon them with compassion. We must take mercy upon them and share our blessings with them. It may not be easy to do, but Jesus has shown us how to go about it.
Let’s not mistake this command to mean donating to charities. Though that is a means for providing for those in need, it does not fully satisfy Jesus’ command. No, we must see them with the same heart Jesus sees them. Our compassion cannot be defined with a dollar. It takes far more than that.
We are to treat them kindly. It is not turning our head away when we pass them. It is seeing them, and perhaps speaking to them. It is letting them know they are loved by God, and consequently, loved by us. We may not be able to provide for all their needs, but we can show them the compassion of Jesus.
I pray we all show the least among us Jesus’ compassion. I pray we see them as Jesus sees them. I pray each one of us will take the time to show the least that they are loved by Jesus and by us. Have the compassion of Jesus. Obey His command to love the least. Do what you can. Be Jesus to the least among us.
Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
Marty Pressey 